SUMMER 2019

40 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

40 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK ROTOR CLIP COMPANY INC. 187 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, NJ 08873 TEL 1-800-557-6867 FAX 732-469-7898 EMAIL info@rotorclip.com WEB www.rotorclip.com BRINGING BALANCE TO THE FORCE - PART 1 by Jürgen Wenzel, Global Marketing Manager Retaining Ring Solutions to Reduce Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) for Applications with High RPMs and Balancing Needs Bringing balance to forces is not just a fictional desire in a galaxy far, far away, but a real life challenge when it comes to developing machinery and equipment dealing with high rotational speeds (RPMs). Everything from electric motors, transmissions, and axles to pumps, turbines, fans, drive shafts, and generators are all examples of applications that need to run as smooth as possible in order to be efficient, safe and long-lasting. Retaining rings are often used in these types of high RPM applications to fix bearings on shafts or in bores. It is therefore critical for design engineers to choose rings that will retain parts effectively and allow assemblies to run at maximum capacity, while not being negatively impacted by, or add to, the forces of high rotational speeds and causes of NVH. Rotor Clip is a global leader and expert in the production of retaining rings and has assisted design engineers for over 60 years with retaining ring solutions that achieved their ultimate design goals, including the reduction of noise, vibration, and harshness. Bowed and Beveled Rings That Combat NVH Each ring type employs a unique geometry that addresses unacceptable endplay in its own way. Bowed rings do not lie in a single plane perpendicular to the assembly centerline. Their bowed construction lets them act like a flat spring, offering dynamic endplay take up. By flattening or rebounding they press the retained part into place. Such rings are generally used for smaller applications; standard diameters range from 0.11in to 1.75in. Beveled rings, on the other hand, are planar but feature a 15 deg. bevel. This allows them to act like a wedge between the retained part and the ring groove wall, rigidly taking up endplay space. Beveled retaining rings are usually used in larger applications that require standard sizes between 1 and 10 in. in diameter. TECHNICAL ARTICLE EXAMPLE OF ROTORCLIP’S BOWED E RING. PART #BE THE DIAGRAM ABOVE DEPICTS HOW A BEVELED RING USES ITS BEVEL TO ACT AS A WEDGE. Since the function of a beveled ring is based on the ring’s radial spring force, an external beveled ring is therefore highly sensitive to RPMs. This force is countered by high RPMs, such that external beveled retaining rings installed on rotating shafts lose their end play capability rather quickly. However, this is not a concern with internal beveled retaining rings, since the centrifugal forces push the ring deeper into the groove. Stay tuned to the Part 2 in this series in the next issue to learn about Rotor Clip’s product line that work hard to fight NVH. ROTOR CLIP COMPANY INC.