A solenoid spring returns the plunger and mechanism to neutral when the solenoid is deactivated. Most are coil type in hardened steel, with compression or extension depending on design. The solenoid works against the spring’s energy, and too weak or strong a spring can cause issues.
A solenoid spring is the component that returns the plunger and actuated mechanism to its neutral position when the solenoid is deactivated. Most of the springs used are the standard coil type in hardened spring steel. Many solenoid designs place the spring around the plunger, which compresses the spring when actuated. In others, it may be attached to a part of the mechanism that the solenoid is used to activate and extends when the solenoid activates. In all cases, however, the solenoid works against the solenoid spring pressure. This is true for both push and pull solenoid types.
Electric solenoids provide actuation for a variety of mechanisms that use electromagnetic force to pull a plunger in a hollow coil. The movement of the plunger is then utilized to provide the required actuation force. When the solenoid is deactivated, however, the system must reset or return to its inactive, neutral position. This action is achieved by including a solenoid spring in the mechanism. In other words, the solenoid works against the energy stored by the spring when it is activated. Once power to the solenoid is removed, the spring pushes or pulls the solenoid plunger and the actuated mechanism to the neutral position.
In most cases, the solenoid spring is the common coil type. Made of hardened spring steel, this type of spring is efficient, economical, and provides enough stored energy to get the solenoid to reset. The spring action can be either compression or extension depending on the design of the solenoid. For example, a traction solenoid may have the spring placed around the plunger. When actuated, the plunger on this type of solenoid pulls in the hollow center of the coil, compressing the spring of the solenoid.
Other designs may use a spring attached to the actuated mechanism that extends when the solenoid is activated. In rare cases, the design of the solenoid and the mechanism that drives it may require a special solenoid spring design such as leaf or coil springs, making the solenoids relatively expensive to repair. Fortunately, these types of solenoids are not encountered frequently, and most coil solenoid springs can be replaced by generic spring selections when worn or broken. However, care must be taken to ensure that the solenoid spring is replaced with one of comparable strength. Too strong a spring can cause the solenoid to vibrate or not activate at all, while too weak a spring may not reset the mechanism properly.
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