Retaining element for multipart connection units such as screw connections and the like

• Main Authors: ZIERIS; VOLKER, KAISER; EBERHARD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.04.1999
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BLASTING; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A retaining element to hold together a multipart preassembled screw connection or the like until the assembly can be further processed or assembled in a later step. The retaining element includes a ring section to be installed on a free part of the multipart connection unit so as to hold together the individual parts of that section, and a handle that extends in an outward radial direction from the ring section. Once the free part of a multipart connection unit is assembled to a mating connection unit, the ring section can be removed by applying a tensile force to the handle in an upward radial direction. The ring section may have a predetermined breaking point so that the ring section becomes severed when sufficient tensile force is applied, whereby the retaining element can be removed without difficulty.