Characteristics of Spiral Retaining Rings:
It is beneficial to learn the characteristics of spiral rings design and practical considerations, and weigh those against the thrust load capacity needed for an application. The reasons behind their adoption across industries from aerospace, medical and automotive are explored below.
Coiled Structure:
The coiled design of a spiral ring ensures even load distribution, eliminating stress concentration points and enhancing resistance to higher loads and vibrations without compromising performance. Unlike other types of retaining rings, these feature a lug free design – meaning they can also be space saving in an assembly by not interfering with the mating components. In multiple-turn (2+) configurations, spiral rings offer a 360° retaining surface.
Versatile and Adjustable:
Spiral retaining rings can be coiled to nearly any dimension or number of turns, making them adaptable to various assembly requirements. Being coiled means we can also be flexible on sizing from small to large diameters. And, if users need even more functionality or suitability for their applications, ask about locking and balanced features.
Unmatched Ease of Installation and Removal:
Spiral rings are simple to install and remove, requiring no tools for assembly. They can either be twisted into grooves using your hands or through simple automation, spiral rings can be assembled on production lines. The smooth edges on a spiral retaining ring minimise scratching of an assembly and make the rings easy to handle. No additional tools or equipment are needed, saving time and effort during the assembly process. Additionally, when it comes to removal, a screwdriver is all it takes to extract the ring utilising the removal notch on the ring, simplifying maintenance and repair tasks.
Cost-Efficiency and Waste Reduction:
The adaptability and customisation options of spiral rings can contribute to cost savings as they eliminate the need for expensive tooling and production processes. The coiling process also produces minimal to no scrap, further optimising manufacturing and assembly efficiency while addressing environmental and sustainability concerns.
Standard or Custom Spiral Rings:
Spiral retaining rings can be customised. Rotor Clip customers can choose between standard or custom spiral rings. The standard spiral rings meet industry standards and offer cost-effective solutions, while the custom spiral rings are engineered to user specifications. These include material selection, ring size and dimensions like diameter, ring thickness, radial wall, end configuration and more. Other customisable features may include special coatings or surface treatments to enhance corrosion resistance or reduce friction.
Materials for Every Environment
Rotor Clip’s spiral retaining rings offer a range of material choices, from standard carbon steel to stainless steel, and exotic alloys, providing flexibility for various application requirements.
Prioritise corrosion resistance with the 302 and 316 stainless steel spiral retaining rings, which are ideal for medical, saltwater, and aerospace environments. In demanding environments requiring high-temperature and corrosion resistance, materials like Inconel and Elgiloy are suitable. Spiral rings crafted from these materials ensure reliability, even in the most severe conditions.
Spiral retaining rings are used across various industries, offering a multitude of benefits like even load distribution, high load and vibration resistance, adaptability to diverse assembly requirements, ease of installation and removal, cost-effectiveness, and customised options.
Spiral retaining rings have the potential to improve applications, saving time and resources while ensuring reliability.
This article first appears on Rotor Clip’s website.
