Springs are an important tooling component for providing tension and are an all around useful example of industrial equipment supplies. However, those little metal coils can be impractical to work with due to their small size, fragility, and tendency to slip out of the hand when under tension.
Spring plungers and spring loaded devices solve these issues by encasing the coils in a threaded body. These industrial products are then able to provide accurate tension forces in a robust component pace compressor that is easier to install and has a longer service life. Let’s take a look at how these industrial products work, their installation, and the different materials used to diversify their application.
Inside Of Spring Plungers
This class of industrial products uses a threaded housing and plunger assembly to enclose a spring. This design protects the coils while adding strength and stability to the entire piece. The plunger and housing design allows these industrial equipment supplies to outperform standard components by creating a precise end force with positive and controlled tension. Gone are the days of a spring under tension slipping away and being launched across the room.
The plunger assembly contains a polymer, usually nylon, locking element that holds the plunger in place. The coil is attached to one end of the plunger while the other end allows for regulation of the coil motion. This setup prevents lateral motion, similar to axial bearings, in order to prevent damage and poor operation while simultaneously ensuring reliable linear motion. During installation and servicing, tool forces are applied to the casing rather than a bare coil held under tension.
Overall, this design surrounding the coil increases the serviceable lifetime of this class of industrial equipment supplies while offering improved performance through consistent tension forces.
Installing And Using
Thanks to the threaded casing design, installing these products is significantly easier and quicker than working with bare coils. The assembly is easier to handle since bare springs have to be held under tension while being installed. On the other hand, spring plungers can be locked into place.
Spring loaded devices can even be installed with just a hex key wrench or screwdriver, but it is preferable to use a specifically designed spring/ball plunger wrench. The right wrench will speed up an already quick installation. Either way, be aware that spring loaded devices are hollow industrial products. They have a significantly lower torque resistance than a solid body screw or bolt. Exercise caution and refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying torque forces. Otherwise, over-tightening a spring plunger can lead to snapping the casing or deforming the component into an unusable shape.
The locking element described above is included in many spring loaded devices, and this assembly will compress against the threads of a tapped hole when installing. When working with soft metals, like brass, bronze, copper, or aluminum, or soft plastics, be careful not to damage the tapped hole. The force can easily deform soft materials. There are industrial equipment supplies with tension coils that do not have a locking mechanism for this type of situation. If locking industrial products are required regardless, the best option is to tap a slightly larger hole in order to reduce the compression pressure.
Examining Materials Of Construction
It is very common to offer most industrial equipment supplies in a variety of different materials. Each option for construction materials can change the properties and specification of a particular component, allowing easier adaptation to different working conditions. Spring plungers are no different.
Steel and plastic are the two workhorses for these industrial products. Carbon steel offers a strong assembly at a reason price. This type of steel is typically case hardened for additional strength and then painted or coated to provide better corrosion resistance, since leaving keys in forklift trucks carbon steel is highly susceptible to rust in most environments. Stainless steel is also an attractive option with superior strength and resistance properties in moist or corrosive environments, or high temperatures. Stainless can be well worth the extra price.
Plastic alternatives are a viable option when looking for a spring plunger that will not deform softer metals. Copper, copper alloys, and aluminum can easily dent from the impact of a steel plunger. There are a number of polymer materials available, such as Delrin and nylon, which offer a strong hold and comparable tension force without creating any impact damage on adjoining materials.
In the end, spring loaded devices offer a reliable, safe, easy-to-install option for tension bearing components.
