Spring

Leaf spring

• Elliptical - in the plan has a shape close to an ellipse.
• 3/4-elliptic: has the shape of a three-fourths ellipse.
• Semi-elliptic - in the form of a semi-ellipse; most common type.
• A quarter-elliptical is constructively a half semi-elliptical, one end of which is fixed on the chassis, and the second is suspended from the console.
• Parabolic spring is a leafless spring created from a small number (usually two) sheets of variable cross section (in profile) adjacent to each other on a flat side with clearance through the spacer. ^[2]

Torsion Spring

The main working element of the torsion spring is the torsion bar - an elastic rod working on twisting . Torsion springs are used mainly for suspension of armored vehicles.

Cylindrical spring

In a cylindrical spring, the elastic element is made of a steel bar twisted in a spiral in the form of a cylinder, a cone or a bowl.

See also: Car suspension

• With a transverse arrangement of springs (example - both suspension Ford T and Ford A );
• With a longitudinal arrangement of the springs (for example - the rear GAZ-21 , almost all dump trucks of average tonnage)
• With a diagonal arrangement of springs (example - back "Tatra" T77, T87).

Springs usually consist of several sheets, which makes it possible to obtain the necessary suspension travel while maintaining load capacity (the required spring stiffness is determined as a quotient of the force with full compression to the buffer for the suspension travel). Thus, each sheet is bent separately. The advantages of a multisheet design are:

1. an increase in damping during suspension, which in early cars made it possible to abandon the shock absorber ;
2. the smaller thickness of each sheet reduces the need for steel doping for the required calcination depth;
3. failure of one sheet does not lead to complete failure of the suspension ^[3] .

The downside is the greater complexity and high cost. Since the shock absorbers in a modern car are put on each wheel, and the reliability of modern parts is higher, then points 1 and 3 are now of little relevance, and in modern jeeps and trucks we see few sheets.

Materials for the manufacture of leaf springs are selected based on the purpose of the car (civil, commercial, military), the climate of the area, the thickness of the sheets and the continuity of the design. Springs are usually made from steels of the type 60С2, 55С2, 60С2Г, 65С2ВА; for greater reliability, nickel-containing 60C2H2A, chromium-vanadium type 50HFA, and others. Nickel and vanadium push back the cold brittleness threshold of steel, which increases its reliability under winter operation conditions ^[4] .

After shaping, each sheet is quenched, usually with surface cooling (water), self-tempering hardening to obtain a moderate core viscosity and a hard, wear-resistant surface. Sheets have different length, the root (with eyes) the longest. At the ends of the sheets can be installed antiskripnyh washers (reduce wear). Sheets are usually joined by a central bolt and steel brackets. The spring is most often fixed with two ladders (to the bridge) and through rubber bushings in the eyes, through bolts - to the frame / body (on the one hand) and catkins (on the other) ^[5] .

• Spring suspension

GOST R 51585-2000 Leaf springs for automotive vehicles. General Specifications (Amended)