What are Circlips? and Their Common Types
A circlip is a special type of fastener or retaining ring that features a semi-flexible metal body and open ends that allow for the component to be snapped into place on an assembly. Circlips are used for a number of reasons, common ones being for the means of preventing lateral movement and supporting installations. The circlip name is a portmanteau of “circle” and “clip”, though such components may also be referred to as C-clips, rotor clips, snap rings, or Jesus clips. As a fastener type often paired with dowel pins and other components for securing pinned connections, understanding the functionality and common types of circlips can be beneficial.
Circlip fasteners regularly come in one of two types, those of which are internal and external circlips. The type is often determined by how such components are fitted on an assembly, the internal circlip regularly being implemented within a bore while the external circlip is placed over shafts. For their applications, circlips are often found within motors, pistons, turbines, and other assemblies where they can assist bores and shafts. The snap ring name for such fasteners comes from specific types which forgo the conventional wired ends to take advantage of formed ends that assist in the installation and removal process. With such circlips, special pliers may be used for installation and removal, and pliers may either be specifically configured for external and internal types or may be adjustable for each. For more simplistic tool options, nose pliers and flat-headed screwdrivers are often sufficient for installations.
Internal and external circlip components can further be categorized into a variety of common types, each serving different applications with their unique designs. The constant section retaining ring is one that is specifically designed with a constant section thickness from end to end, and they often rely on circlip pliers for their installation and removal. Spiral retention rings provide 360 degrees of contact within an assembly and are notable for their ability to be manually installed by hand. With tapered section circlips, the thickness of the section tapers at the ends of the component, the thinnest area being farthest from the center. To install a tapered section circlip, pliers may be used. The inverted circlip is also tapered in its design, though its lugs are inverted. Similar to the tapered section circlip, inverted circlips rely on pliers for installation. The star circlip, or K-circlip, is a tapered section component that features extra lugs. E-clips are considered a more unique variant, and they can fit into the shaft of an assembly radially. As E-clips are devoid of lugs, they cannot be installed with pliers. As the final variant, the grip ring is a type of external circlip that provides a very tight grip for assemblies, allowing it to be implemented without the need of a groove. For their installation, such fasteners only need circlip pliers.
Circlips are beneficial for numerous applications for a variety of reasons, often serving as a shoulder for holding an installation. Circlips can also be very flexible for installations as well, serving as solutions for clearance diameters, thrust load capacities, tolerance take-up, and more. With their various capabilities and uses, such fastener types are now a common component of modern engineering.
If there are particular circlip components or fastener parts that you require for your operations, the experts at AOG Purchasing can help you secure all that you need with competitive pricing and rapid lead-times. As a premier purchasing platform, we strive to only provide the highest quality items and services to our customers. If you would like to receive a quote on items for your comparisons, we ask that you fill out and submit a request for quote form as provided on our website. As our team members are readily available 24/7x365, customers can rapidly receive quotes in just 15 minutes or less upon receipt of a request. See why customers choose to steadily rely on AOG Purchasing today when you initiate the part procurement process with us.
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