System for adjusting load characteristics of conical spring

Abstract

A load characteristic adjustment system for use with a linear-spring forming apparatus is provided, in which the load characteristic of a conic spring can be conveniently and efficiently regulated during the formation of the spring, thereby reliving much of a physical burden of a worker to find an optimum load characteristic of a coil spring. The load characteristics adjustment system comprises: a linear material feeder for feeding a linear material; at least one spring forming tool facing the linear material feeder, adapted to abut against the linear material to coil the linear material; spiraling means for spiraling the coiled linear material; and coil-diameter varying means for varying the diameter of the coiled linear material. The load characteristic adjustment system controls the linear material feeder so as to feed the linear material at a regulated constant acceleration to adjust the load characteristic of the conical spring formed.

1 . A method of adjusting a load characteristic of a conic spring to be formed in a shape of either a bell shape, a tapered shape, or a bowl shape by means of a linear spring forming apparatus which comprises:
 a linear material feeder of a linear material feeding unit, said linear material feeder feeding a linear material in an axial direction thereof;   at least one spring forming tool, arranged to face the linear material feeder, said spring forming tool abutted against the linear material to coil the linear material;   a spiraling tool for configuring the coiled linear material into a spiral form; and   a coil diameter varying tool for gradually changing the diameter of the coiled linear material by dynamically changing the distance between the spring forming tool and the linear material feeder in operation, wherein   the linear material is fed from the linear material feeder of the linear material feeding unit at a constant acceleration to form a conic spring such that the conic spring is configured to have a resultant shape selected from a bell-shape, a tapered shape, and a bowl-shape by selecting one constant acceleration associated with the shape of the conic spring to be formed, whereby a load characteristic of the conic spring is adjusted.   
     
     
         2 . A method of adjusting a load characteristic of a conic spring to be formed in a shape of either a bell shape, tapered shape, or bowl shape by means of a linear spring forming apparatus which comprises:
 a linear material feeder of a linear material feeding unit, said linear material feeder feeding a linear material in an axial direction thereof;   at least one spring forming tool , arranged to face the linear material feeder, said spring forming tool abutted against the linear material to coil the linear material;   a spiraling tool for configuring the coiled linear material into a spiral form; and   a coil diameter varying tool for gradually changing the diameter of the coiled linear material by dynamically changing the distance between the spring forming tool and the linear material feeder in operation, wherein at least one of the linear-material feeder and the spring forming tool is moved at a constant acceleration to form a conic spring such that the conic spring is configured to have a resultant shape selected from a bell-shape, a tapered shape, and a bowl-shape by selecting one constant feed acceleration associated with the shape of the conic spring to be formed, whereby a load characteristic of the conic spring is adjusted.   
     
     
         3 . A method of adjusting a load characteristic of a conic spring to be formed in a shape of either a bell shape, a tapered shape, or a bowl shape by means of a linear spring forming apparatus which comprises:
 a linear material feeder of a linear material feeding unit, said linear material feeder feeding a linear material in an axial direction thereof;   at least one spring forming tool, arranged to face the linear material feeder, said spring forming tool abutted against the linear material to coil the linear material;   a spiraling tool for configuring the coiled linear material into a spiral form; and   a coil diameter varying tool for gradually changing the diameter of the coiled linear material by dynamically changing the distance between the spring forming tool and the linear material feeder in operation, wherein the spiraling tool is a pitch tool adapted to move in a longitudinal direction of a conic spring to be formed so as to press the coiled linear material into a spiral having a pitch in accord with the longitudinal movement of the pitch tool;   wherein the pitch of the spiral is gradually varied in accord with a constant acceleration of the pitch tool, thereby forming a conic spring; and   wherein the constant acceleration is selected to form a conic spring such that the conic spring is configured to have a resultant shape selected from a bell-shape, a tapered shape, and a bowl-shape by selecting the constant feed acceleration associated with the shape of the conic spring to be formed, whereby a load characteristic of the conic spring is adjusted.