Bowed Retaining Rings

Bowed retaining rings are mechanical fasteners that are essentially curved versions of conventional, standard internal or external retaining rings. The different qualities of bowed retaining rings are that, when installed in a groove, they are able to exert a pre-load. This acts like a spring on an assembly, keeping it in compression. Bowed retaining rings are typically made of stainless steel, carbon steel or copper. Like other types of retaining rings, their versatility and the fact that installation can occur without threads is a major benefit. Bowed retaining rings compensate for tolerances in production and are therefore a valuable component. As parts cannot be manufactured to exact dimensions, tolerances will occur. However, if such tolerances are low or high, it can mean that a standard retaining ring is no longer suitable. A bowed retaining ring compensates for any accumulated tolerances by acting as a spring. This makes bowed retaining rings useful in a vast variety of machine applications.