Springs are the last thing you think about when it comes to
intricate machines. However, these strips of metal are one of the key elements
that make some machines work. Components like extension springs
make Ohio cars and tools function the way they should.
It's great that springs have become such key parts of tools
and equipment, but how did they come to be what they are today? Here are
interesting facts that explain how springs became the way they are today.
Ancient History: The Bow
It doesn't look like it, but bows are one of the earliest
and simplest implementations of springs. The main source of power came from the
bent wooden limbs attached to the riser and kept bent by a sturdy piece of
string.
These bows are important components of human history as it
helped ancestors to hunt animals that are too fast or physically better for men
to catch on their own.
1333 BC: The Tutankhamun-Class Chariots
It does seem weird when you first think about it, but it
makes perfect sense that the Tutankhamun-class chariots of Ancient Egypt would
have springs that would make the ride all the more pleasurable for the
civilization's god-kings.
While the suspension systems on these chariots aren't as
complex as those found in cars today, the fact that it had some sort of springs
to help with the handling of the vehicle is a testament to the technological
edge the Egyptians had then.
1493: The Matchlock Pistol, Da Vinci Style
The introduction of guns revolutionized how wars were fought
and won. However, these weapons of war didn't reach its deadly effectiveness
until Leonardo Da Vinci stuck a spring inside a matchlock pistol around 1493 to
improve it.
He designed the spring so people can trigger the gun by just
one hand. He also made improvements to the powder pan and fuse, making it an
effective weapon during the Renaissance. Thanks to this improvement by Da
Vinci, almost all modern guns require a spring to function properly.
1675: Hooke's Law
During this time, British physicist Robert Hooke discovered
that the force needed to compress or extend a spring
proportionally scales in length. It came to be known as Hooke's Law, and it
changed how people interacted with springs.
It helped engineers understand the traits of springs better
and add it to machines like clocks with improved designs.
1763: The First Coil Spring
It didn't take long before coil springs came to existence in
the world. The first man to patent the coil spring was R. Tradewell, who was
given a patent No. 792.
This patent was important because it allowed springs to
function without the need for lubrication. Thanks to this, the production of
machines with springs became simpler and more effective.
Springs may not have changed much over time, but its history
has helped define history in more ways than one. It will take a while before
one spring can change history entirely. Life will surely change for the better
if they find a new thing to tweak with the classic spring.
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