US4151779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lock and spacer ring
Assignee: SKF Industrial Trading and Development Co BV
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Filing: 1977-06-06
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Granted: 1979-05-01
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Expires: 1997-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A ring for locking and spacing two components situated in a cylindrical bore, characterized in that said ring has a closed uninterrupted angular shape and comprises a weakened part which allows the adjacent end parts to be pressed to each other without disengaging said end parts from said weakened part.
Inventors
- 👤 Hendrikus J. M. Timmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:34
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B21/00; F16B21/10; F16B21/16; F16B21/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S384/00; Y10S384/90; Y10S384/903; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A locking and spacing structure comprising a ring having closed unitary uninterrupted structural shape, one portion of said ring interrupting the remainder thereof and being weakened between a pair of end parts so as to be deformable and deformed from said uninterrupted shape so as to project radially from the area defined by said shape in the unstressed state of the ring, said weakened area including first and second circumferentially extending strips, meeting at a common point of greater deformability than said elements and forming a middle hinge, said strips being joined at their respective terminations with the respective end parts of said ring at points of greater deformability than said strips and forming hinges at said terminations, said strips being formed to have portions that extend radially inward of the remainder of said ring when said hinges are bent with said middle hinge at the radius equal to the outer radius of said remainder of said ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A locking and spacing structure comprising a ring having closed unitary uninterrupted structural shape, one portion of said ring interrupting the remainder thereof and being weakened between a pair of end parts so as to be deformable and deformed from said uninterrupted shape so as to project radially from the area defined by said shape in the unstressed state of the ring, said weakened area including first and second circumferentially extending strips, meeting at a common point of greater deformability than said elements and forming a middle hinge, said strips being joined at their respective terminations with the respective end parts of said ring at points of greater deformability than said strips and forming hinges at said terminations, said strips being formed to have portions that extend radially inward of the remainder of said ring when said hinges are bent with said middle hinge at the radius equal to the outer radius of said remainder of said ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said weakened part, during pressing of said end parts, moves in a radial direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said weakened part comprises two or more relatively thin sections situated at a predetermined distance from each other and functioning as hinges for their respective connecting strips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 3, wherein said strips are dimensioned such that, and have a degree of resilience such that, after said ring is adapted to be placed in a groove of a bore, said strips move outwardly to lock said ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure of claim 3, wherein said strips have a cross-section mainly triangular in shape and have flat sides defining a sharp angle under tension when locked.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein a projection is present at the circumference of said ring which corresponds to a groove in the bore of a mechanical part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said ring is adapted to be fitted on a tapered tool, whereby said ring can be automatically mounted in a bore of a mechanical part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The locking and spacing structure of claim 1, wherein said weakened portion is radially displaced with respect to said remainder of said ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The locking and spring structure of claim 8, wherein said weakened portion is displaced radially inwardly with respect to said remainder of said ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The locking and spacing structure of claim 1, wherein said strips have triangular cross-section, with their apexes joining at said common point location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The locking and spacing structure of claim 1, wherein said one portion has less radial thickness than said remainder throughout its extent, and is radially displaced inwardly of said one portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The locking and spacing structure of claim 1, wherein said strips have triangular cross-section with their apexes joining at said middle hinge, said one portion being displaced radially inwardly with respect to said remainder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
A retaining ring and spacer element comprising a continuous ring of a resilient material, the outer circumferential surface of said ring being interrupted at a given arcuate section to form a pair of spaced apart end faces, said ring being formed in said given arcuate section by a bridging portion of radial thickness lesser than the remainder of said element throughout its extent and joining the end faces at the radially innermost edge thereof, said bridging portion having minimum radial thickness at longitudinally extending joints thereof with said end faces and along a central longitudinally extending line, whereby hinges are formed at said joints and along said line, the regions of said bridging portion immediately adjacent said joints extending radially inward of the remainder of said element when said hinges are bent with the hinge at said line at the radius of said outer circumferential surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
146 words
A retaining ring and spacer element comprising a continuous ring of a resilient material, the outer circumferential surface of said ring being interrupted at a given arcuate section to form a pair of spaced apart end faces, said ring being formed in said given arcuate section by a bridging portion of radial thickness lesser than the remainder of said element throughout its extent and joining the end faces at the radially innermost edge thereof, said bridging portion having minimum radial thickness at longitudinally extending joints thereof with said end faces and along a central longitudinally extending line, whereby hinges are formed at said joints and along said line, the regions of said bridging portion immediately adjacent said joints extending radially inward of the remainder of said element when said hinges are bent with the hinge at said line at the radius of said outer circumferential surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The element of claim 13, wherein said end faces extend radially in longitudinal planes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The element of claim 13, wherein the portion of said element away from said bridging portion has a substantially uniform transverse cross section throughout its extent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The element of claim 15, wherein said portion of said ring away from said bridging portion has a projection extending radially outward from said outer circumferential surface and having an axial dimension less than said outer circumferential surface, said bridging portion extending axially to the same extent as the remainder of said element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
A retaining ring and spacing structure comprising a resilient ring having an arcuate portion with radially outwardly and inwardly directed surfaces, said arcuate portion being interrupted circumferentially by a bridging portion joined at its ends to said arcuate portion radially inwardly of said outwardly directed surface, said bridging portion having axially extending portions of reduced radial dimension at each said end forming a pair of hinges with said arcuate portion, and an axially extending portion of reduced radial dimension intermediate said hinges and forming a third hinge, whereby a pair of strips are formed between said hinges, said strips being formed to have portions extending radially inwardly of said inwardly directed surface of said ring when said bridging portion is hinged outwardly with said third hinge at the radius of said outwardly directed surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
A retaining ring and spacing structure comprising a resilient ring having an arcuate portion with radially outwardly and inwardly directed surfaces, said arcuate portion being interrupted circumferentially by a bridging portion joined at its ends to said arcuate portion radially inwardly of said outwardly directed surface, said bridging portion having axially extending portions of reduced radial dimension at each said end forming a pair of hinges with said arcuate portion, and an axially extending portion of reduced radial dimension intermediate said hinges and forming a third hinge, whereby a pair of strips are formed between said hinges, said strips being formed to have portions extending radially inwardly of said inwardly directed surface of said ring when said bridging portion is hinged outwardly with said third hinge at the radius of said outwardly directed surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-30 | 1982-10-30 | 1983-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-30 | 1986-10-30 | 1987-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-30 | 1990-10-30 | 1991-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |