BELLEVILLE SPRING

A Belleville spring consists of coned disk, as shown in Fig. 01.It

resembles to a dinner plate without bottom. This type of spring is also called
coned disk spring. It is also called Belleville spring because it was invented
by Julia Belleville, who patented its design in France in 1867. Belleville spring
has typical load deflection characteristic, as shown in Fig. 02. The variation
of ht ratio produces a wide variety of load deflection curves. For example,
when ht ratio is 3.5, S curve is obtained which is useful in applications
involving snap acting mechanism. When ht is reduced to 2.1, the central
portion of curve becomes horizontal, which means that load is constant for
this range of deflection. This portion of the curve is useful for engaging or
disengaging the clutch, when Belleville spring is used as a clutch spring.
Belleville spring is offers following advantages:

Fig. 01 Belleville Spring

 Fig. 02 Load Deflection Curves for Belleville Springs

• It is simple construction and easy to manufacture.

• Belleville spring is a compact spring unit.
• It is especially useful where very large force is desired for small
deflection of spring.
• It provides a wide range of spring constants making it versatile.
• It can provide any linear or non-linear load deflection characteristic.
• The individual coned disks of a particular size and thickness can be
stacked in series, parallel or series parallel combinations, as shown in
Fig. 03. These combinations provide a variety of spring constants
without changing the design. When two Belleville springs are arranged
in series, double deflection is obtained for the same force. On the other
hand, when two Belleville springs are in parallel, almost double fore is
obtained for a given deflection.
Nesting of Belleville Springs
 Series Combination
 Parallel Combination
 Parallel Series Combination

Belleville springs are used in plate clutches and brakes, gun recoil
mechanisms, relief valves and a wide variety of bolted connections .

The analysis of Belleville spring is exceedingly complex and

mathematical treatment is beyond the scope of the topic. The load-
deflection and load-stress equations of Belleville spring are as follows:

P= Eδ (1-μ2)M(d/2)2h-δ/2h-δt+t3

σ=Eδ1-μ2M(d/2)2C1h-δ/2)+C2t

Where:

P = Axial force (N) δ

δ = Deflection spring (m)

t= Thickness of washer (m)

h= Free height minus thickness (m)

E= Modulus of elasticity ( N/m2)

 σ= Stress at the inside circumference ( pa)

do= Outer diameter of washer (m)

di= Inner diameter of washer (m)

μ= Poisson’s ratio (0.3) for steel

M=6πlogedo/ di(do/di)-1(dodi)2

C1=6πlogedodido/di-1logedo/di-1

C2=6πlogedo/dido/di-12

PROBLEM:

A Belleville spring is made of silicon steel. The spring is

compressed completely flat when it is subjected to axial force of 4,200N. The
corresponding maximum stress is (1375MPa). Assume,

dodi = 1.75 and ht = 1.5

Calculate:

 thickness of washer ;
 free height of washer minus thickness (h) ;
 outer diameter of washer ; and
 inner diameter of washer.
SOLUTION:

When spring is compressed completely flat, δ = h

We used our formula:

M=6πlogedo/ di(do/di)-1(dodi)2

M=6πloge1.75(1.75)-1(1.75)2= 0.6268
 C1=6πlogedodido/di-1logedo/di-1

C1=6πloge1.751.75-1loge1.75-1= 1.161

C2=6πlogedo/dido/di-12

C2=6πloge1.751.75-12 = 1.28

Dividing pσ

pσ=Eδ (1-μ2)M(d/2)2h-δ/2h-δt+t3Eδ1-μ2M(d/2)2C1h-δ/2)+C2t

pσ=h-δ/2h-δt+t3C1h-δ/2)+C2t Since:
h =δ

pσ=t3C1h-δ/2)+C2t

Substituting the value;

4200 N1375 MPa=t31.1611.5t-1.5t/2)+1.28t

4200 N1375 MPa=t22.15

t =2.5630219 x 10-3 m or 2.563 mm

h= 1.5(2.5630219 x 10-3m)

h =3.844532921x 10-3m or 3.8445 mm or 3.9 mm

Solve for inner and outer diameter:

P= Eδ (1-μ2)M(d/2)2h-δ/2h-δt+t3

Since h=δ

P= Eδ (1-μ2)M(d/2)2(t3)
 E= 207,000 MPa

μ=0.3

t= 2.5630219 x 10-3m

h= 3.844532921x 10-3m

Substituting the value,

4200N= (207,000 MPa*0.0039) 1-.32.6268(do/2)2(.0025633)

do=0. 1495688596m or 149.5688596mm

di=do1.75

di=149.5688596mm1.75

di=85.46791977mm