1. Spring release

The spring is an energy accumulator that can be used in a very short time to rapidly move a component. This is the case for springs used to close high-speed motor valves or safety valves, percussion or marking springs, circuit-breaker springs, etc.

A common problem is to find out the velocity v imparted to a mass m or the duration t of relaxation. It is solved by equating the spring's elastic potential W with the kinetic energy U acquired by the moving mass m.

For these applications, springs with internal friction or self-damping, such as rubber springs, should be avoided, as they dissipate part of the energy supplied to them as heat. All other springs can be used.

The mass of the spring is involved in the movement in a rather complex way. It is generally considered that one third of the spring mass contributes to...