Clockwork springs bounce back to prominence
An
Institute Of Spring Technology product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Aug 14, 2003
A novel research project is looking at ways in which clockwork spring mechanisms can replace batteries in electronic products.
The IST is the lead partner in a project due to be completed in October 2003, supported by the DTI and EPSRC under the STI programme.
The other partners are the British Toy and Hobby Association, Spiroflex, Harris Springs, Morphy Richards and the University of Bradford.
Clockwork springs have always been used for energy storage; however electrical power has increasingly been used for small consumer products.
The number of batteries used each year is enormous and the hazardous materials used in their construction mean that battery disposal is a serious environmental concern.
Advances in electrical products mean that these devices require less power consumption and micro-power electronics could allow a stable supply of power from clockwork-powered generators.
This project will investigate the use of springs as a viable alternative to battery power.
The aim of the project is to: develop improved software for constant force spring analysis; survey the UK industry for small battery-operated consumer products and identify potential applications for battery replacement by springs; perform comparison of power/weight/space envelope for spring versus battery; perform life cycle analysis for springs and environmental impact for spring versus battery; identify manufacturers' requirements and disseminate information at specific meetings; and develop an industrial network for the discussion of springs.
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