Technical Considerations for the Selection of Retaining Rings

Standard vs. Inverted

Equally important to correct groove preparation is the selection of ring types best suited for specific loading conditions. While many ring styles share common design characteristics, each has its own special features which must be considered in relation to the individual design.

For instance, where loading conditions call for maximum groove engagement, basic rings–shown in the left half of each drawing in Figure 3–will be the best choice. However, where load isn’t critical but, let us say, the lug protrusion of the basic rings creates an interference problem–or where a uniformly protruding higher shoulder is of importance–preference should be given to the inverted rings shown in the right halves of each drawing.

Figure 3

It is common for inverted ring designs to be used in low load capacity applications where aesthetics are the main concern. The two styles are interchangeable as far as groove dimensions are concerned.

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