Springs are mechanical objects which are used to store energy. Springs come in many different forms not just the general circular shape that we instantly think of! Springs hold elastic energy when they are pulled and change shape. When you let go of springs they expand back to their original shape. But why do we need springs?
Well there are springs in a lot of objects, I can guarantee that you would struggle to be sat in a room with something that doesn’t have a spring in it. To prove it let’s look at some common uses for compression springs, I bet there are a few you didn’t know about!
Springs can be used in many applications such as medical devices. A compression spring is used for devices that need to create a squeezing action. An example of this is an inhaler which you press down to squeeze the medication in to your body to help you breathe better. Springs are also used in a stapler which surgeons will use during a surgery and pressure is applied to use it.
There are also a lot of springs in your children’s toys. The slinky is like a giant spring and the idea for this came from a naval engineer in the year 1943 when he accidently knocked a compression spring off his desk, and he saw that it bounced, and this man realised that it landed the right way up. The pinball machine utilises spring loaded plungers and when pulling this back, you are stretching the spring in the plunger to hit the ball up in to the playing field.
Most of us rely on our electrical appliances almost every single day. For example, a fridge has a door which opens, and every time it does there is a tiny spring which creates resistance to help the door open and shut when needed and they help keep our food refrigerated. This is the same with just the cupboard doors in your kitchen, they open and shut with help from springs.
There is plenty more to learn about springs, thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Contact us at Leeming and Peel today and we’ll put a spring in your step and help you out!
