Clockwork

A spring mechanism is a mechanical actuator, consisting of a spring and a gear knob or inhibition. The spring is usually helically wound and stores energy which is then optionally reacted with a gear in a continuing rotational movement.

In spring works one often seeks a particularly flat course of the torque curve, which is sometimes achieved with coil springs, for example, by a decreasing outwards from the inside cross section of the belt or by a to reversing the elevator winding sense.

Demarcation

Also, spring-loaded brake store mechanical energy, the spring but moved linearly and is not referred to as spring work.

Rubber motors are also not referred to as spring work, but also serve to store mechanical energy.

Application

Spring works have been and are used to drive mechanical watches, alarm clocks and timers short-term (eg, exposure timer, microwave ) are used. You are provided here with an inhibition. Other examples of application:

• Gramophones, music boxes, first tape recorders and dials ( phone)
• Meteorological measuring instruments, recorders
• Toys, in the drives of clockwork toy, such as toy cars with Darda system, which causes a raising of the spring work by moving back the vehicle
• Mechanical cameras and film cameras
• Cable retractor, including of vacuum (here without gear and inhibition)

Spring plants are often used when electrical drives can not be used because of explosion hazard, high humidity or low temperatures. A generator coupled to it can be used to produce electrical energy even when the batteries are not used or available.

History

Spring works were the first well- controlled, easily transportable and universal drive. They were and are often equipped with devices for speed stabilization (eg escapement wheel, governor or aerodynamic brake).

Prior to the availability of batteries and electric motors, the spring work was the only way to realize a position-independent, portable drive.

Spring plants are complex and therefore expensive to manufacture than fine mechanical product.

There are nowadays for explosion-proof actuators also the compressed air drives used primarily in the mining and the only above ground usable pressure gas drives.

• Drive Technology
• Uhrentechnik