Good evening guys once again welcome back to my blog. In the last blog, I have written about Suspension arms and how to find out maximum length of arms that could be used. So, in today's post, I would be now introducing you to springs used in the suspension systems.
Let me start by telling you what a spring do in suspension assembly. The main work of a suspension spring is to absorb shocks from road and store in the form of compressed energy which is later dissipated in the form of heat by dampers. So, springs serve a purpose to provide you with a smooth comfortable ride.
So, springs used in your automobiles are basically of two types:
Let me start by telling you what a spring do in suspension assembly. The main work of a suspension spring is to absorb shocks from road and store in the form of compressed energy which is later dissipated in the form of heat by dampers. So, springs serve a purpose to provide you with a smooth comfortable ride.
So, springs used in your automobiles are basically of two types:
So, if the spring force varies as a linear function of the spring compression it is called linear springs. Thus spring rate is a constant for linear springs. Examples- Maruti Swift, Tata Nano, Honda Activa etc. Where to use- If you want better handling on a racing track or streets, linear coil spring is then your choice. It would provide better stability and traction on flat surfaces.
Where to use- If you want some off roading or drive on the road with so much of bumps then progressive coil springs is your choice. Because when you are off roading reaction on the wheel is the prominent factor you must take into account. Plus for better comfort progressive is better. But one downside of progressive springs you would find is that it is not easy to damp the shocks of the progressive springs. Examples- Hero Passion Pro, Polaris RZR 140 etc. Now if you may look at pictures both springs appears to be same. So, you may think how an increasing spring rate is obtained in progressive coil springs. The game behind all this is pitch of the spring. “Pitch may be defined as the distance between two consecutive coils of helical spring.” So, if you look at linear coil spring you would find pitch remains same thus all coils compressed together and thus provide a constant spring rate. But in the case of progressive springs, the pitch you see varies and it goes on increasing / decreasing (Depends on upon you). One more thing to remember is spring rate depends on upon a number of coils in the springs which are not fully compressed. Thus as progressive spring compresses, these active coils gradually reduced from maximum to zero thus provide a variable increasing spring rate. Coil springs are the first choice of the vehicle with performance handling and comfort is the priority. For other loading purposes, we have next type of springs which is described as below. | Linear Coil Springs of different sizes Comparison of Linear and Progressive Springs Relation between Force and compression for linear spring Relation of Force and compression for progressive springs |
2. Leaf Springs- These are another type of springs used in loading vehicles like trucks and buses and heavy duty vehicles. They are the bars of different length placed together to form a beam-like structure with equally distributed force. They may also classify as:
- Conventional Leaf spring- They are leaf spring of old design which provides us with the linear spring rate as linear coil springs do. They are now replaced by a new design of leaf spring as discussed below.
- Parabolic Leaf Spring- This a new design of leaf springs which is slowly and rapidly replacing the conventional leaf spring in loading vehicles due to their parabolic nature. The spring rate in case of parabolic leaf springs increases with the spring compression as in the case of progressive coil springs. Moreover, they are small in size and lightweight than conventional leaf springs. Thus are far more superior than conventional ones.
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