Putting a spring in their step
11 October 2012
Smalley flat wire wave springs from TFC are currently being used by shoe manufacturers for cushioning the soles of both athletic and casual shoes.
Wave springs were chosen in place of coil springs for this unusual application because the former are able to offer space saving properties as well as contributing lighter weight to the design.
Wave springs, which typically operate at half the height of conventional coil springs, provide an accurate repeatable load in both the heel and ball of these shoes.
A single crest-to-crest wave spring in the heel and two parallel wave springs in the ball of the shoe absorb the impacts associated with athletic activities, reducing the stresses on athletes' joints.
The wave springs, manufactured in corrosion resistant 17-7 stainless steel, have a high cycle life commensurate with this specialist application, and offer accurate, repeatable loads. Indeed, the spring will outlast the life of the shoe itself.
Using the same novel method of manufacture, TFC Spirolox retaining rings offer an ideal space saving alternative to conventional circlips. By 'edge-coiling' rectangular section material to exact dimensions (rather than using the die-stamping process that is used to produce conventional circlips), Spirolox retaining rings have a uniform cross-section without lugs to interfere with the assembly and are free of burrs. With a wide range of sizes and materials to chose from, there is a Spirolox ring to suit most applications.
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