Spring Compressor Anti-Rotation Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring tensioners for helical compression springs face challenges in accommodating the curved nature of springs, leading to non-parallel clamping plates and requiring additional space for anti-twist devices, which complicates the design and increases the length of the pressure piece.
Innovation Solution
A spring tensioner design featuring dome-shaped contact surfaces with integrated anti-twist projections and pockets allows limited pivoting of clamping plates, reducing the pressure piece's length while maintaining functionality, and incorporating spherical cap-shaped contact surfaces for angular compensation, enabling a compact and multifunctional component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional anti-rotation devices with separate recesses and projections are used, then rotation prevention is achieved, but the pressure piece length increases and design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the anti-rotation function with the spherical contact surface by integrating projections and pockets directly into the contact surface geometry. The projections extend radially inward from the spherical contact surface, and the pockets are formed within the spherical contact surface, combining force transmission and rotation prevention into a single integrated structure rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical contact surface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits axial force from the pressure piece to the clamping plate, allows angular compensation for curved springs, and prevents rotation through the integrated projections and pockets. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate anti-rotation devices that would increase length and complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If clamping plates are made parallel for compression, then force transmission is simplified, but the design cannot accommodate curved spring paths
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a spherical contact surface between the pressure piece and clamping plate that enables angular compensation. The spherical geometry allows the clamping plate to pivot and adapt to curved spring paths while maintaining proper force transmission. The spherical receptacle and contact surface provide a degree of angular movement between the pressure piece and clamping plate, accommodating the non-parallel coil arrangement of curved springs.
3Ease of operation
If separate anti-rotation devices are added to the spherical receptacle, then rotation is prevented, but additional axial and radial installation space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation projections and pockets are integrated directly into the spherical contact surface geometry, eliminating the need for separate anti-rotation devices. The projections extend radially inward from the spherical contact surface, and the pockets are formed within the spherical contact surface itself, combining the anti-rotation function with the existing contact surface structure without requiring additional axial or radial space.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a compact, cost-effective, and simpler spring tensioner that can pivot the clamping plates by 5°-7.5°, preventing rotation and ensuring even force transmission without stress peaks, thus addressing the complexity and size issues of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
The spherical contact surface is composed of several separate spherical contact surface areas which, in total, are larger in the circumferential direction than the circumferential area in which the projections and pockets are arranged
Implementation Method 2
an anti-rotation device is formed between the pressure piece and the second clamping plate to prevent the pressure piece from rotating against the clamping plates. The anti-rotation device has projections and pockets for receiving the projections
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
Figure 8~10
AI summary
The invention relates to a spring compressor having a loading device (3), which is axially insertable into a coil spring (2) to be loaded, and having a first and a second loading plate (4, 5), which can be coupled to the loading device (3) at a distance from each other, the second loading plate (5) having an opening (7) for receiving the loading device (3), a pressure piece (10) being displaceable along the loading device (3) by the effect of an actuator in order to adjust the distance between the loading plates (4, 5), wherein a calotte-shaped contact surface (19) for force transmission and an anti-rotation means is formed between the pressure piece (10) and the second loading plate (5) in order to prevent a rotation of the pressure piece (10) relative to the loading plate (5), wherein the anti-rotation means has protrusions and pockets for the protrusions (20). The protrusions and the pockets interrupt the calotte-shaped contact surface in the circumferential direction and divide it into contact surface regions which are separate from each other, wherein the calotte-shaped contact surface regions are larger in total in the circumferential direction than the circumferential region in which the protrusions and the pockets are arranged.