Torsion springs can be either single, which gives a higher force in a smaller space, or double, which provides a balanced force or torque.

A modern car interior contains springs in the centre console, glove box, cup holders, grab handles, sun visors and door mechanisms, the designof which has to take into account factors as tactility and strength, available space and operational life.

With so many options available, many car interior manufacturers are using the total design service available from William Hughes to engineer individual springs that provide the most cost-effective solution for each application.

Torsion springs provide a perfect solution for many automotive applications.

They can be either single, which gives a higher force in a smaller space, or double, which provides a balanced force or torque.

To overcome friction springs can be coated with special materials or the spring geometry can be optimised to minimise the effect.

Other options include tension or compression springs in a range of sizes and materials.

In modern vehicles, each part of the car interior needs to impart the right 'feel' to the driver.

So when the design engineers at William Hughes were asked to develop a special torsion spring to release an armrest catch on a central console, ergonomics were the primary consideration.

The catch mechanism had to be designed to slow the movement of the console to make it open gently.

The team at William Hughes was provided with a complete set of parameters for the operation.

The design engineer needed to fully understand every aspect of the application to ensure that the proposed design would be both economical and fully compatible with the plastics and fabrics also used in the assembly.

The designer needed to consider how the unit could be assembled quickly and easily.

With the help of the latest computer aided design software and specialised spring data, William Hughes used their knowledge and experience to develop a spring that was optimised for the application.

In this instance a single torsion spring provided the best solution and William Hughes was able to quickly produce prototype springs for evaluation before the design was finalised for volume production.