Circlips for shafts
(142)Complex machines in manufacturing plants feature certain strategic components, without which it would be impossible to operate them. It is essential that these are properly maintained and inspected according to a specific schedule. While bulky parts are easy to inspect, small, interacting components are often neglected. However, without them, the machine would not function properly. Circlips are one of these components. Their most important task is to prevent unwanted axial movement on shafts, bores or axles. In other words, they help to ensure a fixed position of components interacting with other moving parts. Lack of adequate protection would result in increased wear of materials, frequent failures, and even the inability of individual machine components to interoperate. Despite their often small size, circlips serve a critical function and are essential to the proper operation of the mechanism.
Design, types and intended use of circlips
Based on their design and application, we can distinguish the following types of circlips:
- Retaining rings (so-called Seger rings made of spring materials);
- Circlips for shafts;
- Clamping rings;
- Securing washers.
Despite having a similar purpose, the above mentioned securing components are characterized by their distinctive features required for their application in a given device, therefore:
Retaining rings can be divided into two basic groups. These are internal and external rings, with a characteristic centric shape.
Internal retaining rings prevent the movement of machine components along the axis of the shaft on which they are mounted. For this purpose, the ring is mounted in a bore of the component, in a groove that is milled in the housing. After placing the component on the shaft, the ring clamps onto it and fixes its position, at the same time protecting the most sensitive parts, such as bearings, gears, etc., from damage.
External retaining rings are mounted directly on the machine shaft in milled grooves. Due to the mounting method, they differ from internal Seger rings in terms of the location of mounting brackets – in order to match the radius of curvature of the surface, internal rings feature mounting brackets on the inner side, while external rings have mounting brackets on the outer side. The principle of operation of both these types, however, is the same.
Mounting and dismounting of retaining rings is done using special pliers that spread or compress the component. The retaining rings offered by TME are made of materials such as:
- Spring bronze – it owes its popularity to its solderability and resistance to corrosion. The feature that distinguishes this material from other used in the manufacture of retaining rings is very good thermal and electrical conductivity.
- Stainless steel – the most important feature of this material is resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel rings** are suitable for use in high humidity environments.
- Spring steel – this material is characterized by high fatigue strength and improved elastic limit. Spring steel returns to its original form after deformation. The ability to attenuate impact loads helps us to make sure that components made of this material do not transfer the impact force to the protected machine parts.
For additional corrosion protection, oxidized or tin-plated rings are also available.
Circlips for shafts are designed for protection of grooved shafts. These elements, made of spring steel, are mounted on the shaft and then secured against sliding with a special clip.
Clamping rings are specialised rings that are applied to the machine shaft and clamped with a screw. They provide permanent protection of interacting components, and all that is needed to install and remove them is an Allen key. Due to the fact that they are practically wear-free, they can be removed and reinstalled several times. Clamping rings do not require adjustment of the shaft surface or milling of special grooves. They allow high peripheral forces to be transmitted without any undesirable play of the shaft. The perfect connection between the inner surface of the ring and the shaft surface prevents contamination from entering the machine.
Securing washers prevent the loosening of connections. Manufactured according to BN 833 industry standard, the washers offered by TME are suitable for shaft diameters in the range of 0.8÷12mm. The said components are made of spring steel.
Applied standards
Circlips are subject to industry standardisation to ensure their suitability for use in complex applications. TME offers only products that meet this requirement. Furthermore, retaining rings meet the stringent requirements of DIN standards such as DIN 471, DIN 472, DIN 6799 and DIN 7993.
Warehouse:
