Retaining element, a shaft assembly and methods for assembling or disassembling the shaft assembly

A method for assembling a shaft assembly, comprising the steps of:

• providing a shaft which is configured to rotate and to transfer torque, the shaft having a shaft attribute mounted thereon,
• shifting a retaining element on the shaft reaching the shaft attribute, the retaining element having a mainly annular geometry extending in a circumferential direction around the shaft, the retaining element further being provided with a multiple of locking elements located offset from the shaft,
• shifting a clamping element on the shaft for counteracting or limiting movement of the shaft attribute mounted on the shaft in at least one axial direction, the clamping element having a mainly annular geometry extending in the circumferential direction around the shaft, the clamping element further having two circumferential end portions opposing each other, wherein the clamping element is elastically deformable between a relaxed state wherein the two circumferential end portions are located relatively close to each other and a widened state wherein the two circumferential end portions are located relatively remote from each other in the circumferential direction, and
• moving the clamping element towards an axial position on the shaft wherein the clamping element is radially locked between the shaft and the locking elements of the retaining element,
• wherein the retaining element has an outer ring-shaped structure and wherein the multiple number of locking elements are formed as lugs extending radially inwardly from the outer ring-shaped structure towards the clamping element, the lugs being mainly evenly distributed in the circumferential direction and concentrically surrounding the clamping element,
• wherein the radially inwardly extending lugs are axially elastically deformable between a relaxed position radially locking the clamping element and a tensioned position radially releasing the clamping element,
• wherein the retaining element has a flanged inner ring-shaped structure for transferring axial forces from and/or towards the clamping element and the shaft attribute, wherein a radius of the flanged inner ring-shaped structure is smaller than a radius of the outer ring-shaped structure,
• wherein the retaining element comprises intermediate parts interconnecting the outer ring-shaped structure with the flanged inner ring-shaped structure,
• wherein the flanged inner ring-shaped structure is slightly axially offset along an offset distance in an axial direction relative to the lugs,
• and wherein the intermediate parts and the lugs are alternately located in the circumferential direction.