Retaining Ring

Abstract

A retaining ring having a base body which is circular except for an opening interrupting it, the opening interrupting the ring shape being bounded on a first side by an end face of a first end of the base body and on a second side, opposite the first side, by an end face of a second end of the base body, and a mounting hole being provided in the first end and a mounting hole being provided in the second end, at least one closed pocket being provided in the base body.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A retaining ring comprising: a base body which is circular except for an opening interrupting said base body; wherein the opening interrupting the ring shape is bounded on a first side by an end face of a first end of the base body and on a second side, opposite the first side, by an end face of a second end of the base body; and wherein at least one closed pocket is disposed in the base body.

14. The retaining ring of claim 13, further comprising a first mounting hole disposed in the first end of the base body, and a second mounting hole disposed in the second end of the base body.

15. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein at least two closed pockets are disposed in the base body.

16. The retaining ring of claim 15, wherein said base body is mirror-symmetrical with respect to a plane running centrally through the opening.

17. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein the at least one closed pocket is curved.

18. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein a total closed pocket area defined as the sum of the areas of each said at least one closed pocket is at least 10% of the total area of the base body, and wherein the total area of the base body corresponds to the area bounded by the outer contour of the base body.

19. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein a closed pocket is located in the range between 125° and 235° when the center of the opening is taken as the 0° position.

20. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein, when the center of the opening is taken as 0° position, a closed pocket is located in the range between 10° and 90°.

21. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein, when the center of the opening is taken as 0° position, a closed pocket is located in the range between 350° and 270°.

22. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein, when the center of the opening is taken as 0° position, a closed pocket is located in the range between 10° and 90° and another closed pocket is located in the range between 350° and 270°.

23. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein the at least one closed pocket comprises a plurality of closed pockets, a majority of which have the same size and/or shape.

24. The retaining ring of claim 23, wherein all of the closed pockets have the same size and/or the same shape.

25. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein the first end and/or second end of the base body is adapted so as to be devoid of mounting holes.

26. The retaining ring of claim 13, wherein a plurality of closed pockets are disposed in said base body, and wherein said base body is minor-symmetrical with respect to a plane running centrally through the opening.

27. A shaft having a circumferential groove and a retaining ring disposed in the groove, wherein the retaining ring comprises a base body which is ring shaped except for an opening interrupting said base body, wherein the opening interrupting the ring shape is bounded on a first side by an end face of a first end of the base body and on a second side, opposite the first side, by an end face of a second end of the base body, and wherein at least one closed pocket is disposed in the base body.

28. The shaft of claim 27, wherein a first mounting hole is disposed in the first end of the base body, and a second mounting hole is disposed in the second end of the base body.

29. The shaft of claim 28, wherein a plurality of closed pockets are disposed in said base body, and wherein said base body is minor-symmetrical with respect to a plane running centrally through the opening.

30. A component having a bore and a groove running around in the bore and a retaining ring arranged in the groove, wherein the retaining ring comprises a base body which is ring shaped except for an opening interrupting said base body, wherein the opening interrupting the ring shape is bounded on a first side by an end face of a first end of the base body and on a second side, opposite the first side, by an end face of a second end of the base body, and wherein at least one closed pocket is disposed in the base body.

31. The component of claim 30, wherein a first mounting hole is disposed in the first end of the base body, and a second mounting hole is disposed in the second end of the base body.

32. The shaft of claim 31, wherein a plurality of closed pockets are disposed in said base body, and wherein said base body is mirror-symmetrical with respect to a plane running centrally through the opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] In the following, the invention is explained more closely with the aid of drawings showing merely realizations. Shown are:

[0065] FIG. 1 a top view of a retaining ring according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0066] FIG. 2 a top view of a retaining ring according to the invention in accordance with a second embodiment;

[0067] FIG. 3 a top view of a retaining ring according to the invention in accordance with a third embodiment;

[0068] FIG. 4 a top view embodiment; of a device according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment;

[0069] FIG. 5 a top view embodiment; of a device according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment;

[0070] FIG. 6 a top view embodiment; of a device according to the invention according to a sixth embodiment;

[0071] FIG. 7 a top view of embodiment and a device according to the invention according to a seventh embodiment;

[0072] FIG. 8 a top view embodiment. of a device according to the invention according to an eighth embodiment;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] The retaining rings 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 each have a base body 2. The base body 2 is circular except for an opening 3 which interrupts it. The opening 3 interrupting the ring shape is bounded on a first side by an end face 4 of a first end 5 of the base body and on a second side opposite the first side by an end face 6 of a second end 7 of the base body 2.

[0074] In the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 6 to 8, a mounting hole 8 is provided in the first end 5 of the base body 2. A mounting hole 9 is also provided in the second end 7 of the base body 2.

[0075] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the base body 2 has four pockets 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the base body 2 has sixteen pockets 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the base body 2 has four pockets. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the base body 2 has six pockets and two open pockets 11. In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, the base body 2 has eight pockets 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the base body 2 has two pockets 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the base body 2 has three pockets 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the base body 2 has six pockets 10.

[0076] The retaining rings 1 according to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8 are designed with mirror symmetry with respect to a plane 12 running centrally through the opening 3.

[0077] The pockets 10 in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 7 are designed as an arched pocket 10. In this regard, the respective pocket 10 has a first pocket end 17 and a second pocket end 18 opposite the first pocket end 17 in the circumferential direction. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, the first pocket end 17 and the second pocket end 18 are formed by a boundary surface extending in a radially extending plane. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7, the first pocket end 17 and the second pocket end 18 are semicircular.

[0078] In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, two pockets 10 are arranged in the range between 90° and 270° when the center of the opening 3 is taken as the 0° position. Furthermore, a pocket 10 in the range between 10° and 90° and a pocket 10 in the range between 350° and 270° are arranged there, if the center of the opening 3 is taken as the 0° position. In the 180° position is not located in any pocket.

[0079] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the pockets 10 are distributed regularly around the circumference of the base body 2. The angle [0080] between a line 19 extending radially and through the center of the surface of a first pocket 10 [0081] and a line 19 extending radially and through the center of the surface of a pocket 10 adjacent to the first pocket 10 is the same for each pairing of adjacent pockets 10 in the base body 2.

[0082] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8, all pockets 10 present are identical in size and shape.

[0083] The base body 2 has an inner edge 13 and an outer edge 14. The base body 2 has a center point M.

[0084] In FIGS. 1 to 7, the respective pockets 10 of the base body 2 have an inner edge 15, which closes the respective pocket 10 at the point corresponding to the center M closer side is limited. The inner edge 15 is arched and extends arched around the center M of the ring base body 2. Furthermore, the respective pocket 10 of the base body has an outer edge 16 which bounds the respective pocket 10 on the side furthest from the center point M. The outer edge 16 runs in an arc around the center point M of the ring base body 2.

[0085] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the end face of the first end lies only partially in a plane and has a semicircular recess provided centrally in place of a mounting hole, and the end face of the second end lies only partially in a plane and has a semicircular recess provided centrally in place of a mounting hole.

[0086] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the first end and the second end are designed as a so-called tab or as so-called ears, i.e. as a projection to the remaining area of the base body.

[0087] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a pocket 10 is located in the range between 125° and 235° when the center of the opening 3 is taken as the 0° position. Furthermore, a pocket 10 in the range between 10° and 90° and a pocket 10 in the range between 350° and 270° are arranged there, if the center of the opening 3 is taken as the 0° position.

[0088] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the six pockets 10 are circular.

[0089] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8, the base body 2 is rectangular in cross section.