Split Stop Ring Assembly for Horizontal Shaft Mounting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connection assemblies with stop rings, particularly those using two half-rings, face difficulties in mounting when the shaft section is oriented horizontally, as the half-rings tend to fall or require impractical solutions like gluing or grease to maintain position, and the retaining means for maintaining relative position are costly and complex.

Innovation Solution

A connection assembly with a stop ring consisting of two half-rings that utilize retaining means such as elastic bracelets, bent parts, or projections to prevent the first ends of the half-rings from moving apart circumferentially, allowing for easy assembly and reduced costs, and can be mounted without clamping between axial stops, ensuring stability even when the shaft section is horizontal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If two half-rings are used to form the retaining ring, then the ring can be made massive and thick to handle very high axial forces, but the mounting becomes difficult when the shaft section is oriented horizontally as the half-rings tend to fall out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial force resistanceVSAvoidmounting ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining ring is divided into two half-rings that can be separately mounted on the shaft section. Each half-ring can be independently positioned and secured, allowing for easier assembly while maintaining the structural strength needed to handle high axial forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft section is prepared in advance with axial stops and grooves that will receive and secure the half-rings during mounting. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the half-rings are placed on the shaft, they are immediately held in position by the axial stops, preventing them from falling out during horizontal mounting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If retaining means are added to prevent the first ends of the half-rings from moving apart circumferentially, then the relative position of the half-rings is maintained, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelative position maintenanceVSAvoidretaining means complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining means are integrated into the existing structure of the half-rings and shaft section. The axial stops on the shaft section serve dual purposes: they prevent axial displacement of the ring and also work with the grooves to maintain the circumferential position of the half-rings. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate, complex retaining mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grooves formed by the axial stops on the shaft section automatically serve as retaining features for the half-rings. When the half-rings are mounted on the shaft, the grooves naturally prevent the first ends of the half-rings from moving apart circumferentially, without requiring additional active retaining means. The structure serves its own retention function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables simple and cost-effective assembly of the connection assembly, maintaining the relative position of the half-rings without the need for additional holding means, preventing axial and radial movement, and ensuring stability under centrifugal forces and vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

the retaining ring is slipped onto a shaft by spreading it with pliers through elastic deformation, then the ring is released and settles into a groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

when the stop ring is composed of two half-rings and is rotated, its half-rings are subjected to centrifugal forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3063418B1Connecting assembly using a stop ring for a length of shaft. method of mounting such a connecting assembly
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 POCLAIN HYDRAULICS IND
  • EP3063418B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3063418B1 patent drawingFigure 1C
  • EP3063418B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Connecting assembly comprising a housing component (14), a stop ring (22) consisting of two half-rings (22A, 22B), and a length of shaft (12). Axial end stops (25) formed on the length of shaft prevent the ring from moving axially along the length of shaft. The connecting assembly comprises retaining means (34A, 34B) able, when the ring is placed in a mounted position around the length of shaft and held axially by the axial end stops, to prevent respective first ends of the half-rings from moving apart. In the mounted position, the ring prevents relative movement in an axial direction (X) of the length of shaft (12) with respect to the housing component (14). It is therefore interposed between the length of shaft (12) and the housing component (14) and is held radially against the length of shaft (12) by the housing component (14). The invention also relates to a method of mounting such a connecting assembly.