New records in wave spring design

However the company was certainly set a challenge recently by one of their major customers who are leading manufacturers of pipeline recovery tools. Their application required a spring or springs that would operate in a 700 mm bore, provide in excess of 12,000 Newton force but still be capable of offering over 200 mm of travel – all within a radial cavity of around 20mm. The radial restraint prevented the use of pocketed coil springs or stacked disc spring sets and, as a result TFC designed its biggest ever Smalley Crest-to-Crest Wave Spring to do the job. Comprising of 55 turns and with over 15 waves per turn, the Smalley spring was able to provide the necessary load and travel with a free height less than 600 mm. Smalley wave springs offer the advantage of assembly space savings when used to replace conventional round wire coil springs. They can maintain the same force and load specifications yet occupy 50% or less axial space, resulting in lowered operating heights, free heights and solid lengths.