Shaft retaining ring

Claim 1

A shaft disengageably retained in a member having an aperture receiving said shaft, a radially inwardly facing circular retaining groove having a predetermined depth in said member aperture, a radially outwardly facing circular retaining groove having a predetermined depth in said shaft, a substantially circular resilient split retaining ring positioned in said retaining grooves when said grooves are radially aligned, end portions of said ring having substantial length extending outwardly from the normal circle of said ring, said ring having a dimension to occupy a portion of each of said grooves in interference contact with said shaft and said member resisting relative axial movement therebetween, an assembly ramp on one end of said shaft and a disassembly ramp on one side of said shaft retaining groove whereby forced axial displacement of said shaft in one direction relative to said member engages said assembly ramp with said ring moving it radially outwardly into said member groove to an assembly-disassembly position permitting said shaft to move through said ring until said grooves are radially aligned and said ring contracts into said shaft groove in a retaining position, forced axial displacement of said shaft relative to said member in an opposite direction engaging said disassembly ramp with said ring moving it to said assembly-disassembly position permitting movement of said shaft through said ring disconnecting said shaft, and said ring end portions positioning said ring in said member groove engaging said groove along its entire length assuring radial movement of said ring when engaged by said ramps.