Article courtesy of Rotor Clip
RINGS
What are the technical factors to consider before choosing retaining rings for an assembly?
Much like a screw requires a correctly tapped hole, retaining rings need properly cut grooves for high-quality performance. Both grooved walls should be parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the shaft or housing.
28
December 2021
It’s challenging to develop economical designs that reduce weight, size, raw materials, labor, and costs. Retaining rings hold components in place while accomplishing these goals. Retaining rings are metal fasteners that secure components or assemblies onto a shaft or in a housing or bore. Essentially, these devices keep parts in place using a compact design that requires fewer machining operations than other fastening techniques. Like most fasteners, retaining rings can range in size (from 1 mm to 1 m in diameter) and are available in different combinations of size, shape, style, and material. However, knowing which ring is ideal for an application will contribute to the overall effectiveness and economy of the design. www.fastenerengineering.com
Here are some factors to consider before choosing a retaining ring for an assembly. Groove depth and preparation Retaining rings are installed into a groove on a shaft or bore and, therefore, should fit the specific grooves to perform as designed. The grooved walls should be parallel to one another, yet perpendicular to the axis of the shaft or housing. When a load is applied, it creates a lever action against the loaded, grooved wall. Under extreme loads, this can lead to a deflection of the ring and, ultimately, failure. Failure is far more likely to occur if the incorrect ring is used for the application. Standard or inverted lugs Before settling on a retaining ring style, DESIGN WORLD
