Set Torsion Springs Vs. Extension Springs
- Set torsion springs are used in a wide variety of applications. Clocks that work on a pendulum to support the wheel-shaped weight that helps operate the clock are torsion spring driven. They are also used in vehicles as parts of the vehicles' suspensions to improve response on the road. Set torsion springs can also be found in devices such as watches and video projectors.
- Devices in which the action of extension springs is often used include doors, car seats and other devices where a retractable force is needed to keep a device in place. For instance, when a garage door is opened, an extension spring is used in conjunction with a strong wire to keep the door open by providing the necessary tension on the wire. In a car seat, an extension spring supplies the tension necessary to hold the car seat in place.
- The way an extension spring works is based on distance. The further an extension spring is extended, the more force there is on the spring. When an extension spring is not responsible for bearing a load, it is fully compressed. When an extension spring is responsible for bearing a load, it is considered uncompressed.
- A set torsion spring is a bendable object that has the ability to store energy mechanically when it is twisted. The force exerted on the spring is directly proportional to how far the spring will twist. There are two different types of torsion springs. One is called a torsion bar, which is a metal or rubber bar that gets twisted when force is applied to it. The second type is called a torsion fiber; it is a wire that flexes when force is applied to it.
- Torsion springs and extension springs are equally useful. When people are manufacturing or designing a device they consider the properties of each, then make their decision based upon the principles of how each type of spring functions. Both torsion springs and extension springs are widely used.