mounting torsion springs

[klapin]

my team is working on a summer project and we are having issues mounting torsion springs for our mechanism. I was wonder how teams have mounted torsion springs.

[Andrew Bates]

The circular part of the spring should mount on a bolt or shaft, usually in line with the axis of rotation.

[DELurker]

Do you have a sketch or photo of what you have and what's not working? Generically, the simplest application of a torsion spring is a spring clothespin.

What part of the mounting isn't working? Since traditional torsion springs have a hole in the middle for a shaft and that hole closes down some as the spring is tensioned, do you have it supported on a shaft that is smaller than the ID at maximum torsion?

[sanddrag]

If it's a small enough size, I like using a shoulder bolt.

[BrendanB]

Our team used two torsion springs on our climber. See the pictures below. If you need more detailed pictures or have any questions feel free to ask.

Its pretty straight forward using 1/4-20 rod, nuts, and washers. One rod is mounted on our upper arm and two on the lower arm one acting to hold the coil.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3fxabc28nvvkcr8/n9AHS63Y9o/3467#/

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/482424_514586111940494_2110212460_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/970372_514586068607165_927759658_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/644706_243602249113096_1992471840_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/426107_422911197791705_67212219_n.jpg