Securing members together by spring rings
First Claim
1. In an assembly comprising an external member having a first bore and an internal groove in the first bore, an internal member having an external groove, a second bore and a radial slot extending axially between said external groove and an end of the internal member, and a spring ring having adjacent to its ends, arms which extend generally radially inwardly, a method of securing together the external member in telescopic relationship with the internal member by the spring ring comprising:
- mounting the spring ring in the external groove off the internal member so that the arms extend inwardly through said slot into the second bore;
releasably holding the spring ring in a contracted state so that it lies substantially within the external groove by engaging the arms in the second bore with a holding mechanism;
telescoping the internal member into the external member while the arms are engaged with the holding mechanism until the internal and external grooves are mutually aligned; and
releasing the arms of the spring ring so that the spring ring expands to engage in both of the mutually aligned internal and external grooves.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly of an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a motor vehicle wheel bearing, wherein the outer race has a first bore and an internal groove in the bore, the bearing part and the race being held in assembled position by a spring ring engaged in the groove and in an external groove of the bearing part which has a second bore with an open end, the ring having, adjacent its ends, arms which extend generally radially inwardly through a slot extending radially of the second bore between an inner end open to the second bore and an outer end at the external surface of the bearing part, the slot extending axially between the external groove and an end of the bearing part.
20 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In an assembly comprising an external member having a first bore and an internal groove in the first bore, an internal member having an external groove, a second bore and a radial slot extending axially between said external groove and an end of the internal member, and a spring ring having adjacent to its ends, arms which extend generally radially inwardly, a method of securing together the external member in telescopic relationship with the internal member by the spring ring comprising:
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mounting the spring ring in the external groove off the internal member so that the arms extend inwardly through said slot into the second bore;
releasably holding the spring ring in a contracted state so that it lies substantially within the external groove by engaging the arms in the second bore with a holding mechanism;
telescoping the internal member into the external member while the arms are engaged with the holding mechanism until the internal and external grooves are mutually aligned; and
releasing the arms of the spring ring so that the spring ring expands to engage in both of the mutually aligned internal and external grooves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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- 6. An assembly comprising an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a motor vehicle wheel bearing, wherein the outer race has a first bore and an internal groove in the bore, and wherein the wheel bearing part has a second bore with an open end, an external groove, and a slot extending radially from the second bore between an inner end open to the second bore and an outer end at the external surface of the bearing part, the slot extending axially between said external groove and an end of the bearing part, the wheel bearing part and the outer race being held in assembled position by a spring ring engaged in said internal groove and said external groove, the spring ring having, adjacent its ends, arms which extend generally radially inwardly through said slot.
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19. A telescopic assembly of an external member and an internal member wherein the external member has a first bore and an internal groove in the bore, the internal and external members being held in assembled position by a spring ring engaged in said internal groove and in an external groove of the internal member which has a second bore with an open end, the ring having, adjacent its ends, arms which extend generally radially inwardly through a slot extending radially from the second bore between an inner end open to the second bore and an outer end at the external surface of the internal member, the slot extending axially between said external groove and an end of the internal member.
Specification