Curved wire spring clamp with optimized bending stress distribution

Abstract

A curved wire spring clamp which distributes bending stresses linearly based on the distance from the point of load application while maintaining torsional integrity. Bending stresses are distributed by providing apertures which change the effective width of the spring along its length. In the preferred embodiment the apertures approximate a triangular cantilever and are centrally placed along each leg portion near a constrained curved portion of the spring to change the spring's bending characteristics and distribute the bending stress more evenly throughout the length of the spring thereby reducing the peak bending stress level as compared with an equivalent spring design without apertures. A loop shaped flat spring, consisting of curved portions and nearly straight portions with a decreasing effective width to the point of load application provides a more efficient design than a similarly shaped spring of constant width which reduces the bending stress at the constrained portions by distributing the bending stress throughout the straight portions.