Resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring and installation method

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of manufacturing elastic retaining rings, specifically to a resilient, self-locking retaining ring and an installation method thereof. The retaining ring includes a retaining ring body having an opening, with opposite ends of the retaining ring body corresponding to the opening, each being a first end and a second end, the first and second ends alternating with each other, and the front ends of the first and second ends having first and second connecting extensions, respectively, corresponding to the positions where the front ends of the first and second ends alternate with each other, with first and second positioning protrusions extending laterally from the first and second connecting extensions, respectively, each having a locking mating surface on a proximal side of the first and second positioning protrusions, and an inclined guide surface on a side of the first positioning protrusion farther from the second positioning protrusion and / or a side of the second positioning protrusion farther from the first positioning protrusion. The retaining ring is suitable for high-speed rotating shafts, is easy to install, and is suitable for automated installation.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of manufacturing elastic retaining rings, and more particularly to a resilient retaining ring that is capable of rebound and self-locking and an installation method. [Background technology]

[0002] Standard elastic shaft retaining rings or open-type retaining rings are often used for axial positioning of bearings. The electric drive bridge structure of new energy electric vehicles requires the use of elastic retaining rings to achieve axial positioning. However, with the development of high-voltage platforms, the era of high rotational speeds is also dawning. Some motors have reached a critical output rotational speed of 20,000 rpm or more, and the rotational speed of the connected gear shafts is also increasing accordingly. At such high rotational speeds, conventional open-type elastic shaft retaining rings can easily slip out of their grooves under the action of centrifugal force, creating a safety hazard. To meet the needs of future operating conditions, there is a strong demand for elastic shaft retaining rings that can prevent slipping out.

[0003] An example of an existing elastic retaining ring with a retaining function is the elastic retaining ring for shafts disclosed in patent document application number CN202022546754.0. This elastic retaining ring for shafts has a protrusion that fits into a recess, allowing the upper and lower clamp blocks to lock together, thereby increasing the retaining ring's impact resistance. The addition of reinforcing ribs makes the retaining ring less susceptible to deformation due to lateral impact, preventing it from slipping out of the shaft groove after deformation and further increasing stability. However, the following drawbacks remain: First, because the elastic retaining ring is initially in a disengaged state, when the retaining ring is in an engaged state, it generates an elastic force that expands outward, resulting in poor overall stability. Second, installing the retaining ring into the shaft groove requires a separate closing operation, which increases the operating time for closing the retaining ring in mass assembly and requires the design of a separate actuator, making the design of an automated assembly production line more difficult and complex. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome the drawbacks of the above-mentioned existing technology, the present invention provides a resilient retaining snap ring that is rebound and self-locking, suitable for high-speed rotating shafts, easy to install, and suitable for automatic installation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is realized by the following technical aspects. A resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring includes a retaining ring body, an opening is provided in the retaining ring body, and both ends of the retaining ring body correspond to both sides of the opening, and are respectively a first end and a second end; When the retaining ring body is in an initial state, the first end and the second end are alternately (fitted) with each other, and a first connecting extension portion and a second connecting extension portion are provided at the front ends of the first end and the second end, respectively, corresponding to the positions where the front ends of the first end and the second end are alternately positioned with each other, and a first position restricting protrusion and a second position restricting protrusion are provided extending laterally at the first connecting extension portion and the second connecting extension portion, respectively, the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion are located inside each other in the circumferential direction of the corresponding retaining ring body, locking bonding surfaces are provided on the proximal sides of the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion, and an inclined guide surface is provided on the side of the first position restricting protrusion remote from the second position restricting protrusion and / or the side of the second position restricting protrusion remote from the first position restricting protrusion, When the retaining ring body expands outward from the locked-up state, the pair of locking lamination surfaces are bonded together and lock together, preventing the retaining ring body from expanding outward until it reaches the outward expanded and detached state, The inclined guide surface allows the retaining ring body to return from the outwardly expanded detached state to the locked-up state by its own repulsive force.

[0006] In the above structure, the first connecting extension portion and the second connecting extension portion are alternately arranged, i.e., the first connecting extension portion is on one side of the second connecting extension portion, and the front end of the first connecting extension portion extends to between the end and the root portion of the second connecting extension portion, and the first connecting extension portion and the second connecting extension portion are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the corresponding retaining ring body. The first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion are located inside each other, i.e., the first position restricting protrusion is located on the side of the second position restricting protrusion that is far from the outer end of the second connecting extension portion, and the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion are located outside each other, i.e., the first position restricting protrusion is located on the side of the second position restricting protrusion that is closer to the outer end of the second connecting extension portion. The principle of the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring is that when a pair of locking lamination surfaces face each other, the first and second position restricting protrusions are located on the circumferential inside of the corresponding retaining ring body, and the retaining ring body is in a locked-up state, and when a pair of locking lamination surfaces face each other, particularly when the first and second position restricting protrusions are located on the circumferential outside of the corresponding retaining ring body, the retaining ring body is in an outward expanded detached state. Therefore, the retaining ring body is in a locked-up state in the initial state, and when the retaining ring body is attached to the shaft groove, the retaining ring body is in a locked-up state, so its own elastic force will not cause it to detach, providing excellent stability. When attached to a high-speed rotating shaft, the retaining ring body expands outward from the locked-up state when the shaft's rotation speed reaches a certain value, and when it expands outward to a certain extent, the pair of locking mating surfaces are mated and locked together, preventing the retaining ring body from expanding outward until it reaches an outward-expanded detached state. Therefore, the rebound and self-locking elastic retaining ring described in this application is applicable to high-speed rotating shafts, and is an integrated design with a simple structure, low manufacturing costs, and good reliability.

[0007] When the retaining ring body is put into an outwardly expanded detached state due to an external force, the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion are on the outside of each other, and the inclined guide surface is between the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion. When the external force acting on the retaining ring body is reduced or eliminated, the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion come into contact with each other on the outside due to the repulsive force of the retaining ring body itself, and because the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion are alternately arranged, the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion come into contact with each other on the outside due to the action of the inclined guide surface. At this time, the first connecting extension portion and the second connecting extension portion are pushed apart in directions away from each other, and the first position restricting protrusion and the second position restricting protrusion move to the circumferentially inner side of the corresponding retaining ring body, thereby achieving automatic return to the lock-up state via the repulsive force. According to the above principle, the resilient and self-locking elastic retaining ring for preventing slip-out described in the present application can eliminate the need for an actuator to perform the locking operation during automatic assembly, and therefore can eliminate the operating time for the locking operation, thereby improving assembly efficiency and making it suitable for automatic production.

[0008] Furthermore, in the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring, the retaining ring body has a sheet-like shape as a whole in the initial state. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring according to the present application can be directly processed and molded from a sheet-like material by a primary molding machining process such as wire cutting or pressing, which has the advantage of low manufacturing costs and good economy.

[0009] Furthermore, in the resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring, when the retaining ring body is in an initial state, the second connecting extension portion is located radially outward of the corresponding retaining ring body of the first connecting extension portion. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, the first connecting extension portion and the second connecting extension portion are spaced apart in the radial direction and in the axial direction, which facilitates processing and reduces manufacturing costs, while allowing the width of the corresponding groove in which the retaining ring body is attached to be small, i.e., the axial movement space of the retaining ring body is small after attachment.

[0010] Furthermore, the resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring further includes a removal hole, the removal hole including a first removal hole provided at the second end. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, the retaining ring body is in a lock-up state when attached to the groove, and by applying force to the radially outward side of the retaining ring body through the first removal hole using a tool, the second connecting extension can be opened until the retaining ring body is in an outward expanded and released state, thereby realizing removal of the retaining ring body attached to the groove.

[0011] Furthermore, in the resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring, the removal holes include a second removal hole provided at the first end. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, the removal holes are provided in pairs at both ends of the retaining ring body, so that the retaining ring body attached in the groove can be easily removed by inserting a pair of circlip pliers into the pair of removal holes.

[0012] Furthermore, in the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring, the front ends of the first and second position restricting protrusions in the extending direction extend inward in the circumferential direction of the corresponding retaining ring body to form a pair of hook portions that can be hooked to each other, and the locking bonding surface is provided on the inside of the hook portions. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, the use of a hook portion structure that locks together has the advantage of ensuring a reliable locking effect.

[0013] Furthermore, in the resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring, when the retaining ring body is in an initial state, the first and second position restricting protrusions are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. In a preferred aspect of the present application, based on the above structure, the inner diameter of the retaining ring body in the initial state may be smaller than the diameter of the corresponding groove, and when the retaining ring body is fitted into the groove, the distance between the first and second position restricting protrusions is reduced to the predetermined distance, thereby generating a constant tightening force on the retaining ring body and preventing rattling when the retaining ring body is installed in the groove.

[0014] Furthermore, in the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring, when the first and second position restricting protrusions are displaced from each other by a predetermined distance in the axial direction, the retaining ring body is in an axially unlocked state, and the retaining ring body can return from the axially unlocked state to the locked state by its own repulsive force. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, when the retaining ring body is in the axially unlocked state, the pair of locking bonding surfaces do not come into contact with each other when the retaining ring body expands outward, so the retaining ring body can continue to expand outward until it reaches an outwardly expanded and detached state. The realization of the above function depends on the material properties and structural parameters of the retaining ring body.

[0015] Furthermore, in the resilient and self-locking elastic retaining ring, a tripping protrusion is provided on the end surface of the first or second end. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, when a flat tool is used to press down on one end surface of the corresponding tripping protrusion of the retaining ring body, the first or second end on that side is pushed axially by the tripping protrusion, causing the pair of locking mating surfaces of the first and second position restricting protrusions to shift axially on the corresponding retaining ring body, thereby causing the retaining ring body to enter an axially unlocked state. When the retaining ring body enters the axially unlocked state, the pair of locking mating surfaces do not come into contact with each other as the retaining ring body expands outward, allowing the retaining ring body to continue expanding outward. Based on the above principle, an existing elastic retaining ring jig can be used to automatically install the retaining ring body into a groove on a shaft to be attached, and the tripping protrusion can be removed after installation is complete. For a specific example of an existing elastic retaining ring jig, reference can be made to the elastic retaining ring mounting jig disclosed in patent document application number 201720993374.7.

[0016] The method for attaching the rebound and self-locking elastic retaining ring includes the following steps S1 to S4: Step S1 is unlocking, in which the retaining ring body is moved from the initial state to the outward expanded and separated state, Step S2 is expansion, in which the retaining ring body is expanded until its inner diameter becomes equal to or larger than the shaft diameter of the shaft to be attached; Step S3 is a movement, in which the retaining ring body is moved axially outward of the groove; In step S4, the retaining ring body is moved axially to enter the groove, and at this time, the retaining ring body returns from the outwardly expanded detached state to the lock-up state due to its own repulsive force, and is fitted into the groove. As a preferred aspect of the present application, according to the above method, the repulsive and self-locking elastic retaining retaining ring described in the present application can eliminate the need for an actuator that performs a locking operation during automatic assembly, and therefore can eliminate the operating cycle of the locking operation, thereby improving assembly efficiency and making it suitable for automatic production. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] As can be seen from the above technical aspects, the present invention has the following beneficial effects. 1. The present invention provides a resilient, self-locking retaining ring, which has the advantage that the retaining ring body is initially in a locked-up state. Once the retaining ring body is fitted into a shaft groove, the retaining ring body is in the locked-up state, and its own elastic force prevents the retaining ring body from coming loose, providing excellent stability. When fitted to a high-speed rotating shaft, the retaining ring body expands outward from the locked-up state when the shaft's rotational speed reaches a certain value. Once the retaining ring body has expanded outward to a certain extent, the pair of locking mating surfaces are mated and locked together, preventing further outward expansion of the retaining ring body until it reaches the outwardly expanded, detached state. Therefore, the resilient, self-locking retaining ring described herein is suitable for use with high-speed rotating shafts, and features an integrated design, simple structure, low manufacturing costs, and excellent reliability.

[0018] 2. The present invention provides a resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring, which can eliminate the need for an actuator to perform the locking operation during automated assembly, and therefore the operating time for the locking operation can be reduced, improving assembly efficiency and making it suitable for automated production.

[0019] 3. The present invention provides a resilient and self-locking retaining ring, the retaining ring body of which is sheet-shaped as a whole in its initial state. The resilient and self-locking retaining ring of the present invention can be directly formed from a sheet material by a primary forming machining process such as wire cutting or pressing, which has the advantages of low manufacturing costs and good economy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an elastic retaining ring capable of rebound and self-locking to prevent slip-out, according to one embodiment of the present application, in an initial state. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is a partial enlarged view of the corresponding opening in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 10 is a schematic diagram of the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring when the locking lamination surfaces are bonded together in a locked-up state. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic diagram of the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic snap ring in an outwardly expanded detached state. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the inclined guide surface as an inclined plane. [Figure 6] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a mounting device for an elastic retaining ring for preventing disengagement according to one embodiment of the present application (the tripping protrusion is on the retaining ring body). FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a mounting device for a retaining elastic snap ring according to one embodiment of the present application (the tripping protrusion is on the push-down sleeve). FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a push-down sleeve in a mounting device for an elastic retaining ring for preventing slip-out, according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9]1 is a structural schematic diagram of a mounting device for an elastic retaining ring for preventing slipping out, according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 10] 10 is a schematic diagram of step S11 in a method of using the mounting device for the elastic retaining ring according to one embodiment of the present application. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a schematic diagram of step S12 in a method of using the mounting device for the elastic retaining ring according to one embodiment of the present application. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a schematic diagram of step S41 in a method of using the mounting device for the elastic retaining ring according to one embodiment of the present application. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the retaining ring body completely inserted into the groove. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar reference numerals throughout the drawings indicate the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings is for illustrative purposes only and is used to explain the present invention, but should not be construed as a limitation on the present invention.

[0022] In describing the present invention, it should be understood that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," etc. are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings and are used to facilitate the description of the present invention and simplify the explanation, but do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements shown must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and should not be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0023] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are merely descriptive and do not indicate or imply relative importance, nor do they implicitly indicate the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, a feature qualified by "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the feature. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means two or more, unless expressly limited otherwise.

[0024] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified or otherwise stated, terms such as "attach," "couple," "connect," and "fix" should be understood in a broad sense, and may refer to, for example, a fixed connection or a detachable connection. Or, an integral connection. Or, a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. Or, a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Or, an internal communication between two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0025] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified or otherwise stated, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include direct contact between the first and second features, or may include contact between the first and second features via another feature between them without direct contact. Furthermore, a first feature being "above" a second feature, "above" a second feature, and "above" a second feature may include the first feature being directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or may simply indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. A first feature being "below" a second feature, "below" a second feature, and "below" a second feature may include the first feature being directly below and diagonally below the second feature, or may simply indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is smaller than that of the second feature.

[0026] Example 1 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring includes a retaining ring body 1, an opening 10 is provided in the retaining ring body 1, and both ends of the retaining ring body 1 correspond to both sides of the opening 10 and are respectively a first end 11 and a second end 12; When the retaining ring body 1 is in an initial state, the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 are alternately arranged, and a first connecting extension portion 111 and a second connecting extension portion 121 are respectively provided at the front ends of the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 in correspondence with the positions where the front ends of the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 are alternately arranged, and a first position restricting protrusion 112 and a second position restricting protrusion 122 are respectively provided extending laterally at the first connecting extension portion 111 and the second connecting extension portion 121, and the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 12 2 are located on the circumferential inside of the corresponding retaining ring body 1, and a locking bonding surface 130 is provided on the proximal side of the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122, and an inclined guide surface 14 is provided on the side of the first position restricting protrusion 112 farther from the second position restricting protrusion 122 and / or the side of the second position restricting protrusion 122 farther from the first position restricting protrusion 112, and in this embodiment, the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 are each provided with an inclined guide surface 14. The first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 are provided at the front ends of the first connecting extension portion 111 and the second connecting extension portion 121, respectively.

[0027] When the retaining ring body 1 expands outward from the locked-up state, the pair of locking bonding surfaces 130 are bonded together and locked together, preventing the retaining ring body 1 from expanding outward until it reaches the outward expanded and detached state. The inclined guide surface 14 allows the retaining ring body 1 to return from the outwardly expanded detached state to the locked-up state by its own repulsive force.

[0028] In the above structure, as shown in FIG. 2 , the first connecting extension portion 111 and the second connecting extension portion 121 alternate with each other, that is, the first connecting extension portion 111 is on one side of the second connecting extension portion 121, and the front end of the first connecting extension portion 111 extends to between the end and root of the second connecting extension portion 121, and it can also be understood that the first connecting extension portion 111 and the second connecting extension portion 121 are arranged alternately with each other in the circumferential direction of the corresponding retaining ring body 1. The first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 are located inside each other in the circumferential direction of the corresponding retaining ring body 1, that is, the first position restricting protrusion 112 is located on the side of the second position restricting protrusion 122 farther from the outer end of the second connecting extension portion 121, and the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 are located outside each other in the circumferential direction of the corresponding retaining ring body 1, that is, the first position restricting protrusion 112 is located on the side of the second position restricting protrusion 122 closer to the outer end of the second connecting extension portion 121. In this embodiment, the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 are provided on the adjacent sides of the first connecting extension portion 111 and the second connecting extension portion 121, and are provided extending away from each other. The first position regulating protrusion 112 and the second position regulating protrusion 122 alternate with each other in the extension direction, and specifically, the inclined guide surface 14 is provided on the outside of the front end of the position regulating protrusion in the extension direction, and in this embodiment, the inclined guide surface 14 is an arc surface and has a curved shape.

[0029] The principle of the rebound and self-locking elastic retaining retaining ring is as follows: as shown in Figures 2 and 3, when a pair of locking mating surfaces 130 face each other, the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 are located on the circumferential inside of the corresponding retaining ring body 1, and the retaining ring body 1 is in a locked-up state; and as shown in Figure 4, when the pair of locking mating surfaces 130 face each other, particularly when the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 are located on the circumferential outside of the corresponding retaining ring body 1, the retaining ring body 1 is in an outward expanded detached state. Therefore, the retaining ring body 1 is in a locked-up state in the initial state, and when the retaining ring body 1 is attached to the groove of the shaft, the retaining ring body 1 is in a locked-up state, so its own elastic force will not cause the retaining ring body 1 to detach, providing excellent stability. When attached to a high-speed rotating shaft, the retaining ring body 1 expands outward from the locked-up state when the shaft's rotation speed reaches a certain value, and when it expands outward to a certain extent, the pair of locking mating surfaces 130 are mated and locked together, preventing the retaining ring body 1 from expanding outward until it reaches the outward-expanded detached state. Therefore, the rebound and self-locking elastic retaining retaining ring described in this application is applicable to high-speed rotating shafts, and is an integrated design, has a simple structure, low manufacturing costs, and good reliability.When the retaining ring body 1 enters an outwardly expanded detached state due to an external force, the first position restriction protrusion 112 and the second position restriction protrusion 122 are located outside each other, and the inclined guide surface 14 is located between the first position restriction protrusion 112 and the second position restriction protrusion 122. When the external force acting on the retaining ring body 1 is reduced or eliminated, the first position restriction protrusion 112 and the second position restriction protrusion 122 come into contact with each other on the outside due to the repulsive force of the retaining ring body 1 itself, and because the first position restriction protrusion 112 and the second position restriction protrusion 122 are alternately positioned, the first position restriction protrusion 112 and the second position restriction protrusion 122 come into contact with each other on the outside. At this time, the inclined guide surface 14 acts to push the first connecting extension portion 111 and the second connecting extension portion 121 apart, causing the first position restriction protrusion 112 and the second position restriction protrusion 122 to move to the circumferentially inner side of the corresponding retaining ring body 1, and automatic return to the lock-up state is achieved via the repulsive force. According to the above principle, the resilient and self-locking elastic retaining ring for preventing slip-out described in the present application can eliminate the need for an actuator to perform the locking operation during automatic assembly, and therefore can eliminate the operating time for the locking operation, thereby improving assembly efficiency and making it suitable for automatic production.

[0030] In this embodiment, the retaining ring body 1 has an overall sheet-like shape in its initial state. Therefore, the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring according to the present application can be directly formed from a sheet material using a primary forming machining process such as wire cutting or pressing, resulting in low manufacturing costs and economic efficiency. Specifically, in this embodiment, the retaining ring body 1 has an overall trapezoidal ring shape, and both axial end surfaces of the retaining ring body 1 are flat. It can be formed by primary forming using a spring steel plate by pressing or wire cutting. The above structure differs from the elastic retaining ring for an electric vehicle reducer shaft disclosed in Chinese patent application No. 202121468092.8, which has a spiral shape in its initial state, resulting in a complex manufacturing process and high costs.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment, when the retaining ring body 1 is in its initial state, the second connecting extension portion 121 is radially outside the retaining ring body 1 corresponding to the first connecting extension portion 111.

[0032] The first connecting extension portion 111 and the second connecting extension portion 121 are spaced apart in the radial direction and in the axial direction, which makes them easy to process and reduces manufacturing costs, while allowing the width of the corresponding groove into which the retaining ring body 1 is attached to be small, i.e., after attachment, the axial movement space of the retaining ring body 1 is small.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the retaining ring body 1 further includes removal holes 15, and the removal holes 15 include a first removal hole 151 provided at the second end 12. When the retaining ring body 1 is installed in the groove, it is in a locked-up state. By using a tool to apply force radially outward to the retaining ring body 1 through the first removal hole 151, the second connecting extension portion 121 can be opened until the retaining ring body 1 is in an outwardly expanded and detached state, thereby realizing removal of the retaining ring body 1 installed in the groove. In this embodiment, the removal holes 15 further include a second removal hole 152 provided at the first end 11. The removal holes 15 are provided in pairs at both ends of the retaining ring body 1 so that the retaining ring body 1 installed in the groove can be easily removed by inserting a pair of circlip pliers into the pair of removal holes 15. In the present application, the first detachment hole 151 and the second detachment hole 152 are provided at the root portions of the corresponding second connecting extension portion 121 and first connecting extension portion 111 of the second end portion 12 and the first end portion 11, respectively.

[0034] 2, in this embodiment, the front ends of the first position restriction protrusion 112 and the second position restriction protrusion 122 in the extending direction extend circumferentially inward of the corresponding retaining ring body 1 to form a pair of hook portions 13 that can be hooked to each other, and the locking mating surface 130 is provided on the inside of the hook portions 13. The use of a hook portion structure that locks together has the advantage of ensuring a reliable locking effect. It should be noted that the structure that can achieve mutual locking is not limited to the hook portion 13 described in this embodiment, but may also be a position restriction engagement structure such as mutually engaging teeth or female-male engaging protrusions and recesses.

[0035] 2, in this embodiment, when the retaining ring body 1 is in its initial state, the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance a. Based on the above structure, the inner diameter of the retaining ring body 1 in its initial state may be smaller than the diameter of the corresponding groove, and when the retaining ring body 1 is fitted into the groove, the distance between the first position restricting protrusion 112 and the second position restricting protrusion 122 is reduced to the predetermined distance, thereby generating a certain tightening force in the retaining ring body 1 and preventing rattling when the retaining ring body 1 is installed in the groove.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, when the first position restriction protrusion 112 and the second position restriction protrusion 122 are shifted from each other by a predetermined distance in the axial direction, the retaining ring body 1 is in an axially unlocked state, and the retaining ring body 1 can return from the axially unlocked state to the locked-up state by its own repulsive force.

[0037] As shown in Figures 10 to 13, when the retaining ring body 1 is in the axially unlocked state, the pair of locking mating surfaces 130 do not come into contact with each other as the retaining ring body 1 expands outward. Therefore, the retaining ring body 1 can continue to expand outward until it reaches the outward expansion / detachment state. Achieving this function depends on the material properties and structural parameters of the retaining ring body 1. In this embodiment, the retaining ring body 1 is made of spring steel, and the overall dimensional parameters of the retaining ring body 1 are designed with reference to the snap ring in the GB / T 894-2017 standard. As long as the dimensions of the corresponding mounting groove comply with this standard, the above function can be achieved. This also has the advantage of being versatile, allowing the dimensional parameters to be adaptively modified for specific applications.

[0038] Specifically, the retaining ring body 1 has an inner diameter of 45.8 mm, an outer diameter of 56 mm, a thickness of 2 mm, and is made of 60Si2Mn. When the second connecting extension portion 121 is pressed down until the axial displacement of the second position restricting protrusion 122 is greater than 2 mm, the retaining ring body 1 enters an axially unlocked state. When the force pressing down the second connecting extension portion 121 is released without applying a radial outward expanding force, the retaining ring body 1 can return from the axially unlocked state to the locked state by its own repulsive force.

[0039] Example 2 As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the inclined guide surface 14 is an inclined plane and is chamfered.

[0040] Example 3 As shown in FIG. 6 , the mounting device for the elastic retaining ring includes a guide bush 2, a shaft 4 to be mounted on which a groove 41 is provided, and a push-down sleeve 3, the shaft 4 to be mounted is fixed by a fixing assembly (not shown), the guide bush 2 includes a tapered portion 21, the narrow end radial dimension of the tapered portion 21 is smaller than the locking diameter of the retaining ring body 1, and the wide end radial dimension of the tapered portion 21 is larger than the locking diameter of the retaining ring body 1, the guide bush 2 is coaxially coupled to the front end of the corresponding groove 41 of the shaft 4 to be mounted, and the wide end of the tapered portion 21 faces the groove 41, The push-down sleeve 3 is provided on the outside of the guide bush 2 and is movable in the axial direction of the guide bush 2. A tripping protrusion 5 is provided on the side of the push-down sleeve 3 closer to the shaft 4 to be attached. When used in an automated assembly production line, the push-down sleeve 3 is connected to a linear drive device (not shown), and the linear drive device drives the push-down sleeve 3 to achieve axial movement.

[0041] The push-down sleeve 3 can push the retaining ring body 1 fitted into the tapered portion 21 to move it toward the groove 41, and in this process, the tripping protrusion 5 can push one end of the retaining ring body 1 on the opening 10 side, and shift the locking bonding surfaces 130 on both sides of the retaining ring body 1 in the axial direction until the retaining ring body 1 enters the axial unlocked state.

[0042] 3, when the retaining ring body 1 expands outward from the lock-up state until the pair of locking lamination surfaces 130 are mated and locked together, the hole diameter at this time becomes the locking diameter. That is, the locking diameter is the maximum hole diameter when the retaining ring body 1 is in the lock-up state. When the retaining ring body 1 is in the axially unlocked state, the pair of locking lamination surfaces 130 do not come into contact with each other as the retaining ring body 1 expands outward. Therefore, in this state, the retaining ring body 1 can continue to expand outward until it reaches the outwardly expanded and released state. Note that, because the present application defines the case where the guide bush 2 includes a tapered portion 21, it does not exclude the possibility of providing an extension portion between the wide end of the corresponding tapered portion 21 of the guide bush 2 and the groove 41, the range of the radial dimension of which is greater than the locking diameter and less than the radial dimension of the wide end of the tapered portion 21.

[0043] In this embodiment, the outer edge of the cross section of the tapered portion 21 is circular. The axial dimension of the retaining ring body 1 is greater than the thickness of the retaining ring body 1.

[0044] 6, in this embodiment, the tripping protrusion 5 is provided on the axial end surface of the retaining ring body 1. Specifically, the tripping protrusion 5 is provided on the end surface of the first end portion 11 or the second end portion 12. According to the above structure, when the tripping protrusion 5 is pressed using the push-down sleeve 3, there is no need to position the push-down sleeve 3 in the circumferential direction, which has the advantage of simplifying control.

[0045] In this embodiment, the tripping protrusion 5 is a pin, and is provided so as to be detachably attached in one of the removal holes 15 .

[0046] Example 4 As shown in FIG. 7, this embodiment differs from the third embodiment in that the tripping protrusion 5 is provided on the end surface of the push-down sleeve 3.

[0047] In addition to Example 3, there are two cases where the tripping protrusion 5 is provided on the retaining ring body 1. The first is a case where the tripping protrusion 5 is provided on the retaining ring body 1 as a separate member, as in Example 4. In this case, an additional operation step of removing the tripping protrusion 5 after pushing the retaining ring body 1 into the groove 41 is required, which affects assembly efficiency. The second is a case where the tripping protrusion 5 is provided extending from the retaining ring body 1. This increases the complexity of the manufacturing process of the retaining ring body 1, which increases the manufacturing cost of the retaining ring body 1 and further affects the compactness of the axial mounting of the retaining ring body 1.

[0048] In this embodiment, the tripping protrusion 5 is provided on the push-down sleeve 3, thereby overcoming the drawback of providing the tripping protrusion 5 on the retaining ring body 1. It should be noted that in order to achieve automatic assembly, the tripping protrusion 5 must be aligned with one end of the retaining ring body 1 on the corresponding opening 10 side, and both ends must not be pushed down at the same time, otherwise the assembly will fail. To ensure this circumferential positioning is achieved, an automatic manipulator can be used to feed the material. Specifically, the manipulator can be used to separate and pick up the retaining ring bodies 1 that have been pre-positioned (to achieve pre-positioning, a number of retaining ring bodies 1 can be placed in a material tray for circumferential positioning from a raw material pallet), and place the retaining ring bodies 1 on the tapered portion 21 at a predetermined circumferential angle according to a preset program, and then move the push-down sleeve 3, thereby ensuring the realization of the above function.

[0049] Example 5 As shown in Figures 8 to 14, in addition to Example 4, in this example, a transition bonding surface 51 is formed on one side of the tripping protrusion 5, extending spirally in the circumferential and axial directions of the push-down sleeve 3.

[0050] When the tripping protrusion 5 pushes up one end of the retaining ring body 1 on the opening 10 side, the entire retaining ring body 1 is bonded to the transition bonding surface 51, thereby improving the stability when the retaining ring body 1 is pushed by the push-down sleeve 3. In this embodiment, the tripping protrusion 5 and the push-down sleeve 3 are integrally molded, the tripping protrusion 5 is stepped, and the transition bonding surface 51 extends spirally from the front end of the tripping protrusion 5 to the base of the tripping protrusion 5.

[0051] Example 6 The method for attaching the rebound and self-locking elastic retaining ring described in Examples 1 and 2 of the present application includes the following steps S1 to S4: Step S1 is to release the lock, and the retaining ring body 1 is brought from the initial state to the outward expanded and separated state. Step S2 is expansion, in which the retaining ring body 1 is expanded until its inner diameter becomes equal to or larger than the shaft diameter of the shaft 4 to be attached. Step S3 is movement, in which the retaining ring body 1 is moved axially outward from the groove 41. Specifically, in response to this step, the retaining ring body 1 can be moved axially onto the front journal of the corresponding groove 41 of the shaft 4 to be attached. At this time, when the spreading force applied to the retaining ring body 1 is removed, the retaining ring body 1 is fitted onto the journal of the shaft 4 to be attached in an outward expanded detached state.

[0052] Step S4 is entering the groove, in which the retaining ring body 1 is moved axially to enter the groove 41, and at this time, the retaining ring body 1 returns from the outward expanded detached state to the lock-up state due to its own repulsive force, and is fitted into the groove 41.

[0053] According to the above method, the resilient and self-locking elastic retaining ring for preventing slip-out described in the present application can eliminate the need for an actuator to perform the locking operation during automatic assembly, and therefore can eliminate the operating cycle time for the locking operation, thereby improving assembly efficiency and making it suitable for automatic production.

[0054] Example 7 A method of using the mounting device for the elastic retaining snap ring according to Examples 3 to 5 to mount the rebound and self-locking elastic retaining snap ring according to Examples 1 and 2 includes the following steps S11 to S42, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 14 (taking Example 5 as an example): Step S11 is the axial lock release, in which the retaining ring body 1 is placed over the tapered portion 21 from the narrow end of the tapered portion 21, the push-down sleeve 3 moves toward the retaining ring body 1, and the tripping protrusion 5 pushes one end of the retaining ring body 1 to move it and enter an axial lock release state; Step S12 is a radial unlocking step, in which the push-down sleeve 3 pushes the retaining ring body 1 toward the wide end of the tapered portion 21 until the retaining ring body 1 enters an outwardly expanded detached state, where steps S11 and S12 correspond to step S1 in Example 6.

[0055] Step S2' is expansion, in which the push-down sleeve 3 pushes the retaining ring body 1 toward the wide end of the tapered portion 21, expanding the retaining ring body 1 until its inner diameter is equal to or greater than the shaft diameter of the front end of the corresponding groove 41 of the shaft 4 to be attached, and it should be noted that the journal diameter of the front end of the groove 41 is greater than the locking bore diameter of the retaining ring body 1. In this embodiment, step S2' corresponds to step S2 in embodiment 6.

[0056] Step S3' is a movement, in which the push-down sleeve 3 continues to push and move the retaining ring body 1, and the retaining ring body 1 is moved axially until the front end of the retaining ring body 1 is axially outside the groove 41, specifically, when the end of the guide bush 2 is attached to the outer edge of the groove 41, the entire retaining ring body 1 is placed on the guide bush 2. In this embodiment, the end of the guide bush 2 is axially attached to the journal at the front end of the groove 41, so that in this step the retaining ring body 1 is moved axially onto the journal on the front side of the groove 41. In this embodiment, step S3' corresponds to step S3 in Example 6.

[0057] Step S41 is the insertion of one end into the groove, and the push-down sleeve 3 pushes the retaining ring body 1 until the one end of the retaining ring body 1 pushed out by the tripping protrusion 5 enters the groove 41, Step S42 is the entire insertion into the groove. When one end of the retaining ring body 1 enters the groove, the other end follows and simultaneously enters the groove due to the action of a repulsive force. Steps S41 and S42 correspond to step S4 in Example 6. It should be noted that the automatic insertion of the other end into the groove is the effect of the combined action of the axial and circumferential elastic forces of the retaining ring body 1. The realization of this effect is predicated on the depth of the groove 41 and the dimensional parameters of the journal at the outer end of the groove 41. In this example, the retaining ring body 1 is made of spring steel, and its overall dimensional parameters, as well as the dimensional parameters of the groove 41 and journal, comply with the provisions for snap rings in the GB / T 894-2017 standard. Sample tests have shown that the effects described in steps S41 to S42 can be achieved. In the experiment, the retaining ring body 1 had an inner diameter of 45.8 mm, an outer diameter of 56 mm, a thickness of 2 mm, and was made of 60Si2Mn, and the inner diameter of the groove 41 was 47 mm. The test using the above method using a standard collar also achieved the effect of the other end following and entering the groove described in step S42.

[0058] Example 8 In addition to the fourth or fifth embodiment, in this embodiment, the push-down sleeve 3 is rotatable in the circumferential direction of the attachment shaft 4.

[0059] When performing the method of using the mounting device for the elastic retaining ring described in Example 7 based on the above structure, if, after step S41 is completed, one end of the retaining ring body 1 is pressed into groove 41 and the other end cannot automatically enter the groove due to its own repulsive force, step S42' is performed to rotate the push-down sleeve 3 inward in the circumferential direction of the end of the retaining ring body 1 that corresponds to the end that is pressed into groove 41, and at this time, the portion that has not entered groove 41 is pressed into groove 41 by the tripping protrusion 5, thereby ensuring that both ends of the retaining ring body 1 can enter groove 41. Therefore, in this example, steps S41 and S42' correspond to step S4 in Example 6.

[0060] Example 9 In the sixth embodiment, in order to achieve steps S1 and S2, the retaining ring body 1 can be previously pulled off using circlip pliers until it is equal to or larger than the shaft diameter of the shaft 4 to be attached, and in step 3, the entire retaining ring body 1 is fitted onto the journal at the front end of the corresponding groove 41 of the shaft 4 to be attached, and then the circlip pliers are removed, and the retaining ring body 1 is fitted onto the journal of the shaft 4 to be attached in an outwardly expanded and detached state. Finally, step S4 is carried out.

[0061] Although the technical principles of the present invention have been described above with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions are intended to interpret the principles of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention in any way. Based on the interpretation herein, a person skilled in the art may conceive of other specific embodiments of the present invention without any creative effort, and all of these embodiments are included in the scope of protection of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 - retaining ring body, 10 - opening, 11 - first end, 111 - first connecting extension portion, 112 - first position restricting protrusion, 12 - second end, 121 - second connecting extension portion, 122 - second position restricting protrusion, 13 - hook portion, 130 - locking bonding surface, 14 - inclined guide surface, 15 - removal hole, 151 - first removal hole, 152 - second removal hole, 2 - guide bush, 21 - tapered part, 3-Push down sleeve, 4 - mounting shaft, 41 - groove, 5-tripping protrusion, 51-transition bonding surface

Claims

1. A resilient and self-locking retaining ring for attachment to a shaft, comprising a retaining ring body (1), the retaining ring body (1) having an opening (10), and the ends of the retaining ring body (1) corresponding to both sides of the opening (10) being a first end (11) and a second end (12), respectively. When the retaining ring body (1) is in an initial state, the first end (11) and the second end (12) alternate with each other, and a first connecting extension portion (111) and a second connecting extension portion (121) are provided at the front ends of the first end (11) and the second end (12) corresponding to the positions where the front ends of the first end (11) and the second end (12) alternate with each other, and a first position restricting protrusion (112) and a second position restricting protrusion (122) are provided at the first connecting extension portion (111) and the second connecting extension portion (121) respectively, extending laterally. The first position restricting protrusion (112) and the second position restricting protrusion (122) are located on the circumferential inside of the corresponding retaining ring body (1) and are in a lock-up state, a locking bonding surface (130) is provided on the proximal side of the first position restricting protrusion (112) and the second position restricting protrusion (122), and an inclined guide surface (14) is provided on the side of the first position restricting protrusion (112) farther from the second position restricting protrusion (122) and / or the side of the second position restricting protrusion (122) farther from the first position restricting protrusion (112), When the retaining ring body (1) is in an initial state, it is in a lock-up state, and the first position restriction convex portion (112) and the second position restriction convex portion (122) are spaced apart by a predetermined distance, When the retaining ring body (1) is attached to the shaft, the pair of locking lamination surfaces (130) are not bonded together, and when the shaft rotates and the retaining ring body (1) expands outward from the locked-up state, the pair of locking lamination surfaces (130) are bonded together and lock together, preventing the retaining ring body (1) from expanding outward until it reaches the outward expanded and detached state. When the retaining ring body (1) is in an outwardly expanded and detached state, the inclined guide surface (14) allows the retaining ring body (1) to return from the outwardly expanded and detached state to the locked-up state by its own repulsive force, thereby forming a resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring.

2. The retaining ring body (1) is in an initial state and has a sheet-like shape as a whole.

2. The resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring according to claim 1, wherein when the retaining ring body (1) is in an initial state, the second connecting extension portion (121) is radially outside the corresponding retaining ring body (1) of the first connecting extension portion (111).

3. The detachment hole (15) further includes a first detachment hole (151) provided at the second end (12); The resilient and self-locking retaining ring as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the removal hole (15) includes a second removal hole (152) provided at the first end (11).

4. 2. The resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring according to claim 1, wherein the front ends of the first position restricting protrusion (112) and the second position restricting protrusion (122) in the extending direction extend inward in the circumferential direction of the corresponding retaining ring body (1) to form a pair of hook portions (13) that can be hooked to each other, and the locking bonding surface (130) is provided on the inside of the hook portions (13).

5. When the first position restricting protrusion (112) and the second position restricting protrusion (122) are shifted from each other by a predetermined distance in the axial direction, the retaining ring body (1) is in an axially unlocked state, The resilient and self-locking retaining retaining ring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the retaining ring body (1) can return from an axially unlocked state to a locked-up state by its own repulsive force.

6. 6. The resilient and self-locking retaining snap ring according to claim 5, wherein a tripping protrusion (5) is provided on an end face of the first end (11) or the second end (12).

7. A method for installing the resilient and self-locking retaining elastic snap ring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the following steps S1 to S4: Step S1 is unlocking, which moves the retaining ring body (1) from its initial state to an outwardly expanded and detached state. Step S2 is expansion, in which the retaining ring body (1) is expanded until its inner diameter becomes equal to or larger than the shaft diameter of the shaft (4) to be attached; Step S3 is a movement, in which the retaining ring body (1) is moved axially outward of the groove (41); Step S4 is the groove entry, in which the retaining ring body (1) is moved axially to enter the groove (41), and at this time, the retaining ring body (1) returns from the outwardly expanded detached state to the locked-up state by its own repulsive force, and is fitted into the groove (41). This is the method for installing a resilient and self-locking retaining elastic retaining ring.

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