This traditional suspension element consists of curved steel strips bound together to form an oval shape. As a load is applied to the top and bottom centers, the ends push outward, absorbing shocks through the bending of the metal leaves. They were widely used in early railway carriages and heavy wagons before coil springs and dampers became standard.
Heard on the job
Check the shackles on the rear elliptic spring for excessive wear before we load the carriage.
Also heard as
- full-elliptic spring
Related terms
Shock absorber
A mechanical or hydraulic device designed to damp sudden impulses and dissipate kinetic energy.
Damping
The dissipation of energy in a vibrating system to reduce the amplitude of oscillations over time.
Compliance
The inverse of stiffness, representing how much a structure deforms under a given load.