Securing ring, component arrangement comprising a securing ring, and motor vehicle
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023761520
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-20
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-30
AI Technical Summary
Conventional locking rings are difficult to install in limited spaces and often collide with adjacent components, limiting their use in compact applications.
A locking ring design with tool engagement elements that extend outside the intermediate plane region, allowing for elastic deformation and installation in tight spaces without colliding with adjacent components, featuring a predominantly closed ring structure with tool engagement elements that can be offset, rod-shaped, or stepped to optimize installation space usage.
Enables efficient installation and use of locking rings in small spaces, ensuring collision-free assembly and a compact component arrangement, particularly beneficial in motor vehicle applications.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Retaining ring, component arrangement comprising a retaining ring and motor vehicle
[0002] The invention relates to a retaining ring according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
[0003] Further aspects of the invention relate to a component arrangement and a motor vehicle.
[0004] Retaining rings are widely used for the reversibly detachable connection of various components. For example, DE 44 46 166 C1 discloses a device for attaching an electrical device to a mounting plate with a bore. A stop for a nut is formed on an insert housing by a retaining ring, which is inserted into an externally circumferential fixing groove of the insert housing.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a retaining ring that can be mounted in an improved manner. A further object of the invention is to provide a component assembly and a motor vehicle with such a retaining ring.
[0006] This object is achieved by a retaining ring having the features of patent claim 1, by a component arrangement having the features of patent claim 8, and by a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 9. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.
[0007] A first aspect of the invention relates to a retaining ring for a component arrangement, comprising a ring region which is predominantly closed in the circumferential direction of the retaining ring and extends within a plane intermediate region which runs between two mutually parallel planes which are tangent to the ring region on opposite ring region sides and which are oriented parallel to a ring region center plane of the ring region, as well as a tool engagement region connected to the ring region, which tool engagement elements protrude from the ring region and via which the ring region can be deformed, in particular elastically deformed, upon the exertion of force on the tool engagement region.
[0008] The ring area sides can be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction of the retaining ring. Generally, statements regarding one of the tool engagement elements can also apply to other tool engagement elements of the tool engagement area.
[0009] The retaining ring can be designed, in particular, for the reversibly releasable fixing of a first component to a second component of the component arrangement. Within the context of the present invention, the term "predominantly closed" means that the ring region can extend over a circumferential angle of more than 180°, i.e., can be larger than half a ring. A closed ring would extend over a circumferential angle of 360°. Preferably, the ring region can extend over a circumferential angle of, for example, between 330° and 358°, so that a gap region can be formed between respective ring region ends, which gap region can extend over a gap region circumferential angle of 30° to 2°.
[0010] A first plane of these, in particular imaginary, planes can be adjacent to a ring region upper side, also called the top side of the ring region. A second plane of these planes can be adjacent to a ring region lower side, also called the bottom side of the ring region. The ring region upper side and the ring region lower side can form the respective, opposite ring region sides. Furthermore, the ring region upper side and the ring region lower side can each be oriented perpendicular to the ring region outer surface and / or to the ring region inner surface. The ring region outer surface, like the ring region inner surface, can be hollow-cylindrical.
[0011] The ring region center plane is understood to be a center plane of the ring region, in particular an imaginary one, which intersects the ring region centrally and runs perpendicular to a center axis of the ring region. The ring region can extend around the center axis of the ring region. The center axis can correspond to an axis of symmetry around which a circular line can extend. The ring region can extend along this circular line in the circumferential direction of the retaining ring. Depending on the outer contour of the ring region, the planes delimiting the intermediate region can also be oriented perpendicular to an outer surface of the ring region and / or an inner surface of the ring region. This can be the case if the ring region has, for example, a square cross-section or a rectangular cross-section.The ring area outer surface can be designed as the outermost surface of the ring area in the radial direction of extension of the retaining ring and the ring area inner surface can be designed as the innermost surface of the ring area in the radial direction of extension.
[0012] According to the invention, at least one tool engagement element of the tool engagement elements has a tool engagement element end facing away from the ring region, which extends at least partially outside the intermediate plane region. This is advantageous because the tool engagement region and the ring region are thus not aligned with one another in the ring region's center plane, which effectively prevents, for example, any collision of the tool engagement region with components (parts) adjacent to the retaining ring in limited installation space. The at least one tool engagement element can, for example, have a cranked portion, i.e., be designed in a cranked manner.
[0013] The at least one tool engagement element can extend at least predominantly in the radial direction of the retaining ring away from the ring region. The term "at least predominantly" is understood to mean that a main direction of extension of the tool engagement element deviates by a maximum of 20° from the radial direction of extension of the retaining ring. The radial direction of extension can extend radially outward from the central axis of the ring region, i.e., away from the central axis.
[0014] Preferably, the tool engagement element end, hereinafter also referred to as the element end for short, can extend not only partially, but completely outside the intermediate plane region. This allows a particularly advantageous use of installation space to be achieved. Thus, the element end can preferably have a distance from the plane closest to the element end of at least twice the extent of the intermediate plane region, measured in the direction of the respective plane normals of the planes or the ring region center plane. The invention is based on the finding that flat retaining rings known from the prior art can only be installed with increased effort when space is limited, or their use must even be dispensed with due to space constraints.Instead, the present invention generally provides a retaining ring which is uneven in design, in that at least one tool engagement element end extends, at least partially, outside the intermediate plane region. The tool engagement elements can in particular be designed as respective tabs and extend outward in the radial direction of extension of the retaining ring and thus away from the ring region, thereby protruding, so to speak, from the intermediate plane region. The tool engagement elements can be used to elastically spread the ring region by exerting a corresponding force on the tool engagement region and thus on the tool engagement elements using a suitable tool, preferably a retaining ring pliers, and thereby elastically widening (spreading) the ring region.In the expanded state, the retaining ring can be installed, for example, inserted into a groove, and the application of force can then be discontinued, allowing the ring area to assume a relaxed (unexpanded) initial state and, for example, remain positively inserted in the groove. The invention allows the tool to act on the tool engagement area outside the interplane area, enabling the retaining ring to be installed even in confined spaces while avoiding collision with adjacent components.
[0015] In an advantageous development of the invention, the at least one tool engagement element extends rod-shaped from the ring area. This is advantageous because the tool engagement element can be designed particularly narrowly due to its rod shape, thus simplifying collision-free guidance of the tool engagement area during assembly of the retaining ring.
[0016] The term “rod-shaped” in the context of the present invention is to be understood as meaning that the at least one tool engagement element can essentially have the shape of a rod, for example with a round or square rod cross-section, i.e. can extend over an entire length of the tool engagement element, for example without a change in cross-section or only with a change in cross-section of, for example, less than 10%.
[0017] In a further advantageous development of the invention, the at least one tool engagement element has a tool engagement element surface area facing the ring area, which, together with the ring area, forms an obtuse angle. This is advantageous because the obtuse angle allows for advantageous utilization of space diagonally spaced from the ring area during assembly of the retaining ring.
[0018] In a further advantageous development of the invention, the tool engagement element end of the at least one tool engagement element and a tool engagement element connection region of the at least one tool engagement element connecting the tool engagement element end to the ring region form an intermediate angle with each other that differs from an angular value of 180°. This is advantageous because it provides an angled configuration of the at least one tool engagement element, which enables particularly favorable utilization of the available installation space during assembly of the retaining ring.
[0019] In a further advantageous development of the invention, the end of the tool engagement element is oriented at least substantially parallel to the planes. This is advantageous because the tool can be brought closer to the end of the tool engagement element from the same direction as with a conventionally designed retaining ring, but the advantageous design of the tool engagement area enables particularly favorable utilization of available installation space. The expression "at least substantially parallel" is to be understood within the context of the invention that one of the planes and a center plane of the end of the tool engagement element enclose an angle of a maximum of 10° between one another. Preferably, the center plane and the respective plane can enclose an angle of less than 10° with one another or, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, can be oriented exactly parallel to one another.
[0020] In a further advantageous development of the invention, the tool engagement element end and the tool engagement element connection region together form a stepped shape. This enables particularly advantageous use of available installation space, since the step can partially encompass an adjacent component or part in the component arrangement comprising the retaining ring, thereby enabling a particularly space-saving arrangement of the retaining ring. In other words, the at least one tool engagement element can thus be designed in a stepped manner. In a further advantageous development of the invention, the ring region and the at least one tool engagement element have a mathematically similar cross-section, at least in regions. This allows the retaining ring to be manufactured with particularly little effort.In other words, the annular region and the at least one tool engagement element have, at least in some regions, respective cross-sections that are similar to one another according to the definition of mathematical similarity. The cross-sections can lie in respective sectional planes through the annular region or through the at least one tool engagement element, wherein the respective sectional planes run perpendicular to respective center lines through the annular region or the at least one tool engagement element.
[0021] A second aspect of the invention relates to a component arrangement comprising a first component, a retaining ring according to the first aspect of the invention, and a second component connected to the first component by means of the retaining ring. Advantageously, this component arrangement can be designed to be particularly compact and / or allow for particularly advantageous use of available installation space.
[0022] A third aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with a retaining ring according to the first aspect of the invention and / or with a component arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention. In this motor vehicle, even small installation spaces can be effectively utilized by using one retaining ring designed according to the first aspect of the invention or by using multiple retaining rings designed according to the first aspect of the invention.
[0023] The preferred embodiments and their advantages presented with respect to one of the aspects apply accordingly to the other aspects of the invention and vice versa.
[0024] The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the respective combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0025] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments, and the drawings. The invention is explained once again below using a specific embodiment. Shown are:
[0026] Fig. 1 is a side view of a first variant of a retaining ring;
[0027] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the first variant of the retaining ring;
[0028] Fig. 3 is a further perspective view of the first variant of the retaining ring;
[0029] Fig. 4 is a highly abstract representation of a motor vehicle with a component arrangement, of which only a partial area is shown in a sectional view and which comprises the first variant of the retaining ring as well as several components which are connected to one another by means of the first variant of the retaining ring;
[0030] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second variant of the retaining ring;
[0031] Fig. 6 is a further perspective view of the second variant of the retaining ring; and
[0032] Fig. 7 is a further highly abstracted representation of the motor vehicle and the component arrangement, of which only the partial area is shown in sectional view and in which, instead of the first variant, the second variant of the retaining ring is provided for connecting the components.
[0033] Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 each show different representations of a first variant of a retaining ring 10, which is installed in a first variant of a component arrangement 100 shown in Fig. 4 and assigned to an abstractly represented motor vehicle K. The first variant of the component arrangement 100 comprises a first component 102, which in the present case is designed as an example as the ball bearing outer ring of a ball bearing 110, and a second component 104 designed as a shaft. The retaining ring 10 serves to reversibly detachably fix the first component 102 to the second component 104. The retaining ring 10 is shown in its assembled state in Fig. 4, wherein it can be seen that the retaining ring 10 can be installed despite the installation space being very limited radially above a bearing seat of the ball bearing 110.
[0034] Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 each show different representations of a second variant of the retaining ring 10. Fig. 7 shows a second variant of the component arrangement 100, which is associated with the abstractly depicted motor vehicle K. With the exception of the geometric design of the retaining ring 10, there are no differences between the first and second variants of the component arrangement 100.
[0035] The following explanations regarding the design of the retaining ring 10 apply to both variants, unless otherwise stated.
[0036] As can be seen from Fig. 1, the retaining ring 10 comprises a ring region 30, which is predominantly closed in the circumferential direction U of the retaining ring 10. The circumferential direction U is indicated in Fig. 1 by a curved double arrow.
[0037] The ring region 30 extends within a plane intermediate region 36, which runs between two imaginary planes 32, 34 arranged parallel to one another and tangent to the ring region 30 on opposite ring region sides 38, 40. A first ring region side 38 of the ring region sides 38, 40 is designed here as the ring region top side, i.e. as the top side of the ring region 30, whereas a second ring region side 40 of the ring region sides 38, 40 is designed here as the ring region bottom side. The first ring region side 38 is spaced from the second ring region side 40 in a vertical extension direction H of the retaining ring 10, which extends along a central axis 12 of the ring region 30 and is indicated by an arrow in Fig. 1, which also applies accordingly to the two planes 32, 34. A plane 32, 34, also indicated by an arrow in Fig.The radial extension direction R of the retaining ring 10 illustrated in Figure 1 extends radially outwards from the central axis 12 of the ring region 30, i.e. away from the central axis 12.
[0038] The planes 32, 34 are oriented parallel to a ring region center plane 42 of the ring region 30. The ring region center plane 42 runs in the vertical extension direction H centrally between the planes 32, 34 and centrally through the ring region 30. The ring region 30 extends over a circumferential angle θ_U shown in Fig. 3, for example in the range between 350° and 355°, and ends at ring region ends opposite one another in the circumferential direction U, namely at a first ring region end 26 and at a second ring region end 28. Extending in the circumferential direction U between the two ring region ends 26, 28 is a gap region 20 (air gap), which enables flexible and thus elastic deformation, for example in the form of spreading using a tool, of the ring region 30 during assembly of the retaining ring 10. The gap area 20 extends over a gap area circumferential angle ö_US of, for example, in the range between 10° and 5°.The retaining ring 10 further comprises a tool engagement region 60 connected to the ring region 30, i.e., a region designed for the action of the tool during assembly of the retaining ring 10. The tool engagement region 60 has tool engagement elements protruding from the ring region 30, namely a first tool engagement element 70 and a second tool engagement element 80, via which the ring region 30 can be deformed by the tool when force is exerted on the tool engagement region 60. The following statements regarding the first tool engagement element 70 or its configuration also apply to the second tool engagement element 80, unless otherwise described. The tool engagement elements 70, 80 can also be referred to as tabs.
[0039] The first ring region end 26 merges in one piece into the first tool engagement element 70, which projects substantially in the radial direction R from the central axis 12, whereas the second ring region end 28 merges in one piece into the second tool engagement element 80, which projects substantially in the radial direction R from the central axis 12, as can be seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 as well as in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.
[0040] The ring region 30 and the tool engagement elements 70, 80 have a mathematically similar cross-section, which can be rectangular or square, for example, as can be seen by way of example in Fig. 5, in which a respective end face of the respective tool engagement elements 70, 80 can be seen, illustrating the cross-section. Due to the rectangular or square configuration of the cross-section, an outer ring region surface 44 of the ring region 30, illustrated in Fig. 2, and an inner ring region surface 46 of the ring region 30, likewise illustrated in Fig. 2, are each oriented perpendicular to the planes 32, 34 and to the ring region center plane 42.
[0041] The tool engagement elements 70, 80 have respective tool engagement element ends 72, 82 facing away from the ring region 30, which each extend outside the interplane region 36. In the present case, both the first tool engagement element end 72 associated with the first tool engagement element 70 and the second tool engagement element end 82 associated with the second tool engagement element 80 extend outside the interplane region 36.
[0042] According to the first variant of the retaining ring 10, the tool engagement elements 70, 80 extend rod-like from the ring region 30. The tool engagement elements 70 and 80 each have a tool engagement element surface region 74 and 84, respectively, shown in Fig. 2 and facing the ring region 30, which together with the ring region 30 form an obtuse angle α, as shown by way of example for the tool engagement element surface region 74 in Fig. 1. The respective tool engagement element surface regions 74 and 84 each form upper surfaces of the respective tool engagement elements 70 and 80 in the vertical extension direction H.
[0043] In contrast to the first variant of the retaining ring 10, for the second variant, the first tool engagement element end 72 of the first tool engagement element 70 and a first tool engagement element connection region 76 of the first tool engagement element 70 connecting the first tool engagement element end 72 to the ring region 30 enclose an intermediate angle β with each other that is different from an angular amount of 180°, as can be seen by looking at Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 together. The second tool engagement element end 82 of the second tool engagement element 80 and a second tool engagement element connection region 86 of the second tool engagement element 80 connecting the second tool engagement element end 82 to the ring region 30 also enclose the intermediate angle β with each other.The respective tool engagement elements 70, 80 according to the second variant have a respective stepped shape, whereas the tool engagement elements 70, 80 according to the first variant are designed to be stepless. Overall, in the second variant of the retaining ring 10, the tool engagement element end 72 or 82 and the tool engagement element connecting region 74 or 84 together form the respective stepped shape, with the tool engagement element ends 72, 82 according to the second variant being oriented parallel to the planes 32, 34.
[0044] In summary, the first variant of the retaining ring 10 provides an angled configuration of the tool engagement elements 70, 80 relative to the planes 32, 34 or to the ring region center plane 42, wherein the tool engagement elements 70, 80 extend essentially straight, i.e., rod-shaped, in the radial direction of extension away from the ring region 30. The tool engagement element surface regions 74 and 84, respectively, form an obtuse angle a with the ring region 30, as can be seen in Fig. 1. The second variant of the retaining ring 10, in contrast, provides a cranked and stepped configuration and thus a respective axial offset of the respective tool engagement elements 70, 80 oriented in the vertical direction H. Both variants of the retaining ring 10 enable advantageous use of the existing installation space of the component arrangement 100 and thus improved assembly of the retaining ring 10.
[0045] List of reference symbols
[0046] 10 Retaining ring
[0047] 12 Central axis
[0048] 20 gap area
[0049] 26 first ring area end
[0050] 28 second ring area end
[0051] 30 ring area
[0052] 32 first level
[0053] 34 second level
[0054] 36 intermediate levels
[0055] 38 first ring area page
[0056] 40 second ring area side
[0057] 42 Ring area center plane
[0058] 44 Ring area outer surface
[0059] 46 Ring area inner surface
[0060] 60 tool attack area
[0061] 70 first tool attack element
[0062] 72 first tool attack element end
[0063] 74 first tool engagement element surface area
[0064] 76 first tool engagement element connection area
[0065] 80 second tool attack element
[0066] 82 second tool attack element end
[0067] 84 second tool engagement element surface area
[0068] 86 second tool engagement element connection area
[0069] 100 component arrangement
[0070] 102 first component
[0071] 104 second component
[0072] 110 ball bearings
[0073] K Motor vehicle
[0074] H High extension direction
[0075] R radial extension direction
[0076] U circumferential direction a obtuse angle ß intermediate angle ö_U circumferential angle ö_US gap area circumferential angle
Claims
Claims 1. Retaining ring (10) for a component arrangement (100), comprising a ring region (30) which extends in the circumferential direction (U) of the retaining ring (10) is predominantly closed and extends within an intermediate plane region (36) which runs between two mutually parallel planes (32, 34) which are tangent to the ring region (30) on opposite ring region sides (38, 40) and are oriented parallel to a ring region center plane (42) of the ring region (30), and a tool engagement region (60) which is connected to the ring region (30) and which has tool engagement elements (70, 80) projecting from the ring region (30), via which tool engagement elements the ring region (30) can be deformed by exerting force on the tool engagement region (60), characterized in that at least one tool engagement element (70) of the tool engagement elements (70, 80) has a tool engagement element end (72, 82) facing away from the ring region (30) and which extends at least partially outside the intermediate plane region (36).
2. Retaining ring (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one tool engagement element (70) extends in a rod-like manner away from the ring region (30).
3. Retaining ring (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one tool engagement element (70) has a tool engagement element surface area (74) facing the ring area (30), which together with the ring area (30) encloses an obtuse angle (a).
4. Retaining ring according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tool engagement element end (72) of the at least one tool engagement element (70) and a tool engagement element connection region (76) of the at least one tool engagement element (70), which connects the tool engagement element end (72) to the ring region (30), enclose an intermediate angle (β) with each other that differs from an angular amount of 180°. Retaining ring (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the tool engagement element end (72) is oriented at least substantially parallel to the planes (32, 34). Retaining ring (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the tool engagement element end (72) and the tool engagement element connection region (76) together form a stepped shape. Retaining ring (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring region (30) and the at least one tool engagement element (70) have a mathematically similar cross-section, at least in some regions.Component arrangement (100) comprising a first component (102), a retaining ring (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, and a second component (104) connected to the first component (102) by means of the retaining ring (10). A motor vehicle (K) with a retaining ring (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and / or with a component arrangement (100) according to claim 8.