Spring Support | Spring Washer
Spring support or spring washer, designed to serve as primary spring support or pad, function as contact, guide, bearing or protective components between the primary steel spring and adjacent components.
Area of application
Spring supports, also known as spring washers, play a central role in sophisticated spring and suspension systems, as they make a decisive contribution to safe force transmission, stability and durability in railway vehicles. Their most important function is to distribute forces evenly, thereby minimizing local stress peaks. At the same time, they protect adjacent components from wear by serving as stable contact surfaces that minimize material stress, which is particularly important for spring mounts subjected to dynamic loads. Furthermore, spring shims ensure the precise positioning of the steel spring and prevent slipping or tilting, which is essential for a reproducible spring characteristic curve and a constant force flow.
Technical details
The spring support functions as a key component of the spring-mass-damper system and, through the appropriate choice of materials, helps effectively reduce vibrations, resonances, noise and shock loads. It is typically designed as a rubber-metal spring washer, either with or without a raised metal ring.
Characteristics
Spring supports significantly improve the performance of the primary suspension system in railway vehicles by evenly distributing the forces from the primary steel springs across the contact surfaces, thereby reducing local stress peaks and wear. Through their stabilizing effect, they ensure the exact position of the spring and thereby support precise axle guidance. In this way, they contribute to significantly improved running reliability. At the same time, they dampen vibrations and resonances by acting as elastic intermediate layers and reducing dynamic loads. Furthermore, they compensate for tolerances and settlement, ensuring that the spring characteristic curve and spring rate remain stable, thereby increasing the reliability and service life of the entire undercarriage.