Ahmed El-Bialy

Torsion Spring
What is the torsion spring ?

A torsion spring is a spring that works by torsion or twisting ; that is , a flexible elastic object
that stores mechanical energy when it is twisted. When it is twisted , it exerts a force (actually
torque) in the opposite direction , proportional to the amount (angle) it is twisted .

How does a torsion spring work ?

torsion spring are helical springs that exert a torque or rotary force. ... They offer resistance to
twist or rotationally applied force. Depending on the application, torsion springs can be
designed to work in a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation, thus determining the direction
of the wind .

What are the uses of springs ?

The energy you use isn't lost : most of it is stored as potential energy in the spring. Release a
stretched spring and you can use it to do work for you.

Are torsion springs better than extension Springs ?

Torsion springs are sturdier and last longer. Torsion springs do cost more, but generally last
between 15,000 and 20,000 cycles, whereas extension springs last up to 10,000 cycles .

what are the types of torsion spring ?

A torsion bar is a straight bar of metal or rubber that is subjected to twisting (shear stress)
about its axis by torque applied at its ends. A more delicate form used in sensitive instruments,
called a torsion fiber consists of a fiber of silk, glass, or quartz under tension, that is twisted
about its axis. The other type, a helical torsion spring, is a metal rod or wire in the shape of a
helix (coil) that is subjected to twisting about the axis of the coil by sideways forces (bending
moments) applied to its ends, twisting the coil tighter. This terminology can be confusing
because in a helical torsion spring the forces acting on the wire are actually bending stresses,
not torsional (shear) stresses .

Standard Torsion Springs

1- Selection :-
First choose material type and helix. Next, select a range
of wire diameter that you think may be appropriate.
Finally, select the amount of deflection you expect to have
in the application.

2- load
This is the direct force applied at a given radius. Torque can be converted to load by the formula
given below.
Load (P) =Torque/Radius

3- Tolerances
Torque: 10%
Diameter: 5%
4- Torque
Torque values shown are at the degree of deflection listed for each spring. To find the
torque values for any other position simply use a direct proportion of the required
position divided by the listed position position, i.e. if the torque is listed as .500 in-lbs at
180 degrees deflection, what is the torque at 90 degrees?
( 90 deg / 180 deg ) x 500 in-lb = 0.250 in-lb