Retaining ring

Abstract

The utility model provides a check ring which is U-shaped on the whole and comprises an upper arm and a lower arm which are connected through a closed end, and an open end opposite to the closed end, a series of tooth protrusions are continuously and evenly arranged on the whole outer side edges of the upper arm and the lower arm of the check ring. An assembler or detection equipment can directly observe whether tooth gaps formed by the tooth protrusions and the edge of the clamping groove are in a complete, continuous and uniform state or not so as to visually, quickly and reliably judge whether the check ring completely and correctly falls into the preset position of the clamping groove or not.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to air compressor, especially a retaining ring for compressor terminal post. BACKGROUND

[0002] As the core equipment of many industrial and civilian fields such as refrigeration, air conditioning, air power, the stability and safety of the compressor in operation are crucial. In the structure of the compressor, it is usually necessary to reliably fix the terminal post and other components on the base such as cylinder body, and to ensure the sealing of the connection to withstand the high pressure generated inside the compressor and prevent leakage of refrigerant or compressed medium. As a common axial limiting fastener, the retaining ring (also known as a circlip or a snap ring) is widely used in such occasions due to its simple structure and convenient installation and removal. The traditional retaining ring is usually an open circular ring with a certain elasticity, which is installed in the annular groove of the shaft or hole through its elastic deformation to axially position the components. However, with the continuous improvement of the performance of the compressor, the internal working pressure is also increasing, which puts forward more stringent requirements on the pressure-bearing capacity, fixing reliability and assembly quality control of the retaining ring.

[0003] In order to improve the stability of the terminal post fixation, some improved fixing structures are disclosed in the prior art. For example, Chinese utility model patent publication No. CN209875468U discloses a fixing structure and a compressor. The fixing structure aims to improve the fixing stability of the terminal post, and its scheme includes setting a first retaining ring and a second retaining ring, each of which has opposite first and second ends, third and fourth ends. In addition, a first connecting body and a second connecting body are also provided, which are respectively used to connect the two ends of the first retaining ring and the two ends of the second retaining ring, thereby forming a combined fixing structure. This design attempts to disperse the stress by using the combination of two retaining rings and two connecting bodies, in order to obtain a stronger fixing effect than a single traditional circular retaining ring. The patent claims that this structure can improve the stability of fixing the terminal post.

[0004] However, through in-depth analysis, it is found that the technical scheme disclosed in CN209875468U may theoretically disperse stress by increasing components, but in actual application, especially from the perspective of assembly verification and quality control, there are significant technical problems. The structure is composed of at least four independent components (two retaining rings and two connecting bodies), and its assembly process is relatively complex. More importantly, this scheme does not set any structure features on the key interface of its retaining ring (i.e. the first retaining ring and the second retaining ring) and the cylinder body slot, i.e. the outer edge of the retaining ring, which can indicate whether it is completely and correctly fallen into the slot. The outer edge of the retaining ring is likely to be similar to the traditional retaining ring, which is a relatively smooth continuous surface.

[0005] This leads to a key technical defect: after installing this complex fixed structure composed of multiple components into the clamping groove of the compressor cylinder, there is a lack of an intuitive, reliable and efficient method to check whether each retainer ring component is accurately and completely embedded in the predetermined position of the clamping groove. Assembly workers may only rely on hand feeling or the sound of installation to determine, but this is extremely unreliable on high-speed, mass production lines. If any retainer ring component fails to fall completely into the clamping groove, or has installation defects such as tilting or jamming, it is difficult to detect through external observation or simple touching. Such potential installation flaws can cause uneven stress on the retainer ring, local stress concentration, and not only fail to achieve the expected stable fixing effect, but also may deform, wear or even suddenly pop out under high-pressure working conditions, causing loose connection of the terminal post, sealing failure, medium leakage, and even safety accidents in severe cases. Therefore, although the structural design of CN209875468U pursues stability, its inherent structural characteristics (multiple component combination and lack of outer edge visual indication features) directly lead to difficulty in effectively, quickly and accurately verifying the installation state, posing hidden dangers to the production quality control and long-term operation safety of the compressor. How to provide a retainer ring that can reliably fix the terminal post and conveniently and accurately check its installation state has become a technical problem to be solved in the field. Utility model content

[0006] The utility model discloses a retainer ring for installing in the clamping groove of the compressor cylinder to fix the terminal post, to solve the technical problem that the installation state of the retainer ring is difficult to check quickly and accurately in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model provides a technical scheme: a retainer ring, which is in the shape of a whole U, comprises an upper arm and a lower arm connected by a closed end, and an open end opposite to the closed end; a series of tooth protrusions are continuously and uniformly arranged on the whole outer side edge of the upper arm and the lower arm of the retainer ring.

[0008] The retainer ring sets the continuous and uniform tooth protrusion structure on the whole outer side edge of its U-shaped upper arm and lower arm. When the retainer ring is installed in the clamping groove, these tooth protrusions and the tooth gaps therebetween jointly form a clear and distinguishable visual feature distributed circumferentially along the clamping groove. Assembly personnel or detection equipment can directly observe whether the tooth gaps formed by the tooth protrusions and the edges of the clamping groove present a complete, continuous and uniform state, to intuitively, quickly and reliably judge whether the retainer ring has completely and correctly fallen into the predetermined position of the clamping groove. This design externalizes the internal information of the installation state into an easily observed external feature, fundamentally solving the problem that it is difficult to check whether the installation is in place due to the smooth or complex structure of the outer edge of the retainer ring in the background art (such as the CN209875468U solution), and significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of assembly quality control.

[0009] Preferably, the retaining ring is integrally provided with a radially outward protruding handle at the outer center of its closed end; a through slot is correspondingly formed on the compressor cylinder and is in communication with the clamping slot, the shape and size of the handle are adapted to the through slot, so that when the retaining ring is installed in the clamping slot, the handle is embedded in the through slot.

[0010] The handle structure forms a "key and slot" matching relationship with the through slot on the compressor cylinder. This unique geometric matching ensures that the retaining ring must be installed according to the preset, correct circumferential orientation, effectively preventing the phenomenon of installation in reverse due to operational errors. At the same time, once installed in place, the mutual embedding of the handle and the through slot also prevents accidental circumferential rotation of the retaining ring during subsequent use, especially under vibration or pressure fluctuations. This not only ensures the effectiveness of checking the tooth protrusion through a specific visual angle, but also provides additional stability for the entire fixed connection, helping to improve overall safety under high pressure working conditions.

[0011] Preferably, in the free state, the distance between the inner edges of the upper arm and the lower arm at the open end of the retaining ring is greater than the distance between the inner edges of the upper arm and the lower arm near the closed end of the retaining ring.

[0012] This specific free state size feature (H1>H2) causes the upper arm and the lower arm of the retaining ring to generate a significant, outward radial elastic recovery force (tension) after being compressed and installed into the clamping slot, and the tension is more concentrated in the area near the open end. This enhanced and reasonably distributed tension brings double benefits: first, it enables the retaining ring to tightly fit on the inner and outer walls of the clamping slot with greater force, especially when subjected to internal pressure, it can more effectively transmit force to the clamping slot wall, increasing the effective contact area and friction, thereby significantly improving the ability of the retaining ring to resist axial force (such as internal pressure) and preventing the terminal post from being pushed out or leaking (significantly improving pressure bearing capacity). Second, this strong radial tension ensures that the tooth protrusion provided on the outer edge can be firmly and gaplessly pressed against the outer wall of the clamping slot. This makes the visual difference between "installed in place" and "not installed in place" (with gaps or poor contact between the tooth protrusion and the slot wall) more obvious and reliable, greatly enhancing the accuracy and reliability of visual inspection based on the tooth protrusion.

[0013] Preferably, the upper arm and the lower arm are respectively provided with a circular pincer hole at the end of the open end.

[0014] Considering the strong elastic tension caused by the H1>H2 feature, it can be difficult to install or dismount the check ring manually. The jaw holes provided at the end of the upper and lower arms of the open end provide an accurate and stable operating interface for standard installation tools (such as a circlip plier). The operator can easily exert a spreading or clamping force on the open end of the check ring with the circlip plier to overcome its own elastic force, thereby conveniently and labor-savingly installing or removing the check ring from the clamping groove. This greatly reduces the operation difficulty of assembly and maintenance, and improves the work efficiency.

[0015] Preferably, the entire surface of the check ring, including the upper arm, the lower arm, the closed end, the handle and the tooth protrusion, is covered with an electrophoretic paint layer.

[0016] Applying an electrophoretic paint layer or other effective anti-corrosion coating to the entire outer surface of the check ring (including all structural feature parts) can form a uniform and dense protective film. This protective film can effectively isolate the check ring base material from the external environment (such as moisture, oil stains, refrigerants or other potential corrosive substances that may exist inside the compressor), preventing rust, oxidation or chemical corrosion. This not only prolongs the service life of the check ring itself and ensures its long-term necessary elasticity and structural strength, but also is crucial to maintaining the long-term reliability and safety of the entire fixed connection in high-pressure, high-humidity or corrosive environments.

[0017] In summary, the present application provides a unique tooth protrusion structure on the outer edge of the U-shaped check ring, and preferably combines handle orientation, H1>H2 enhanced clamping, jaw holes, corrosion prevention and other features. Not only is the structure simple and easy to manufacture, but it also fundamentally solves the key technical problem of the existing technology that it is difficult to quickly, accurately and reliably check the installation of the check ring in place. It provides an intuitive and effective visual inspection method, significantly improves the assembly quality control level, and enhances the reliability and pressure-bearing capacity of the fixation, ensuring the safe operation of the compressor under high-pressure working conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of a check ring according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 2 FIG. 3 is a structural schematic view of the check ring of FIG. 1 installed in the clamping groove of the cylinder body of the compressor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that these embodiments are only used to illustrate the present application, and not to limit the scope of the present application.

[0021] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of a check ring according to an embodiment of the present application.Figure 2 , the structure schematic diagram when the retaining ring of the embodiment of the utility model is installed to the clamping groove of compressor cylinder body. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The utility model provides a retaining ring 100 for installing in the clamping groove 6 of compressor cylinder body 5 to fix binding post 8. Figure 2 The utility model discloses a retaining ring 100, which is used for fixing the binding post 8 in the clamping groove 6 of the compressor cylinder body 5.

[0022] Further, as shown in Figure 1 , the retaining ring 100 is integrally provided with a handle 2 extending radially outward at the outer center position of the closed end. Figure 2 As shown (although Figure 2 the whole shape of the through clamping groove is not explicitly drawn, but it can be observed that the handle 2 passes through the opening of the through clamping groove 7, and those skilled in the art can arbitrarily set the shape of the through clamping groove 7 according to the requirements), Figure 2 a through clamping groove 7 corresponding to the clamping groove 6 is opened on the compressor cylinder body 5. The shape and size of the handle 2 are matched with the through clamping groove 7, so that when the retaining ring 100 is installed in the clamping groove 6, the handle 2 is embedded in the through clamping groove 7. The handle 2 structure and the through clamping groove 7 on the compressor cylinder body 5 form a specific matching relationship. This unique geometric matching ensures that the retaining ring 100 must be installed according to the preset and correct circumferential direction when installed, effectively preventing the reverse installation phenomenon. At the same time, once installed in place, the mutual embedding of the handle 2 and the through clamping groove 7 also prevents accidental circumferential rotation of the retaining ring 100 during subsequent use. This not only ensures the effectiveness of the inspection by observing the teeth 4 from a specific angle, but also provides additional stability for the whole fixed connection, which helps to improve the overall safety under high pressure working conditions.

[0023] Further, as shown in Figure 1As shown, in the free state, the distance H1 between the inner edges of the upper arm 31 and the lower arm 32 at the open end of the retainer ring 100 is greater than the distance H2 between the inner edges of the upper arm 31 and the lower arm 32 near the closed end of the retainer ring 100. This specific free state dimensional feature (H1>H2) causes the upper arm 31 and the lower arm 32 of the retainer ring 100 to generate a significant, outward radial elastic recovery force (tension) after being compressed and installed into the card slot 6, and the tension is more concentrated in the area near the open end. This enhanced, well-distributed tension brings double benefits: first, it enables the retainer ring 100 to tightly fit on the inner and outer walls of the card slot 6 with greater force, especially when subjected to internal pressure, and more effectively transfers force to the walls of the card slot 6, increasing the effective contact area and friction, thereby significantly improving the retainer ring's 100 ability to resist axial forces (such as internal pressure), preventing the terminal post 8 from being pushed out or leaking, and greatly improving the pressure-bearing capacity. Second, this strong radial tension ensures that the tooth protrusions 4 provided on the outer edges can be tightly pressed against the outer wall of the card slot 6 without gaps. This makes the visual difference between "installed in place" and "not installed in place" more obvious and reliable, greatly enhancing the accuracy and reliability of visual inspection based on the tooth protrusions 4.

[0024] Further, as shown in Figure 1 , the ends of the upper arm 31 and the lower arm 32 at the open end are respectively provided with round pincers holes. Considering the stronger elastic tension brought by the H1>H2 feature, the pincers holes at the ends of the upper arm 31 and the lower arm 32 at the open end provide a precise and stable operating interface for standard installation tools (such as card spring pliers). The operating personnel can easily exert a spreading or clamping force on the open end of the retainer ring 100 with the card spring pliers to overcome its own elastic force, thereby conveniently and labor-savingly installing or removing the retainer ring 100 from the card slot 6. This greatly reduces the difficulty of assembly and maintenance operations and improves work efficiency.

[0025] Further, in order to improve durability, the entire surface of the retainer ring 100, including the upper arm 31, the lower arm 32, the closed end, the handle 2, and the tooth protrusions 4, is covered with an electrophoretic paint layer. Applying an electrophoretic paint layer or other effective anti-corrosion coating to the entire outer surface of the retainer ring 100 can form a uniform and dense protective film. This protective film can effectively isolate the base material of the retainer ring 100 from the external environment, preventing rusting, oxidation, or chemical corrosion. This not only prolongs the service life of the retainer ring 100 itself, ensuring that it maintains the necessary elasticity and structural strength for a long time, but also is crucial for maintaining the long-term reliability and safety of the entire fixed connection in high-pressure, high-humidity, or corrosive environments.

[0026] Specifically in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the stop collar 100 is a kind of mechanical component for replacing the traditional two circular stop collars to fix the compressor terminal post 8, which presents a resilient U-shaped structure as a whole. It is mainly composed of an upper arm 31 and a lower arm 32 which are integrally connected by a closed end, and has an open end opposite to the closed end. One of the core innovations is that a series of tooth-shaped protrusions, i.e. tooth protrusions 4, are continuously and uniformly distributed along the entire outer edge of the upper arm 31 and the lower arm 32, which work together with the tooth gaps therebetween. In the center position of the closed end of the stop collar 100, a protruding handle 2 is integrally extended outward and radially, which can be in the form of a rectangular tongue structure in this embodiment as shown. Figure 1 In addition, circular pincer holes for the operation of the pincers are respectively arranged at the ends of the upper arm 31 and the lower arm 32 close to the open end. An important structural feature is that the inner edge distance H1 of the open end of the stop collar 100 is designed to be greater than the inner edge distance H2 close to the closed end when the stop collar 100 is in a free state (i.e. H1>H2). In order to improve the durability, the entire surface of the stop collar 100 is also covered with a layer of anti-rust protective layer such as electrophoretic paint layer.

[0027] In use, the stop collar 100 is installed on the compressor cylinder block 5 as the target component. The compressor cylinder block 5 is provided with an annular groove, i.e. cylinder clamping groove 6, for accommodating and fixing the stop collar 100. The groove wall (especially the outer wall) of the cylinder clamping groove 6 cooperates with the outer edge (including the tooth protrusions 4) of the stop collar 100 after installation. At the same time, the compressor cylinder block 5 is also provided with a through clamping groove 7 which is in communication with the cylinder clamping groove 6, which is a slot specially used for accommodating and positioning the handle 2 of the stop collar 100. The component to be fixed is the compressor terminal post 8.

[0028] During assembly, the circlip 100 is inserted into the cylinder body clamping groove 6 of the compressor cylinder body 5 by using the circlip pliers to operate the blocking ring 100 to make it elastically deformed. Due to the presence of the handle 2, the blocking ring 100 must be in the only correct direction to make the handle 2 smoothly embedded into the through clamping groove 7, which ensures the correctness of the installation direction and plays a role in preventing the blocking ring from rotating after installation, thereby enhancing the safety of the connection. After installation, the blocking ring 100 in the cylinder body clamping groove 6 realizes reliable axial fixation and limiting of the compressor terminal post 8. Due to the structural feature of H1>H2, the blocking ring 100 generates strong outward radial tension after installation, so that it is tightly attached to the groove wall of the cylinder body clamping groove 6, especially the tooth protrusion 4 of the outer edge is stably abutted on the groove wall of the cylinder body clamping groove 6. The close attachment and the nearly whole circle contact caused by the U-shaped structure make the stress more uniform and can withstand higher internal pressure (for example, up to 5.2 MPa), which greatly improves the pressure bearing capacity and further enhances the safety. At the same time, the clear tooth gap formed by the tooth protrusion 4 and the edge of the clamping groove 6 provides great convenience for assembly inspection, and the continuity and uniformity of these tooth gaps can be visually inspected to quickly judge whether the blocking ring 100 is completely inserted into the clamping groove. Using a U-shaped blocking ring 100 instead of the original two circular blocking rings also simplifies the number of parts and the installation steps, and improves the assembly efficiency. The design of the plier hole makes the installation and disassembly process use standard tools, which is more labor-saving and convenient. The electrophoretic paint layer on the surface improves the corrosion resistance of the blocking ring, prolongs the service life, and ensures the safety in harsh environments.

[0029] The above merely describes the preferred embodiments of the present application, and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A retaining ring (100) for mounting in a clamping groove (6) of a compressor cylinder (5) to secure a terminal post (8), characterized in that, the retaining ring (100) is integrally formed in a U-shape, comprising an upper arm (31) and a lower arm (32) connected by a closed end, and an open end opposite to the closed end; a series of tooth protrusions (4) are continuously and uniformly arranged on the entire outer side edges of the upper arm (31) and the lower arm (32) of the retaining ring (100).

2. The retaining ring (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, a handle (2) radially outwardly protruding is integrally arranged at the outer center position of the closed end of the retaining ring (100); a through clamping groove (7) communicating with the clamping groove (6) is correspondingly formed on the compressor cylinder (5), the shape and size of the handle (2) are adapted to the through clamping groove (7), so that when the retaining ring (100) is mounted in the clamping groove (6), the handle (2) is embedded in the through clamping groove (7).

3. The retaining ring (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, in a free state, the distance (H1) between the inner edges of the upper arm (31) and the lower arm (32) of the retaining ring (100) at the open end is greater than the distance (H2) between the inner edges of the upper arm (31) and the lower arm (32) of the retaining ring (100) near the closed end.

4. The retaining ring (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, the upper arm (31) and the lower arm (32) are respectively provided with round pincers at the end of the open end.

5. The retaining ring (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, the entire surface of the retaining ring (100), including the upper arm (31), the lower arm (32), the closed end, the handle (2) and the tooth protrusions (4), is covered with an electrophoretic paint layer.

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