Under compression, the coils slide past each other, thus enabling the spring to be compressed to a very short length in comparison with what would be possible with a more conventional helical spring.
There are two typical types of volute spring: Double volute springs can frequently be found as a component of garden pruning shears.
However, the applications of volute springs are not limited to such light-duty purposes as gardening shears.
For example, volute springs are used to cushion the impact between railway cars and as a core element of the suspension system of Sherman tanks.
A volute spring buffer device for railway cars was invented by John Brown in 1848.