Compression Spring

A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. There are many different types and they all can be used for many different jobs. One of these such springs is the compression spring, the most common metal spring configuration. The compression spring is the opposite of an extension spring as it is used to keep things apart rather than together. A compression spring is designed to operate with a compression load. This means that as the load is applied, the spring gets shorter; much like a person jumping on a pogo stick. The force exerted by the spring is proportional to its change in length, therefore to figure out the unit of measurement, one must take the units of force and divide that number by the distance of the spring. The dimensions, combined with the load determine the stresses in the spring. But because they offer resistance to "push" forces, they are in fact one of the most efficient energy storage devices available to consumers.

Compression springs are made of a thicker gauged wire than most other common springs. Usually they are placed either over a rod or inside a hole. The turns, or loops, as they are sometimes called are not touching in the "unloaded" position and need no attachment points. An example of one such compression spring is a volute spring which is shaped like a cone so the coils are not forced to touch when loaded. This makes this spring and other compression springs ideal for longer travel. In addition to being used in common objects such as cell phones, mattresses and shock absorbers, compression springs are also used in medical devices, earthquake shock absorption, various switches in airplanes and fluid or air control, as well as other areas of the automotive and aerospace industries.