Zero clearance C-ring assembly
First Claim
1. A spool valve comprising:
- a housing defining an inner bore;
a porting sleeve positioned at a fixed axial position within said inner bore;
a piston movable within said porting sleeve;
a C-ring holding said porting sleeve at said axial position relative to said housing, said C-ring being received in a groove in said inner bore of said housing, said C-ring further being received in a groove in at least two separate circumferentially spaced holding members together defining a support for a radially inner portion of said C-ring.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A support structure for a C-ring includes a pair of circumferentially spaced holding members on catch plates. The holding members may be moved individually into the C-ring after the C-ring is mounted within an outer housing. The two holding members thus provide support to an inner periphery of the C-ring. A locking plate has support structure moved between circumferential ends of the housing members, thus providing effective support for the C-ring around its entire inner periphery. In this way, the two parts secured by the C-ring need not be moved relative to each other to insert the C-ring. The clearance or ability to move one of the two parts relative to the other which has been required in the past to mount a C-ring, is not necessary. This makes the inventive C-ring particularly useful for new applications, such as holding a porting sleeve within a valve housing.
4 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A spool valve comprising:
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a housing defining an inner bore;
a porting sleeve positioned at a fixed axial position within said inner bore;
a piston movable within said porting sleeve;
a C-ring holding said porting sleeve at said axial position relative to said housing, said C-ring being received in a groove in said inner bore of said housing, said C-ring further being received in a groove in at least two separate circumferentially spaced holding members together defining a support for a radially inner portion of said C-ring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An assembly including a C-ring securing two parts comprising:
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a first part defining a bore;
a second part received within said bore; and
a C-ring received in a groove in one of said first and second parts, said C-ring being provided with at least two separate, distinct holding members preventing axial movement of said first part relative to said second part along an axis of said bore, including a part groove for supporting said C-ring. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of assembling a C-ring comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a first part having a bore, and a second part;
(2) inserting said second part within said bore;
(3) inserting a C-ring within a groove in said bore of said first part; and
(4) inserting a first part circular member extending for less than 180°
within said C-ring, and moving said first part-circular member to engage said C-ring, and then moving at least a second part circular member within said C-ring and moving said second part-circular member to engage said C-ring, said first and second part-circular members providing support for said C-ring, such that said C-ring prevents movement of said second part axially outway of said bore.
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Specification