Retaining ring

A retaining ring is a fastener that holds components or assemblies onto a shaft or in a housing/bore when installed - typically in a groove - for one time use only.

These rings may be installed axially (horizontally along the center point of an axis) or radially (externally along the radius of a circle).

Inverting the lugs allows greater clearance on a shaft or in a housing and forms a higher uniform shoulder good for retaining bearings and other components with large corner radii or chamfers.

The ring is wedging itself into place between the groove wall and the retained part, resulting in what is referred to as rigid end-play take-up.

In manufacturing, parts can not be produced to an exact dimension; as a result, if they are made on the low side of the tolerance, they will be loose or have play on the shaft when a standard ring is installed.

If they are made on the high side of the tolerance, they will extend further into the groove and prevent a standard ring from being fully installed.

Compensating for accumulated tolerances is what bowed retaining rings are designed to do, by acting as a spring once installed into the groove.

Spiral retaining rings are axially installed into housings/bores (internal) or onto shafts (external), making 360° contact with the groove.

Spiral retaining rings can be economically produced in special alloys like stainless steel because the manufacturing process eliminates scrap.