Experimental study on a redesign coil spring compressor for light commercial vehicles

Abstract

This study examined various types of coil spring compressors in the automobile industries. A coil spring compressor for compressing a coil spring during the assembly of subassemblies of automotive suspension systems, having a head jaw positioned above a base and movable with respect to the base. The coil spring compressor is provided with a pair of guide bars suspended from the head plate and on which a slidable carriage is mounted. The carriage carries a pair of compressing assemblies facing each other in the vertical positions and positioned at both the upper and lower parts of the coil spring. Each assembly comprises a pair of compressor arms interconnected with each other. Each compressor arm is provided with a jaw mount to which a compressing hook is adjustably attached. The jaws are introduced between some few successive turns of the coil spring by operating handles provided on the compressor arms. The purpose of this design is to be use on various types of suspension disassembly and assembly of vehicles, the tool includes the upper and the lower jaw which by the smooth turning of the screw lowers to compress the coil spring or turns to release the compressed coil spring. The new design was made from mild steel and tools used for the construction are Electric arc welding machine, power and hand hacksaws, the bench vice, assorted hammers, vice, etc. The findings indicated that the new design is more efficient than the existing one. It was also recommended that car owners who visit the workshop should insist on the use of the right compression tool in the disassemble and assemble of their suspension systems.