A clip spring assembly tool

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of clamp spring assembly tools, including base, horizontal sliding slot and longitudinal clamping slot are respectively arranged on the upper surface and front surface of base, horizontal sliding slot penetrates the front surface and rear surface of base, longitudinal clamping slot penetrates the upper surface of base, and horizontal sliding slot is communicated with longitudinal clamping slot;Horizontal sliding slot is respectively arranged with the main clamping jaw of relatively movable left side and right side, and the bottom surface between each main clamping jaw and horizontal sliding slot is equipped with auxiliary clamping jaw;The cross-sectional shape of longitudinal clamping slot is semicircle or arc, and the front end of two main clamping jaws and the front end of two auxiliary clamping jaws are equipped with the notch corresponding with longitudinal clamping slot, and the notch of main clamping jaw and the notch of auxiliary clamping jaw are equipped with the limit protrusion extending in radial direction.The present application solves the existing problems that traditional clamp spring installation tool is single function and cannot be compatible with different types of clamp spring.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of hardware tools, and specifically relates to a snap ring assembly tool. Background Technology

[0002] Snap rings, as an indispensable fastening component in the field of mechanical assembly, are widely used for axial positioning and locking in various rotary or linear motion mechanisms. Their core function is to apply precise axial restraint force to mating parts such as bearings, gears, and pulleys by embedding them in annular grooves on shafts or holes, thereby preventing unexpected movement or loosening of parts during operation and ensuring the stability and safety of the transmission system. Given their outstanding advantages such as simple structure, small footprint, convenient assembly and disassembly, and reliable load-bearing capacity, snap rings have become a highly standardized basic component in many manufacturing fields, including the automotive industry, aerospace, construction machinery, electronic equipment, and home appliances.

[0003] From a classification perspective, there are many types of retaining rings, and industry practice typically categorizes them systematically based on multiple dimensions. If subdivided according to structural shape, they can be further divided into C-type retaining rings (also known as open retaining rings), E-type retaining rings (also known as E-shaped snap rings), U-type retaining rings, and wave retaining rings, among others. Among these, C-type and E-type retaining rings, due to their superior molding process and stable mechanical properties, hold a dominant position in industrial practice and are widely used in assembly scenarios for medium to large-scale mass production. The C-type retaining ring is characterized by its overall open circular shape, with an opening at one end, and process holes for tooling near the opening. The E-type retaining ring, named for its resemblance to the letter "E," consists of a nearly straight base and three toothed protrusions perpendicular to that base, and is a radially mounted elastic element on the shaft end.

[0004] Because of the fundamental differences in geometry between C-type and E-type retaining rings, the installation tools required for their assembly are completely different, making them entirely incompatible and non-interchangeable. Specifically, the industry standard for installing C-type retaining rings currently employs a dedicated retaining ring pliers. This tool involves inserting the pliers head into the process hole at the end of the C-type retaining ring, applying gripping force to open or close the jaws, thus forcing the C-type retaining ring to elastically deform and expand or shrink its opening diameter, ultimately facilitating easy insertion or removal. For E-type retaining rings, a dedicated E-shaped fork is used for pressing. This fork-shaped tool aligns its forks with the base plane of the E-type retaining ring, and then mechanical pressure or manual impact is used to push the E-type retaining ring radially into a pre-set groove. These two tools not only differ significantly in appearance and structure but also in their operating principles and methods. Therefore, in actual production, operators often need to frequently switch tools depending on the type of retaining ring, undoubtedly increasing tool management and usage costs.

[0005] The aforementioned two types of tools are not interchangeable, which has led to several other derivative problems. On the one hand, to meet different snap ring assembly requirements, companies must simultaneously purchase and stock two types of specialized tools, which directly increases the cost of production equipment and also occupies more warehousing and maintenance resources. On the other hand, when operators misjudge and select the wrong tool, it can easily lead to safety accidents such as snap ring plastic deformation, groove damage, or tool breakage, seriously affecting assembly quality and work efficiency. Although existing snap ring products themselves are highly standardized, and their dimensional series and mechanical properties are strictly regulated by international and domestic standards (such as GB / T893, GB / T894, etc.), the technological development of matching installation tools has lagged behind, and a unified universal function compatible with multiple snap ring types has not yet been achieved.

[0006] Therefore, there is a current need for a new type of snap ring installation tool that can overcome the limitations of traditional tools that only support a single type of snap ring, and be compatible with the installation and removal needs of at least C-type and E-type snap rings. This universal tool can not only effectively simplify the assembly process and improve operational efficiency, but also significantly reduce the overall production costs and tool management complexity for manufacturing enterprises while ensuring that the snap ring itself is not damaged. Based on this, it is indeed necessary to innovatively improve existing snap ring installation tools to solve the aforementioned long-standing technical problems in the industry. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies and solve the problems of traditional snap ring installation tools having limited functionality and incompatibility with different types of snap rings, this invention provides a snap ring assembly tool, including a base. A horizontal sliding groove and a longitudinal locking groove are respectively provided on the top and front of the base. The horizontal sliding groove extends through the front and rear of the base, and the longitudinal locking groove extends through the top of the base, with the horizontal sliding groove and the longitudinal locking groove communicating with each other. Relatively movable main grippers are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the horizontal sliding groove, and a secondary gripper is provided between the bottom of each main gripper and the bottom surface of the horizontal sliding groove. The longitudinal locking groove... The cross-sectional shape is semi-circular or arc-shaped. The front ends of the two main grippers and the two auxiliary grippers are provided with notches corresponding to the longitudinal slots. The notches of the main grippers and the auxiliary grippers are provided with radially extending limiting protrusions. A hinge frame for driving the main grippers and auxiliary grippers to slide in the front-back direction is provided behind the horizontal slide. A first elastic element is provided on the bottom wall of the longitudinal slot. The elastic force of the first elastic element pushes the overlapping retaining springs in the longitudinal slot upward. By swinging the hinge frame upward, the limiting protrusions of the auxiliary grippers exit the longitudinal slot before the limiting protrusions of the main grippers.

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the snap ring assembly tool in this invention is as follows: Two opposing and parallel sidewalls are provided on the top of the base, and a horizontal groove is formed in the inner space of the two sidewalls; two opposing hinge seats are also provided on the top of the base, extending upwards and higher than the sidewalls; the two hinge seats correspond one-to-one with the two sidewalls, and each hinge seat is located on the outer side of the corresponding sidewall. A transverse hinge shaft is provided between the two hinge seats, higher than the sidewalls; a transversely sliding main horizontal shaft is provided between the two main jaws, and the main horizontal shaft is close to the rear end of the main jaws; a transversely sliding secondary horizontal shaft is provided between the two secondary jaws, and the secondary horizontal shaft is close to the rear end of the secondary jaws; the hinge frame includes a support rod, a main push rod, and a secondary push rod, the front end and rear end of the support rod being connected to the upper part of the main push rod and the middle part of the hinge shaft, respectively; the lower end of the main push rod is hinged to the main horizontal shaft; the upper end and lower end of the secondary push rod are hinged to the lower middle part of the main push rod and the secondary horizontal shaft, respectively.

[0009] The hinge seat supports the hinge shaft, and the support rod rotates around the hinge shaft without wobbling, following a unique trajectory, providing stable support for the main push rod and the auxiliary push rod. The connection between the support rod, the main push rod, and the auxiliary push rod creates a stroke difference, causing the main push rod and the auxiliary push rod to slide accordingly with the swing of the support rod. If sliding forward, the auxiliary push rod reaches the longitudinal slot before the main push rod, thus pushing the current retaining spring forward; if sliding backward, the auxiliary push rod exits the longitudinal slot before the main push rod, facilitating the automatic filling of the next retaining spring from bottom to top.

[0010] The preferred embodiment of the snap ring assembly tool in this invention is as follows: each hinge seat is provided with a transverse adjusting bolt, and each adjusting bolt is threadedly connected to the corresponding hinge seat; each main jaw is provided with a movable plate between it and the corresponding side wall; the end of each adjusting bolt passes through the corresponding side wall and is rotatably connected to the corresponding movable plate. By rotating the adjusting bolt, the distance between the two main jaws is changed. Simultaneously rotating the two adjusting bolts causes the two movable plates to move away from or closer to each other, thereby adjusting the distance between the two main jaws. This tool is compatible with various sizes of C-type and E-type snap rings available on the market.

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the snap ring assembly tool in this invention is as follows: one long side of each secondary gripper extends upward, and the extended portion forms a baffle; two baffles face each other, and a second elastic element is provided between the two baffles. The elastic force of the second elastic element causes the two baffles to be pressed tightly against the sides of the two main grippers in a one-to-one correspondence. The second elastic element provides elastic force as the distance between the two main grippers increases, and the main grippers and their corresponding movable plates adjust synchronously.

[0012] The preferred embodiment of the snap ring assembly tool in this invention is as follows: Each main gripper has a through-cavity. A fixing plate is located within the cavity on the top of the base. A third elastic element is provided between each fixing plate and one side of the corresponding cavity. The elastic force of the third elastic element pushes the two main grippers to slide backward. A limiting plate is also provided on the top of the base behind the main grippers to limit the maximum backward sliding distance of the main grippers. The third elastic element is a spring. Each time the hinge frame is manually pressed down, the hinge frame pushes the main grippers forward to compress a snap ring. After the snap ring assembly is completed, releasing the pressure causes the main grippers to move backward using the elastic force of the third elastic element, and the hinge frame returns to its original position, preparing for the next assembly. The two third elastic elements are symmetrically distributed, ensuring even force on the two main grippers and smooth, non-jamming sliding.

[0013] A preferred embodiment of the snap ring assembly tool in this invention is as follows: The first elastic element includes a guide post and a movable post, both with semi-circular cross-sections. The upper end of the guide post is slidably connected to a groove inside the movable post, and a spring is provided between the upper end of the guide post and the groove. The lower end of the guide post is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the longitudinal snap ring groove. The snap ring, which is placed on top of the movable post, is pushed upward by the elastic force of the spring. The shape of the guide post is designed to fit the snap ring. The upper surface area of ​​the guide post is large, and two-thirds of the snap ring's area is placed on the upper surface of the guide post, making it less likely to slip off.

[0014] The preferred embodiment of the snap ring assembly tool in this invention is as follows: two detachable cover plates are provided on the top of the two side walls, covering the space between the two side walls. The cover plates protect the internal precision components from external dust contamination and improve operational safety. The entire tool requires no external power source and can complete all assembly functions entirely by manual operation, making it particularly suitable for on-site work environments without power supply or where portability is a high priority.

[0015] The preferred embodiment of the snap ring assembly tool in this invention is as follows: multiple pads are sandwiched between every two adjacent snap rings, and all the pads correspond one-to-one with the limiting protrusions of the secondary gripper. Each time a snap ring is assembled, the topmost snap ring among the overlapping snap rings is subsequently pushed between the upper limiting protrusion (the limiting protrusion of the main gripper is the upper limiting protrusion) and the lower limiting protrusion (the limiting protrusion of the secondary gripper is the lower limiting protrusion). The lower limiting protrusion pushes the pad under the snap ring forward, while ensuring that the adjacent lower snap ring is pressed tightly against the bottom of the lower limiting protrusion, thus achieving automatic snap ring loading. This is particularly suitable for continuous assembly and offers higher assembly efficiency.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the snap ring assembly tool in this invention are as follows: 1. Based on a deep understanding of the common geometric features of C-type and E-type retaining rings, both having an outer contour that is largely semi-circular, a groundbreaking composite clamping structure consisting of main and auxiliary grippers was designed. The front ends of both main grippers and both auxiliary grippers have notches corresponding to the longitudinal slots, and each notch has a radially extending limiting protrusion. This structural design allows both C-type retaining rings (positioned using end process holes) and E-type retaining rings (positioned using the base edge) to be stably gripped and precisely pushed by the same set of gripper components. This completely breaks through the technical limitations of traditional single-tool compatibility, achieving for the first time the compatibility of C-type and E-type retaining ring installation and removal functions on the same tool, effectively solving the long-standing problem of tool incompatibility in the industry.

[0017] 2. By setting a lateral adjustment bolt and a movable plate, precise and synchronous adjustment of the distance between the two main grippers is achieved, and the two auxiliary grippers adaptively adjust their distance in conjunction with the main grippers under the action of the second elastic element. This design allows the tool to flexibly adapt to C-type and E-type circlips of different diameters on the market (such as the size series covered by standards like GB / T893 and GB / T894), eliminating the need for a separate dedicated tool for each size. Compared to the inherent "one tool for one size" model in existing technologies, this invention significantly expands the applicability of a single tool and significantly reduces the tool procurement costs and warehouse management complexity for enterprises.

[0018] 3. This invention innovatively designs a three-bar articulated frame mechanism consisting of a support rod, a main push rod, and an auxiliary push rod, driving the main gripper and auxiliary gripper respectively via the main and auxiliary horizontal axes. Based on the inherent stroke difference between the main and auxiliary push rods during the swing of the support rod, a unique timing logic is formed: the auxiliary gripper enters the longitudinal slot before the main gripper and exits the longitudinal slot before the main gripper. The engineering significance of this timing design is that when the limiting protrusion of the auxiliary gripper enters the longitudinal slot area first, it can accurately insert into the gap between the uppermost and lower stacked circlips, achieving the material picking function of separating only one circlip at a time; while when the limiting protrusion of the auxiliary gripper exits the longitudinal slot first, it ensures the stability of the circlip's posture at the moment of disengagement, achieving smooth material dropping and accurate slot insertion. This timing control mechanism does not rely on complex electrical or pneumatic components, but is implemented entirely through a pure mechanical structure, resulting in high reliability, low cost, and easy maintenance.

[0019] 4. This invention features a first elastic element on the bottom wall of the longitudinal slot, consisting of a guide post, a movable post, and a spring, ensuring that the stacked snap rings are always pushed upwards to the preset pick-up position. Simultaneously, by inserting pads between each pair of adjacent snap rings, forming a one-to-one correspondence with the limiting protrusions of the secondary gripper, a continuous feeding function is achieved where "the next snap ring automatically positions itself after each assembly is completed." This design eliminates the need for frequent manual picking and positioning during batch assembly operations; operators only need to repeat a simple cycle of "swinging the hinge frame - aligning the installation position - releasing the hinge frame" to complete continuous assembly, significantly improving assembly efficiency in mass production scenarios.

[0020] 5. The main and auxiliary grippers automatically move backward and reset under the elastic force of the third elastic element (spring). Combined with the precise limiting of the backward travel by the limiting plate, this ensures stable operation within the preset travel range for each cycle, preventing tool collisions or unexpected deformation of the retaining ring due to over-operation. Simultaneously, the matching contact method between the limiting protrusion and the retaining ring's process hole or base avoids mechanical damage to the retaining ring surface and workpiece grooves caused by traditional impact-type installation (such as hammering in with an E-shaped fork), effectively guaranteeing assembly quality and product yield.

[0021] 6. The present invention integrates the horizontal slide, the longitudinal slot, the gripper assembly, the hinge drive mechanism, the elastic feeding mechanism and the specification adjustment mechanism on the base, resulting in a compact overall structure and small size.

[0022] 7. The core clamping principle of this invention is based on the geometric feature of the outer contour of the retaining ring being a large semi-circle, rather than being limited to the local structure of a specific retaining ring. Therefore, it is not only applicable to C-type and E-type retaining rings, but can also be further extended to the assembly of U-type retaining rings, wave retaining rings, and other elastic retaining ring-like parts with similar outer contour features. Compared with the rigid adaptation mode of the prior art where "one tool corresponds to only one type of retaining ring", this invention has significant technical extension and application expansion potential. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the snap ring assembly tool in the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 for Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the structure behind the cover plate in this invention is hidden in the middle. Figure 1 ; Figure 3 for Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the structure behind the cover plate in this invention is hidden in the middle. Figure 2 .

[0025] Figure label: 1. Base; 101. Horizontal slide rail; 102. Longitudinal slot; 103. Left side wall; 104. Right side wall; 105. Cover plate; 106. Left hinge seat; 107. Right hinge seat; 108. Hinge shaft; 109. Fixing plate; 110. Limiting plate; 111. Left side adjusting bolt; 112. Right side adjusting bolt; 113. Movable plate; 2. Main gripper; 201. Notch; 202. Upper limit protrusion; 203. Long strip-shaped inner cavity; 204. Third elastic element; 3. Secondary gripper; 301. Lower limit protrusion; 302. Baffle; 303. Second elastic element; 4. Hinged frame; 401. Support rod; 402. Main push rod; 403. Secondary push rod; 404. Main transverse shaft; 405. Secondary transverse shaft; 406. Limiting ring; 5. First elastic element; 501. Guide post; 502. Movable post; 6. Spacer blocks; 7. Snap ring. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventors of this invention, through long-term research and extensive practice, have proposed the technical solution of this invention. The technical solution, its implementation process, and principles will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation examples in the embodiments of this application.

[0027] This embodiment provides a snap ring assembly tool, which is mainly used for continuous batch assembly of C-type snap rings 7 and E-type snap rings 7. It can also be applied to the assembly of U-type snap rings 7, wave snap rings 7 and other elastic retaining ring parts with an outer contour of more than half a circle.

[0028] Reference Figure 1 The snap ring assembly tool includes a base 1 with an integral rectangular block structure. The base 1 is machined from 45# steel to ensure sufficient structural strength and wear resistance, but it is not limited to 45# steel; other materials meeting the strength requirements can also be used. For ease of description, the side of the tool facing the assembly station is defined as "front," the side away from the assembly station as "rear," the operator's left hand side as "left," and the right hand side as "right."

[0029] I. Base 1 and sliding groove structure.

[0030] The top surface of the base 1 is recessed downwards to form a horizontal groove 101, which extends through the front and rear faces of the base 1 in the front-rear direction. A longitudinal slot 102 is formed on the rearward face of the front surface of the base 1, extending vertically through the top surface of the base 1. Spatially, the longitudinal slot 102 is located in the front region of the base 1 and communicates with the front end of the horizontal groove 101 in the front-rear direction. The cross-section of the longitudinal slot 102 is semi-circular, and its diameter is adapted to the outer diameter of the largest specification retaining spring 7 to be assembled, so as to accommodate a stack of retaining springs 7 placed parallel to each other.

[0031] On the top surface of the base 1, on the left and right sides of the horizontal slide 101, a parallel and opposite left side wall 103 and a right side wall 104 are integrally formed. The inner surfaces of the left side wall 103 and the right side wall 104 facing each other, together with the top surface of the base 1, form the horizontal slide 101. A cover plate 105 is detachably installed on the top surface of the left side wall 103 and the right side wall 104 by bolts. The cover plate 105 covers the space between the two side walls and is used to close the top opening of the horizontal slide 101 to prevent external dust and debris from entering the interior of the horizontal slide 101, and at the same time to prevent the operator's hand from accidentally entering the sliding area and causing injury during operation.

[0032] Two opposing hinge seats, a left hinge seat 106 and a right hinge seat 107, are integrally formed on the top surface of the base 1. Each hinge seat corresponds to a left side wall 103 and a right side wall 104, and each hinge seat is located on the outer side of its corresponding side wall. The upward extension of the two hinge seats is greater than the height of the left side wall 103 and the right side wall 104. A laterally extending hinge shaft 108 is fixedly installed between the upper parts of the two hinge seats, located above the side wall.

[0033] II. Gripper Assembly Reference Figure 2 Inside the horizontal slide groove 101, main grippers 2 are respectively located on its left and right sides, and the two main grippers 2 are symmetrically distributed in the left-right direction. Each main gripper 2 has an overall rectangular structure, and its front end has a semi-circular notch 201 that matches the curvature of the longitudinal groove 102, or it can be an arc-shaped notch 201. Between the lower surface of each main gripper 2 and the bottom surface of the horizontal slide groove 101, a secondary gripper 3 is respectively provided. The secondary gripper 3 is generally in the shape of a long strip, and its front end also has a semi-circular notch 201 that matches the curvature of the longitudinal groove 102, or it can be an arc-shaped notch 201.

[0034] Each main gripper 2 has three radially inward protrusions at the edge of its semi-circular notch 201, distributed circumferentially along the semi-circular notch 201. These protrusions serve as upper limit protrusions 202, restricting the longitudinal movement of the retaining ring 7. Similarly, each secondary gripper 3 has three radially inward protrusions at the edge of its semi-circular notch 201, serving as lower limit protrusions 301. The positions of the three lower limit protrusions 301 correspond one-to-one with the three upper limit protrusions 202, and one of the functions of the lower limit protrusions 301 is also to restrict the longitudinal movement of the retaining ring 7.

[0035] The main gripper 2 has a long, through-type inner cavity 203 in the middle. A fixing plate 109 is fixedly installed on the top surface of the base 1, and the fixing plate 109 is located in the inner cavity of the main gripper 2. A third elastic element 204 is installed between each fixing plate 109 and the rear side of the corresponding inner cavity. In this embodiment, the third elastic element 204 is a helical compression spring. The front end of the third elastic element 204 abuts against the fixing plate 109, and the rear end abuts against the rear side wall of the inner cavity. Its elastic force always pushes the main gripper 2 backward, so that the main gripper 2 has a tendency to move away from the longitudinal slot 102. A limiting plate 110 is also fixedly installed at the rear end of the top surface of the base 1. The limiting plate 110 is located behind the main gripper 2 and is used to abut against its rear end face when the main gripper 2 retracts to the limit position, so as to limit the maximum distance of the main gripper 2 sliding backward.

[0036] III. Articulated Drive Mechanism Reference Figure 1and Figure 2 A hinge frame 4 is mounted on a hinge shaft 108 located between the two hinge seats. The hinge frame 4 is used to drive the main gripper 2 and the secondary gripper 3 to slide in the front-back direction. The hinge frame 4 includes a support rod 401, a main push rod 402, and a secondary push rod 403.

[0037] The rear end of the support rod 401 is hinged to the upper part of the main push rod 402 via a round pin, and the front end of the support rod 401 is hinged or rotatably connected to the middle part of the hinge shaft 108. Thus, the support rod 401 can swing up and down in a vertical plane around the hinge shaft 108. The lower end of the main push rod 402 is hinged to the main horizontal shaft 404 via a round pin. The inner surfaces of both main grippers 2 are provided with countersunk holes corresponding to the main horizontal shaft 404. The two ends of the main horizontal shaft 404 are inserted into the two countersunk holes respectively. Since the length of the main horizontal shaft 404 is greater than the distance between the two main grippers 2, even if the distance between the two main grippers 2 increases, the main horizontal shaft 404 will not slide out of the countersunk holes. However, the two main grippers 2 can slide laterally on the main horizontal shaft 404, while the main horizontal shaft 404 can transmit the driving force in the front-to-back direction to the two main grippers 2.

[0038] The upper end of the auxiliary push rod 403 is hinged to the lower middle part of the main push rod 402 by a round pin, and the lower end of the auxiliary push rod 403 is hinged to the auxiliary horizontal shaft 405 by a round pin. The auxiliary horizontal shaft 405 extends laterally through the rear ends of the two auxiliary grippers 3, and each of the rear ends of the two auxiliary grippers 3 is provided with a transverse elongated hole for the auxiliary horizontal shaft 405 to pass through, so that the two auxiliary grippers 3 can slide laterally on the auxiliary horizontal shaft 405. Limiting rings 406 are provided at both ends of the auxiliary horizontal shaft 405, which can prevent the auxiliary horizontal shaft 405 from sliding out of the transverse elongated hole.

[0039] Based on the structural design of the aforementioned hinge frame 4, when the operator presses down on the rear end of the support rod 401, the support rod 401 swings downward around the hinge axis 108, causing the main push rod 402 to move downward. The main push rod 402, through the main horizontal axis 404, pushes the two main grippers 2 to slide forward against the elastic force of the third elastic element 204. At the same time, the movement of the main push rod 402 drives the two secondary grippers 3 to slide forward through the secondary push rod 403 and the secondary horizontal axis 405. Since the hinge point between the main push rod 402 and the secondary push rod 403 is located in the lower middle part of the main push rod 402, and the length and connection angle of the secondary push rod 403 are optimized, the sliding stroke of the secondary grippers 3 is greater than the sliding stroke of the main grippers 2, that is, the secondary grippers 3 reach the longitudinal slot 102 before the main grippers 2. When the operator pulls up on the rear end of the support rod 401, the above actions are reversed, and the secondary grippers 3 exit the longitudinal slot 102 area before the main grippers 2.

[0040] IV. Material Supply Organization Reference Figure 2A first elastic element 5 is provided on the bottom wall of the longitudinal slot 102. The first elastic element 5 includes a guide post 501 and a movable post 502. The cross-sections of both the guide post 501 and the movable post 502 are semi-circular to match the semi-circular cross-section of the longitudinal slot 102. The lower end of the guide post 501 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the longitudinal slot 102, and the upper end of the guide post 501 is slidably fitted into a groove opened inside the lower end of the movable post 502. A spring is installed between the upper end face of the guide post 501 and the top wall of the groove inside the movable post 502. The spring is always in a compressed state, and its elastic force pushes the movable post 502 upward, causing the movable post 502 to slide upward relative to the guide post 501. The stacked retaining rings 7 are placed on the top surface of the movable column 502. Under the elastic force of the spring, the movable column 502 pushes the entire stack of retaining rings 7 upwards, ensuring that the topmost retaining ring 7 is always pressed tightly against the limiting protrusion of the secondary gripper 3, i.e., in the ready-to-remove position. The semi-circular upper surfaces of the guide column 501 and the movable column 502 have a large area, and about two-thirds or more of the area of ​​the retaining rings 7 is supported on them, ensuring that the retaining rings 7 are stable in posture and not easily tilted or slipped during the upward pushing process.

[0041] In addition, if there are many overlapping retaining rings 7, to prevent them from scattering, the longitudinal groove 102 on the front end face of the base 1 can be designed as a blind hole (the blind hole structure is not shown in the figure), instead of a semi-circular longitudinal groove 102. Placing the overlapping retaining rings 7 and the pad 6 onto the first elastic element 5 at the bottom of the blind hole can achieve the same pre-assembly effect and reduce the probability of the retaining rings 7 scattering. Conversely, if there are few overlapping retaining rings 7, the longitudinal groove 102 structure is used.

[0042] V. Specification Adjustment Mechanism Reference Figure 2 Each hinge seat has a transversely penetrating threaded hole, into which an adjusting bolt is installed. Specifically, the left hinge seat 106 has a left adjusting bolt 111, and the right hinge seat 107 has a right adjusting bolt 112. Each adjusting bolt is threadedly connected to its corresponding hinge seat. The end of each adjusting bolt passes through the corresponding side wall and is rotatably connected to a movable plate 113 via a bearing. Specifically, the end of the left adjusting bolt 111 passes through the left side wall 103 and is rotatably connected to the left movable plate 113, and the end of the right adjusting bolt 112 passes through the right side wall 104 and is rotatably connected to the right movable plate 113. Each movable plate 113 is located between the corresponding main gripper 2 and the corresponding side wall.

[0043] When the two adjusting bolts are rotated synchronously in either the forward or reverse direction, the two movable plates 113 are driven to move closer or further apart. The movable plates 113 then push the corresponding main jaws 2 to move laterally, thereby precisely adjusting the distance between the two main jaws 2 to accommodate snap rings 7 of different diameters. This adjustment process is stepless and can cover all commonly used snap ring 7 size series specified in standards such as GB / T893 and GB / T894.

[0044] VI. Floating Follower Mechanism of Secondary Gripper 3 Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 Each secondary gripper 3 has its outer long side bent upwards, forming a baffle 302. Specifically, the baffle 302 of the left secondary gripper 3 extends upwards from its left long side, and the baffle 302 of the right secondary gripper 3 extends upwards from its right long side. The two baffles 302 are positioned opposite each other in the left-right direction, and a second elastic element 303 is installed between the two baffles 302. In this embodiment, the second elastic element 303 is a compression spring. The two ends of the compression spring are respectively connected to the two baffles 302, and its elastic force ensures that the outer surface of each baffle 302 is always tightly fitted against the inner surface of the corresponding main gripper 2.

[0045] Through the aforementioned specification adjustment mechanism, when the operator rotates the adjusting bolt to adjust the distance between the two main grippers 2, the secondary gripper 3 adaptively follows the main grippers 2 to adjust the distance synchronously under the elastic force of the second elastic element 303, without the need for separate adjustment of the secondary gripper 3, thus achieving synchronous and linked adjustment of the distance between the main grippers 2 and the secondary grippers 3. Simultaneously, the baffle 302 does not restrict the forward and backward movement between the main grippers 2 and the secondary grippers 3, that is, it does not affect the travel difference in which the secondary gripper 3 moves to the longitudinal slot 102 before the main grippers 2.

[0046] VII. Separation Mechanism of Pad 6 Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Six pads 6 are clamped between each pair of adjacent retaining springs 7. The pads 6 are distributed circumferentially, and each of the six pads 6 corresponds one-to-one with the six limiting protrusions of the two secondary grippers 3 at the same height. When the limiting protrusions of the secondary grippers 3 are inserted forward into the longitudinal slot 102 area, the six limiting protrusions align with the six pads 6 between the uppermost retaining spring 7 and the adjacent retaining spring 7 below it. The six pads 6 are squeezed out by the six limiting protrusions. After being squeezed out, the adjacent retaining spring 7 below it presses against the lower surface of the six limiting protrusions of the secondary grippers 3, realizing the precise material picking function of separating only one retaining spring 7 at a time.

[0047] VIII. The Working Process of the Tool The complete working process of the snap ring assembly tool in this embodiment is as follows: (a) Material preparation and adjustment steps First, according to the type and specifications of the retaining ring 7 to be assembled, rotate the two adjusting bolts simultaneously to drive the two movable plates 113 to move laterally. The movable plates 113 push the two main grippers 2 to slide laterally within the horizontal groove 101 to the target spacing. At the same time, the two auxiliary grippers 3, under the pulling force of the second elastic element 303, adaptively move in conjunction with the main grippers 2, so that the spacing between the two auxiliary grippers 3 is synchronously adjusted to the correct position. Initial position: the lower limit protrusions 301 of the two auxiliary grippers 3 are out of the longitudinal groove 102, and the upper limit protrusions 202 of the two main grippers 2 are located in the longitudinal groove 102.

[0048] Then, the stack of retaining rings 7 is arranged neatly with six pads 6 sandwiched between each pair of adjacent retaining rings 7, and the whole stack is placed into the longitudinal slot 102. At this time, under the spring force of the first elastic element 5, the movable column 502 pushes the stack of retaining rings 7 upward, so that the upper surface of the uppermost retaining ring 7 is higher than the top surface of the base 1 and presses against the upper limit protrusion 202 of the two main grippers 2.

[0049] (II) Material collection and separation steps The operator holds the rear end of the support rod 401 of the hinge frame 4 and presses it down. The support rod 401 swings down around the hinge axis 108. The main push rod 402 and the auxiliary push rod 403 drive the main gripper 2 and the auxiliary gripper 3 to overcome the elastic force of the third elastic element 204 and slide forward along the horizontal slide groove 101.

[0050] Due to the stroke difference between the main push rod 402 and the auxiliary push rod 403, the sliding speed of the auxiliary gripper 3 is greater than that of the main gripper 2. The lower limit protrusion 301 at the front end of the auxiliary gripper 3 squeezes out the pad 6 under the uppermost retaining spring 7. The pad 6 separates from the retaining spring 7, thereby removing the uppermost retaining spring 7 between the upper limit protrusion 202 and the lower limit protrusion 301 (the distance between the upper limit protrusion 202 and the lower limit protrusion 301 is slightly larger than the thickness of the retaining spring 7). That is, the main gripper 2 and the auxiliary gripper 3 clamp and fix the retaining spring 7 in the preset assembly posture.

[0051] (III) Assembly steps and automatic feeding Continue pressing down the rear end of the support rod 401. Since the main clamping claw 2 and the secondary clamping claw 3 surround the snap ring 7, under the forced push of the main clamping claw 2 and the secondary clamping claw 3, the snap ring 7 can only move forward and be locked in the installation position (the preset annular groove), and the snap ring 7 is assembled.

[0052] After assembly, the support rod 401 is released, and the main gripper 2 and the secondary gripper 3 are pushed backward by the elastic force of the third elastic element 204. Due to the difference in stroke between the main gripper 2 and the secondary gripper 3, the lower limit protrusion 301 of the secondary gripper 3 first exits the position of the longitudinal slot 102. The retaining spring 7, which is pressed against the lower part of the secondary gripper 3, is pushed by the spring force of the first elastic element 5 until the main gripper 2 is pressed against the lower part of the upper limit protrusion 202 of the main gripper 2, thus completing the automatic loading of the retaining spring 7, and then enters the preparation state for the next assembly.

[0053] Operators do not need to perform additional material handling or positioning operations; they only need to repeat the above action cycle to complete continuous batch assembly operations.

[0054] IX. Verification of the Tool's Technical Effectiveness Using the snap ring assembly tool of this embodiment, assembly tests were conducted on C-type snap rings 7 of GB / T893 and E-type snap rings 7 of GB / T894, respectively. The test results show that the tool can complete the switching preparation for assembling different specifications of snap rings 7 within 2 minutes by simply adjusting the spacing of the main jaws 2 by rotating the adjusting bolt without replacing any parts. The average assembly time for a single snap ring 7 is approximately 3-5 seconds, which improves the assembly efficiency by approximately 40%-60% and 25%-40% respectively compared to traditional C-type snap ring 7 clamps and E-type snap ring 7 forks. During the continuous assembly of 200 snap rings 7, no abnormal phenomena such as plastic deformation of the snap rings 7, workpiece groove damage, or tool jamming occurred, and the tool operated stably and reliably.

[0055] The snap ring assembly tool provided in this embodiment, through the coordinated cooperation of components such as base 1, horizontal slide 101, longitudinal snap ring 102, main clamp 2, secondary clamp 3, hinge frame 4, first elastic element 5, adjusting bolt, second elastic element 303, third elastic element 204 and pad block 6, successfully achieves universal assembly of C-type snap ring 7 and E-type snap ring 7, while being compatible with multiple specifications and sizes, and has a continuous automatic feeding function, significantly improving assembly efficiency and operational safety.

[0056] It should be understood that the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. It should not be considered that the specific implementation of the present invention is limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, several simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A snap ring assembly tool, characterized in that: Includes a base, with a horizontal sliding groove and a vertical locking groove respectively provided on the top and front of the base. The horizontal sliding groove runs through the front and back of the base, and the vertical locking groove runs through the top of the base, and the horizontal sliding groove and the vertical locking groove are connected. Main grippers that can move relative to each other are provided on the left and right sides of the horizontal slide groove. A secondary gripper is provided between the bottom of each main gripper and the bottom surface of the horizontal slide groove. The cross-sectional shape of the longitudinal groove is semi-circular or arc-shaped. The front ends of the two main grippers and the front ends of the two secondary grippers are provided with notches corresponding to the longitudinal groove. The notches of the main grippers and the notches of the secondary grippers are provided with radially extending limiting protrusions. The horizontal slide is provided with a hinge frame for driving the main gripper and the secondary gripper to slide in the front-back direction. The bottom wall of the longitudinal slot is provided with a first elastic element. The elastic force of the first elastic element pushes the overlapping snap rings in the longitudinal slot upward. By swinging the hinge frame upward, the limiting protrusion of the secondary gripper exits the longitudinal slot before the limiting protrusion of the main gripper.

2. The snap ring assembly tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two opposing and parallel sidewalls are provided on the top of the base, and the horizontal sliding groove is formed in the inner space of the two sidewalls; two opposing hinge seats are also provided on the top of the base, and the two hinge seats extend upward and are higher than the sidewalls; the two hinge seats correspond one-to-one with the two sidewalls, and each hinge seat is located on the outer side of the corresponding sidewall.

3. A snap ring assembly tool according to claim 2, characterized in that: A transverse hinge axis is provided between the two hinge seats, and the hinge axis is higher than the side wall; a transverse main axis that can slide laterally is provided between the two main jaws, and the transverse main axis is close to the rear end of the main jaws; a transverse secondary axis that can slide laterally is provided between the two secondary jaws, and the transverse secondary axis is close to the rear end of the secondary jaws. The hinge frame includes a support rod, a main push rod, and an auxiliary push rod. The front end and rear end of the support rod are respectively connected to the upper part of the main push rod and the middle part of the hinge shaft. The lower end of the main push rod is hinged to the main horizontal shaft. The upper end and lower end of the auxiliary push rod are respectively hinged to the lower middle part of the main push rod and the auxiliary horizontal shaft.

4. A snap ring assembly tool according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each hinge seat is equipped with a transverse adjusting bolt, and each adjusting bolt is connected to the corresponding hinge seat by a thread; each main jaw is equipped with a movable plate between itself and the corresponding side wall, and the end of each adjusting bolt passes through the corresponding side wall and is rotatably connected to the corresponding movable plate. The distance between the two main jaws can be changed by rotating the adjusting bolt.

5. A snap ring assembly tool according to claim 4, characterized in that: One long side of each secondary gripper extends upwards, and the extended portion forms a baffle; the two baffles face each other, and a second elastic element is provided between the two baffles. Through the elastic force of the second elastic element, the two baffles are made to fit tightly against the sides of the two main grippers in a one-to-one correspondence.

6. A snap ring assembly tool according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each main gripper has a through-cavity. A fixing plate is located in the cavity on the top of the base. A third elastic element is provided between each fixing plate and one side of the corresponding cavity. The elastic force of the third elastic element pushes the two main grippers to slide backward. A limiting plate is also provided on the top of the base behind the main grippers to limit the maximum distance the main grippers slide backward.

7. A snap ring assembly tool according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first elastic element includes a guide post and a movable post, both with semi-circular cross sections. The upper end of the guide post is slidably connected to a groove inside the movable post, and a spring is provided between the upper end of the guide post and the groove. The lower end of the guide post is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the longitudinal slot. The spring force pushes the retaining spring placed on top of the movable post upward.

8. A snap ring assembly tool according to claim 4, characterized in that: The two side walls are equipped with detachable covers that cover the space between the two side walls.

9. A snap ring assembly tool according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: Multiple pads are sandwiched between each pair of adjacent snap rings, and each pad corresponds to a limiting protrusion of the secondary gripper.

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