Snap ring
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsNelson David Bove, Jeffrey Alan Miller, Larry Francis Traficant, Jay Robert Deller, Thomas Frederick McGill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snap ring having improved retention characteristics is configured for use inside a cylindrical cavity. The cavity includes a retention device having a retention surface forming an obtuse angle with the cavity wall. As an axial load is applied to the snap ring, it moves along the retention surface, thereby experiencing a reduction in diameter. The snap ring includes a circumferential discontinuity defined by two generally radial planar surfaces, or ring ends. The discontinuity is configured such that the ring ends will abut one another before the snap ring diameter is reduced beyond the retaining diameter.
Claims18
A retaining ring for use inside a generally cylindrical cavity having at least one retaining feature, the at least one retaining feature having a first diameter, the retaining ring comprising:
- a ring body having an outer body diameter and a slot therethrough, the slot being defined by a first ring end and a second ring end, and configured such that the outer body diameter exceeds the first diameter of the at least one retaining feature when the ring body is deflected such that the first ring end is abutted against the second ring end.
A retaining ring for use inside a generally cylindrical cavity having at least one retaining feature, the at least one retaining feature having a first diameter, the retaining ring comprising:
- a one-piece radially elastic ring body including a first annular surface defining an inside body diameter and a second annular surface defining an outside body diameter, the ring body having a circumferential discontinuity therethrough, the discontinuity being defined by a first ring end disposed at a predetermined distance from a second ring end when the ring body is in free form, the predetermined distance being set such that the outside body diameter exceeds the first diameter of the at least one retaining feature when the ring body is loaded such that the first ring end contacts the second ring end.
A retaining ring for use inside a generally cylindrical cavity having a plurality of retention tabs circumferentially disposed within the cavity and defining a first tab diameter, the retaining ring comprising:
- a ring body having an outer body diameter and a slot therethrough, the slot being defined by first and second ring ends and configured such that the outer body diameter exceeds the first tab diameter when the ring body is deflected such that the first ring end is abutted against the second ring end.
A method of installing a retaining ring inside a generally cylindrical cavity having a cavity opening and at least one retaining feature, the at least one retaining feature having a first diameter, the method comprising:
- choosing a snap ring from an inventory of differently sized snap rings, the chosen snap ring having a minimum outer body diameter exceeding the first diameter of the at least one retaining feature;
- inserting a first ring end into the cavity through the cavity opening;
- inserting a second ring end into the cavity through the cavity opening such that the snap ring forms a helical coil inside the cavity;
- and
- displacing the snap ring within the cavity until the snap ring abuts the at least one retaining feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.