Are you searching to know about Types of Springs?
Then you landed on the right place, Where you will know A to Z of types of springs with images. So, come with me and I will take you on the knowledgeable tour with Engineers Rail.
So, Without further delays, Let’s get started…
Spring is a mechanical elastic element that changes its shape during load application and regains its shape after unloading.
Spring is a very common product used in our daily life like a pen, Vehicles, Mechanical devices as well as medical devices and it is made up of a material having very high yield strength to restore elasticity.
Materials used to manufacture spring-
- Oil Tempered steel
- Stainless Steel
- Elgiloy
- Iconol
- Monel
- Titanium
- Chrome Silicon
Why we need Mechanical Springs-
- To absorb the shock load
- To store energy
- To measure force
- To return motion
- To control vibrations
After knowing these basics, Let’s head on to the main-stream of the article-
Table of Contents
Types of Spring-
Here are some common types of spring used in Various Applications-
- Helical Springs
- Leaf Springs
- Disc Springs
- Volute spring and Conical Spring
- Special purpose springs
- Other Springs
Now, Let me discuss these types of spring one by one-
Helical Spring-
The common purpose to use this Helical spring is to handle the compressive and tensile load.
A commonly used Mechanical spring- Helical spring typically shaped in the form of coil or Helix.
Helical spring can be classified into four categories according to load condition-
- Compression helical springs
- Tension helical springs closed coil spring
- Torsion Springs
- Spiral Springs
Compression Helical Springs-
This type of spring resists compressive or push force when the helical coil is pressed or squeezes by the load.
This is also known as an open coil spring.
Application of compression coil-
- Motorcycle suspension
- Pen
- Lock
- Couches
- Lighter
Tension Spring-
It is just opposite to compression spring attached with U-shaped or I-shaped hook typically at the one end side or can be both end side.
This is also known as a closed coil spring.
Application of Tension Spring-
- Lever mechanism
- Counterbalancing of garage doors
- Weighing machine
- Vise-grip pilers
- Garage door assemblies
Torsion spring-
These types of springs tend to wind up by the load. They can be either helical or spiral in shape.
This torsion spring is mostly used in circuit breakers.
Application of Torsion springs-
- Mousetrap
- Rocker switches
- Clothespin
- Door hinges
Spiral spring-
This type of spring is basically used in the constant rotational mechanism or in the constant releasing of force. Spiral spring is also known as clock spring or constant force spring.
Application of spiral spring-
- Alarm timepiece
- Watch
- Window regulators
- DC motors
- Automotive seat recliners
Leaf Springs-
Leaf spring is a commonly used and traditional type of spring in automobile industries or vehicles where metal plates of different lengths are kept together with the help of bolts and clamps.
It is commonly used for vehicle suspension or heavy vehicles and this spring is also known as Laminated spring, Invented in England in the 18th century.
Materials used to manufacture leaf springs are- Chrome vanadium steel, Silicomanganese steel, Carbon steel.
Types of Leaf springs are-
- Quater elliptic leaf spring
- Semi elliptic leaf spring
- Transverse leaf spring
- Helper Spring
Disc Spring-
Disc spring is dynamically or statically loaded to its axis and requires less space for installation and can bear larger loads, thus this spring have more advantages compared to other springs.
Application of Disc spring-
- Slip clutch
- Overload clutches
- High-pressure valve
- Drill bit shock absorber
Volute and Conical Springs-
Volute springs are wounded with constant pitch and lead angles whereas Conical springs are wounded with a uniform pitch.
Under compression, coils of these springs slide past each other and make the spring to compress to a very shorter length.
These are the compression spring have conical shapes.
Special Purpose Springs-
As the name suggests, These types of springs are used in specialized areas or in different areas according to requirements. These springs are all together made of different materials.
Other Springs-
Some of more springs are used in different Industries-
- Constant Springs
- Variable Springs
- variable stiffness Springs
- Flat springs
- Machined Springs
- Serpentine Springs
- Cantilever Springs
- Hair Spring or Balance Spring
- V- Springs
- Gas Springs
- Ideal Springs
- Main Springs
- Negator Springs
- Progressive rate coil springs
Application of springs-
Here are some common application of spring-
- For absorb or control energy due to shock or vibrations
- For energy storation
- For applying force
- For motion control
- For force measurement
Wrapping Up-
These were Some Types of Springs that are used in various Industries as per requirements.
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Thank you for being with me. I hope to see you in the next session.

Abhishek Tiwary is a blogger by passion and a Quality Engineer by profession. He has completed his B.Tech degree in the year of 2017. Now working in a reputed firm and He loves to share his knowledge with others.