Exploring the Secret of Circular Springs: Small Springs, Big Effects

1. What are circular springs

Circular springs, or annular springs, are a type of powerful spring composed of multiple conical inner and outer rings, and are widely used in various fields.

The circular spring is a special spring structure, consisting of a tension spring and a connecting spring, or it can be said that it is composed of multiple washer-shaped spring steels with inner conical surfaces and outer cylindrical surfaces and washer-shaped spring steels with inner cylindrical surfaces and outer conical surfaces alternately superimposed. The number of logarithms of the inner and outer rings is determined according to the size of the load it bears and the requirements for deformation.

From the perspective of economy and sustainable development, the raw materials of the circular spring (spring steels such as 60Si2MnA and 50CrV) are easy to obtain, and the processing technology is mature, the material consumption is small, and it is a wear-resistant material that can extend the service life of the spring. The circular spring itself has increased stiffness, strong vibration damping and self-recovery capabilities, and is a suitable choice for self-resetting energy-consuming devices.

In the heavy and mining machinery industries, some structures require shock-absorbing devices with large load-bearing capacity, good buffering effect, and small assembly position. It is not easy to realize with general springs, but annular springs can play an important role. For example, in the impact jaw crusher, annular springs are designed according to the requirements of heavy load, high frequency and good shock absorption effect.

The main performance of the annular spring is that it can generate a large friction force through the relative sliding of the inner and outer rings under the action of axial load, thereby consuming a lot of energy to achieve the effect of buffering and shock absorption. The buffering and shock absorption capacity of the annular spring is very high, and the energy it absorbs can reach 60~70%, which is much higher than that of ordinary compression springs. At the same time, the annular spring also has the characteristics of elastic hysteresis, that is, during the unloading process, the friction force blocks the recovery of the elastic deformation of the spring, which reduces the spring force and thus reduces the rebound phenomenon.

Because the annular spring occupies a small space and can absorb a lot of energy, it is often used in aerospace, transportation, machinery and other fields to play its energy consumption and buffering role. In recent years, annular springs have been increasingly used in the field of building structures, playing its role of energy consumption and shock absorption as part of the seismic isolation device.

 

2. Types of circular springs

(I) Whole-net round spring (Bonnier spring)

The whole-net round spring, also known as Bonnier spring, occupies an important position in the spring mattress market and is the type of spring with the highest market share. This type of spring has the unique characteristics of being large at both ends and small in the middle, which brings many advantages.

First of all, it performs well in terms of elasticity and can provide users with sufficient elasticity, so that users can feel good support whether they are lying flat or sleeping on their sides. Its strong support characteristics enable the mattress to evenly disperse pressure when bearing the weight of the human body, maintain the natural curve of the body, and effectively relieve fatigue in various parts of the body. Structural stability is also a highlight of the whole-net round spring. The springs are connected with threaded springs and then fixed together with the frame to form a solid spring bed net support system, ensuring that the mattress is not easily deformed during long-term use. Good flatness makes the mattress surface smoother, providing a comfortable sleeping environment for sleepers. At the same time, it is durable and durable. The mature round spring manufacturing technology in the domestic market makes it inexpensive and cost-effective, and it is widely accepted by consumers.

The whole-net coil spring system is slow to respond to smaller pressures, but it can show good elasticity when bearing larger pressures, which is a clear advantage over the independent pocket spring system. It is better at making harder mattresses, and its load-bearing capacity is irreplaceable by other springs. Moreover, the whole-net coil spring system can also change the hardness of the entire bed net by adjusting the hardness of individual springs, or achieve different hardness requirements by adjusting the coefficient arrangement of the springs.

(II) Springs derived from coil springs

The springs of some American brand mattresses are largely derived from coil springs, inheriting some of the advantages of coil springs, such as strong rebound force, superior support performance, and good force balance. These springs fully consider ergonomic principles during the design and manufacturing process, and can provide users with good support and a comfortable sleeping experience.

However, this type of spring also has some shortcomings, and its anti-interference ability is not as good as that of independent pocket springs. When one person turns over or moves on the mattress, it may have a certain impact on the sleep of another person. But overall, these springs derived from coil springs are also competitive in the mattress market and meet the needs of different consumers.

 

3. Performance of circular springs

Under axial load, circular springs generate great friction through the relative sliding of inner and outer rings, which makes them have excellent performance.

First, circular springs have high buffering and shock absorption capacity. When subjected to axial load, the relative sliding of inner and outer rings can consume a lot of energy, and the energy absorbed can reach 60-70%, which is much higher than that of ordinary compression springs. For example, in some occasions that require strong buffering, such as impact jaw crushers, annular springs play an important role. According to the requirements of heavy load, high frequency and good shock absorption effect, the designed annular spring can effectively absorb impact energy and reduce vibration and wear of equipment.

Secondly, circular springs have the characteristics of elastic hysteresis. During unloading, friction hinders the recovery of spring elastic deformation, reduces the spring force, and thus reduces the rebound phenomenon. This feature can effectively reduce the vibration and impact of equipment during operation and improve the stability and reliability of equipment. For example, the torsion spring, which is widely used in industrial production such as automobiles, machine tools, and electrical appliances, has an end structure that is processed into a torsion arm of various shapes. The lever principle is used to twist or rotate the elastic material with soft material and high toughness, so that it has great mechanical energy. The elastic hysteresis characteristics of the round spring can make the torsion spring more stable during operation and reduce the impact of rebound on the equipment.

In short, these properties of the round spring make it widely used in various fields, providing a strong guarantee for the stable operation and shock absorption of the equipment.

 

4. Application fields of circular springs

The application fields of round springs are very wide. In the field of aerospace, its small space occupation and ability to absorb a large amount of energy make it play an important role in the structural design of spacecraft, which can effectively buffer the vibration of spacecraft during launch and operation, and ensure the stability and safety of spacecraft.

In the field of transportation, whether it is a car, train or airplane, the round spring can provide a good shock absorption effect for the vehicle. For example, in a car, the round spring can reduce the impact of road bumps on the car body and improve the comfort of riding; in trains and airplanes, the round spring can also reduce the vibration and noise during operation and enhance the passenger experience.

In the field of machinery, round springs are indispensable components. In heavy-duty and mining machinery industries and impact jaw crushers, round springs, with their large load-bearing capacity and good buffering effect, effectively reduce the vibration and wear of equipment and extend the service life of equipment. At the same time, round springs also have important applications in the production of spring machines. For example, in the strengthening process, round springs are sent to the shot blasting room one by one through a continuous conveyor chain system, and the high-speed shot flow hits the metal surface of the inner circle, and the specific area of the round spring is subjected to more targeted and concentrated shot blasting treatment to improve the performance and quality of the round spring.

In recent years, round springs have been increasingly used in the field of building structures. As part of the seismic isolation device, the round spring plays the role of energy consumption and shock absorption, which can effectively reduce the damage to buildings caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, and improve the safety and stability of buildings.

In addition, round springs also play an important role in spring mattresses. The whole net round spring (Bonnier spring) occupies an important position in the spring mattress market. It has the advantages of sufficient elasticity, strong support, stable structure, good flatness, and good durability, providing people with a comfortable sleeping experience. The springs of some American brand mattresses are largely derived from round springs, which also provide consumers with good support and comfortable sleeping experience. At the same time, in the spring system of the mattress, round springs (independent interlocking springs) and independent pocket springs together provide people with a variety of choices to meet the needs of different consumers.