Lehtilähteisiin

Lehtilähteisiin, a Finnish term translating to "leaf springs," refers to a type of spring commonly used in vehicle suspension systems. They are a type of automotive suspension component that is typically made of several layers of steel. These layers are bound together and often curve slightly upwards in the center. When a vehicle's wheel encounters a bump or depression in the road, the leaf springs compress and expand, absorbing the shock and providing a smoother ride. This elastic deformation of the spring material stores and releases kinetic energy.

Leaf springs are characterized by their simplicity, durability, and cost-effectiveness, making them a popular choice for heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, buses, and trailers. They are also found in some older passenger cars. The design of leaf springs can vary, with common types including semi-elliptical, quarter-elliptical, and parabolic springs. The semi-elliptical design is the most prevalent, where the spring is mounted at both ends to the vehicle's chassis and arches over the axle. The number and thickness of the steel layers, known as leaves, determine the spring's stiffness and load-carrying capacity. Despite the advent of more sophisticated suspension technologies, leaf springs remain a reliable and widely used component in the automotive industry.