Examination of the physical-chemical and mechanical properties of helical cylindrical compression springs preserved in the Legacy in the Nikola Tesla Museum

Abstract

The results of the scientific research work and creativity of Nikola Tesla (Smiljan, 1856 - New York, 1943), a Serbian-American scientist, engineer and inventor, represent the foundation of new technical and technological breakthroughs that began at the end of the 19th century, and without which our everyday life would be unthinkable. The legacy of Nikola Tesla is located in his museum in Belgrade and present unique collection composed from archive documents, different items (personal and technical items) and library (monographies, periodical publications and newspaper clips). The number of original technical items from Tesla's legacy (295 in total) is finite and unchangeable. The collection of items from the field of mechanical engineering consists of 122 different museum artifacts from the following areas: turbo machines, tribology, speed measurement, length measurement, temperature measurement, measuring tools, accessories for technical drawing and writing, machine assemblies and elements, etc. The most numerous groups of objects consist of springs (coil-cylindrical, spiral strip), a total of 30 exhibits. Models of spiral cylindrical springs, depending on how they are loaded, are compression (8 pcs.) or tension type (14 pcs.). The aim of this paper is to present preserved models and to examine the physical-chemical and mechanical properties and contribute with additional knowledge to the Nikola Tesla legacy.