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he Curious History of Leaf Springs: Why They Are the Best Choice for Vehicle Suspensio
The leaf spring is undoubtedly one of the most historically significant components in a vehicle's suspension system. This simple spring design has been the preferred choice for all types of vehicles since its introduction in the 17th century. Originally known as laminated springs, leaf springs have revolutionized transportation with their unique structure and functionality. This article will take an in-depth look at how leaf springs work, their basic design, types, and their importance in historical and modern applications.
Working principle and basic design
Leaf springs are usually made of one or more narrow, curved steel plates that are connected to the vehicle's axles and chassis in a specific way, allowing the leaf springs to flexibly move vertically on uneven roads.
Leaf springs can not only be used for vehicle suspension, but also provide positioning, elasticity and a certain degree of shock absorption.
Leaf springs are designed with a rectangular cross-section, and in the most common configuration, the central arc carries the axle, while the coils at each end are used to connect to the vehicle chassis. For heavier vehicles, a design with multiple blades stacked together can be used, which effectively spreads the load and increases carrying capacity.
Characteristics and types
Leaf springs are usually formed with circular eyes or rings at both ends to facilitate fastening the spring to the vehicle frame. The spring can be connected directly to the chassis or via a shackle, which allows the suspension to react more softly to changes in load.
Leaf springs provided better shock absorption than coil springs in early automobile designs, which was considered a significant advantage at the time.
Leaf springs come in a variety of types, typically "elliptical" and "semi-elliptical" leaf springs. The elliptical spring originated in 1804 and was patented by British inventor Obadiah Elliot, which subverted the carriage design of the time. Modern "parabolic" leaf springs are based on effectively reducing friction between the leaves, thereby improving ride comfort.
History
The history of leaf springs can be traced back to the end of the 17th century. With the advancement of technology, leaf springs began to enter the market in the late 18th century. By the 19th century, improvements in steel production techniques allowed leaf springs to be produced more consistently and economically.
Although many automakers moved to front-wheel drive and adopted more advanced suspension designs in the 1970s, leaf springs still have a place on heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks and vans because of their excellent load-bearing capabilities. and structural simplicity. These advantages make it still an ideal choice for certain vehicle suspension systems.Leaf springs were widely used in various types of carriages before the popularization of automobiles and became an important part of the transportation industry.
Modern Applications
In today's automotive industry, leaf springs still have their unique practical value. For example, the 2016 Volvo XC90 uses a composite transverse leaf spring design, which not only improves the performance of the suspension, but also significantly reduces the overall weight of the vehicle.
The modern leaf spring design makes the suspension system smaller, flatter and lighter, further improving the vehicle's handling and comfort.
In addition to traditional applications, leaf springs are now widely used in other industries, such as climbing springs (trampoline) and blacksmithing. Its high quality steel makes it a very popular material for making various tools.
In summary, leaf springs, as an ancient and effective technology, have shown their irreplaceable importance in both traditional and modern means of transportation. In the future, with the advancement of material technology, will there be greater breakthroughs in the design and application of leaf springs?
