초록 ▼

A locking collar to be inserted into a cylindrical cavity or lumen of a device for securing mechanical elements from moving axially within the cavity. The collar includes two semi-circular cylindrical segments hinged together with an opposed single slit to allow easy installation within the cavity a

A locking collar to be inserted into a cylindrical cavity or lumen of a device for securing mechanical elements from moving axially within the cavity. The collar includes two semi-circular cylindrical segments hinged together with an opposed single slit to allow easy installation within the cavity and pushed into position against the installed elements without the need to disassemble a device. The collar is a substantially cylindrical rigid member with an outer diameter closely matching the inner bore diameter of the cavity and includes an opening at the slit to receive a securing screw member to urge the two segments apart to engage the inner bore surface of the cavity and fix the collar in place thereby locking the elements in place.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A locking collar comprising: a first substantially rigid semi-circular ring-shaped segment having an outer diameter corresponding to an inner bore of a cylindrical cavity having a first diameter with a first end and a second end having a cooperating face; anda second substantially rigid semi-circ

1. A locking collar comprising: a first substantially rigid semi-circular ring-shaped segment having an outer diameter corresponding to an inner bore of a cylindrical cavity having a first diameter with a first end and a second end having a cooperating face; anda second substantially rigid semi-circular ring-shaped segment having the same outer diameter as that of the first segment and a first end and a second end having a cooperating face,wherein the first ends of each semi-circular segment are hinged together and the second ends are in contact to form a cylindrical ring-shaped body having a slit and an outer diameter closely matching the first diameter of the inner bore of the cavity and the ring having an inner diameter greater than and spaced apart from a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylindrical cavity, andwherein at least one of the cooperating faces of the hinged semi-circular segments forming the slit includes a threaded screw receiving opening configured so that when a threaded screw is threaded into the screw receiving opening, the screw urges the two hinged semi-circular segments apart so that the outer surface of the ring to engages the inner bore of the cylindrical cavity. 2. The locking collar of claim 1, wherein each hinged semi-circular segment is formed of a non-ferrous metal material. 3. The locking collar of claim 1, wherein each hinged semi-circular segment is formed from a thermoplastic material. 4. The locking collar of claim 3, wherein the thermoplastic material is filled. 5. The locking collar of claim 1, wherein each hinged semi-circular segment is formed from a polytetrafluoroethylene material. 6. The locking collar of claim 1, wherein each hinged semi-circular segment is formed from a perfluoroalkoxy material. 7. The locking collar of claim 1, wherein the end of one of the semi-circular segments forming the slit has a projection and the corresponding end of the second semi-circular segment has a cooperating notch for receiving the projection and a threaded opening extending through at least a portion of the notch, the threaded opening configured so that when the collar is closed and the projection sits within the notch and a locking screw is threaded into the threaded screw receiving opening, the screw urges the two semi-circular segments apart. 8. A combination of a seal cavity of a rotary mechanical device having an inner bore and a rotating shaft coupled to a motor and a locking collar of claim 1 for use in the seal cavity, wherein the cylindrical body has an outer diameter dimensioned to fit against the inner bore of the seal cavity over the shaft, andwherein the cylindrical body has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the shaft. 9. The locking collar of claim 8, wherein each cooperating face of the segments forming the slit is substantially flat and the first segment has an angled threaded opening extending through at least a portion of the flat face at the slit so that when the cooperating faces are in contact and a threaded screw is inserted into the angled screw receiving opening, the two segments are urged apart against the inner bore of the cavity. 10. The locking collar of claim 1, wherein each face of the segments forming the slit is substantially flat with a portion of a threaded opening so that when the two segments are in contact and a threaded screw is threaded into the threaded opening, the two segments are urged apart against the inner wall of the cavity. 11. The locking collar of claim 1, wherein each face of the segments forming the slit is substantially flat and the first segment has an angled threaded opening extending through at least a portion of the flat face at the slit so that when the cooperating faces are in contact and a locking screw is threaded into the angled screw receiving opening, the two segments are urged apart. 12. The locking collar of claim 1, wherein each face of the segments forming the slit is substantially flat with a portion of a threaded opening so that when cooperating faces of the collar are in contact and a threaded screw is threaded into the opening, the two segments are forced apart and urged against the inner wall of the cavity. 13. A method of installing a locking collar to engage the inner bore of a cylindrical cavity of a first diameter, comprising: providing first and second substantially rigid semi-circular ring-shaped segments hinged together at one end with a slit at the other end to form a cylindrical body having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity dimensioned to fit and lock against the inner bore of the cylindrical cavity, wherein at least one of the faces of the segments forming the slit includes at least a portion of a threaded screw receiving opening and is configured so that when the cylindrical body is positioned within the cylindrical cavity and a threaded screw is threaded into the screw receiving opening, the screw moves the two semi-circular segments apart to engage the inner bore and lock the collar in place;placing the collar against the inner bore of the cylindrical cavity; andthreading a threaded screw into the threaded receiving opening to urge the segments apart and engage the inner bore. 14. A locking collar system for engaging the inner bore of a cylindrical cavity of a first diameter, comprising: a first substantially rigid semi-circular ring-shape segment having an outer diameter corresponding to the first diameter with a hingable first end and a second end with a cooperating face;a second substantially rigid semi-circular ring-shape segment having the same outer diameter as that of the first segment and a hingable first end and a second end with a cooperating face, wherein the hingable first ends of each semi-circular segment together form a hinge and the cooperating faces together form an opposed slit when in contact, forming a cylindrical ring-shaped body having an outer diameter closely matching the first diameter of the inner bore of the cavity and an inner diameter greater than and spaced apart from a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylindrical cavity; anda threaded screw member,wherein at least one of the faces of the hinged semi-circular segments forming the opposed slit includes a threaded screw receiving opening configured so that when the cylindrical body is positioned within the cylindrical cavity and the threaded screw member is threaded into the screw receiving opening, the screw urges the two hinged semi-circular segments apart. 15. A locking collar system comprising: a cylindrical cavity having an inner bore of a first diameter; anda locking collar comprising:a first substantially rigid semi-circular segment having an outer diameter corresponding to the given diameter of the cylindrical cavity with a first end, a second end, and a cooperating face at its second end; anda second substantially rigid semi-circular ring-shape segment having the same outer diameter as that of the first segment and a first end, a second end, and a cooperating face at its second end,wherein the first ends of each semi-circular segment are hinged together and the respective second ends have cooperating faces that form an opposed slit when in contact, forming a cylindrical ring-shaped body,wherein the cylindrical body has an outer diameter closely matching the first diameter of the inner bore of the cavity and an inner diameter greater than and spaced apart from a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylindrical cavity, andwherein at least one of the cooperating faces of the hinged semi-circular segments forming the slit includes a threaded screw receiving opening configured so that when the cylindrical body is positioned within the cylindrical cavity and a threaded screw is threaded into the screw receiving opening, the screw urges the two hinged semi-circular segments apart to engage the inner bore to lock the collar in place axially. 16. The locking collar system of claim 15, wherein each hinged semi-circular segment is formed of a non-ferrous metal material. 17. The locking collar system of claim 15, wherein each hinged semi-circular segment is formed from a thermoplastic material. 18. The locking collar system of claim 17, wherein the thermoplastic material is filled. 19. The locking collar system of claim 15, wherein each hinged semi-circular segment is formed from a polytetrafluoroethylene material. 20. The locking collar system of claim 15, wherein the body each hinged semi-circular segment is formed from a perfluoroalkoxy material. 21. The locking collar system of claim 15, wherein the second end of the first semi-circular segment forming the slit has a notch projection and the second end of the second semi-circular segment has a cooperating receiving slit and the second end of the second semi-circular segment has a threaded opening extending through at least a portion of the receiving slit configured so that when the collar is closed about the shaft and the projection sits within the receiving slit and a threaded screw is threaded into the locking screw receiving opening, the screw urges the two semi-circular segments apart against the inner bore of the cavity. 22. A shaft sealing system, comprising: a substantially rigid cylindrical sealing body dimensioned to fit into a seal cavity of a rotary mechanical device having an output end and a motor end, the device being driven by a rotating shaft coupled to a motor, the sealing body having an outer surface closely dimensioned to fit into the seal cavity along the full length of the cylindrical body to fit over the shaft at one end of the seal cavity; anda locking collar formed of a first and second substantially rigid semi-circular segment hinged together with an opposed slit to form a cylindrical body having an outer diameter dimensioned to fit and lock against an inner bore of the seal cavity spaced apart from the shaft and having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the shaft;wherein at least one of the cooperating faces of the segments of the collar forming the slit includes at least a portion of a threaded screw receiving opening so that when a threaded screw is threaded into the screw receiving opening, the two segments are urged apart and engage the inner bore of the cavity to lock the collar in place; andwherein the locking collar is positioned against one end of the sealing body to hold the sealing body in position in the one end of the cavity.