Help find a spring steel retainer?

[madosta]

I'm looking for something similar to the attached drawing.

It basically just needs to old a pin in place and wont be pulled out frequently.

The pins could be like this:

I'm also thinking about machining a groove for an e-clip and using a standard spring as a last result, but the cheapness of something out of spring steel would be nice.

Anyone know what these are called?

 

[sselander]

Looks similar to a cotterless hitch pin, note the ball on the end.

 

[MP&C]

McMaster Carr has those pins

 

[madosta]

Yes, I don't need the pin. I need something to retain the pin into a panel.

Something like this or a similar shape/function.

 

[Smiliesafari]

Looks like a key ring to me. The pins on Aerostar balloons are retained with these.

 

[madosta]

BAH!

Here is something..... I want more of a "saddle"

 

[rlb1953]

So you are looking for some sort of sheet metal retaining clip? Which way are you inserting the pin into it? If it is to spread load on the panel, and take up some of the extra length of the pin, then I would just use a bushing or a piece of plate with a hole in it. If you are using it the other way, with the clip holding in a larger piece, then it might be easier to use a longer pin and a flat washer.

 

[madosta]

I was thinking spring steel.

To hold the plunger/key/ping on a sheet through a hole. The spring would compress when the pin is pulled out away from the sheet, but not allow the pin to be removed. I can accomplish this with a pin, a washer, and a conventional compression spring, but I am looking more for a piece of spring steel to hold the pin away/into the panel.

Example 1
More this shape... - but not as tall or thick.

with a hole like this

 

[MP&C]

How about a captive pin/plunger? Short of that, if you could explain exactly what you're building, the suggestions may match a bit better....


http://www.mcmaster.com/#captive-panel-pins/=m6aqri

 

[madosta]

How about a captive pin/plunger? Short of that, if you could explain exactly what you're building, the suggestions may match a bit better....


http://www.mcmaster.com/#captive-panel-pins/=m6aqri

I was just getting ready to post this.

Exactly like this - I just want to reproduce the spring mechanism with a piece of spring steel and use a piece of 1/4" steel rod for the pin/plunger.

Alright, see this one attached.

 

[rlb1953]

Okay, I think I understand what you are trying to do... How much movement are you looking to get with your pin? You could look at using a "wave washer" or a saddle washer. although they might be quite stiff and may not offer much travel.


For the record, I've never seen the type of retainer you are looking for sold off the shelf.

 

[venturesomerite]

for what it's worth, I've seen hitch pins like that at many autoparts places, and I'm sure online suppliers like mcmastercarr have them.

 

[gorilla]

Google belleville washers.

 

[madosta]

Okay, I think I understand what you are trying to do... How much movement are you looking to get with your pin? You could look at using a "wave washer" or a saddle washer. although they might be quite stiff and may not offer much travel.


For the record, I've never seen the type of retainer you are looking for sold off the shelf.

I would only need .5" of travel max. Saddle washer may be just the thing I need.

I'm thinking about getting some spring steel and trying to brake it.... any luck with that?

 

[madosta]

Google belleville washers.

Hmmm... neat. I think if I got some thin enough and stacked them I could make what I need. But then that's back to similar as a regular spring.

It only needs the force of a human to pull it out easily.

 

[rlb1953]

I would only need .5" of travel max. Saddle washer may be just the thing I need.

I'm thinking about getting some spring steel and trying to brake it.

If you need a 1/2" of travel, you will probably have to make something yourself. I doubt you will get even close to that much travel with any sort of spring washer.

I'm still unclear why you would need this kind of movement in a pin. Surely there is a reason to go through all this trouble.

 

[MP&C]

Spring clip for scaffolding couplers?

 

[madosta]

It's to hold a gate/door closed. So the tolerances aren't the best.

I was thinking this solution would work nicely, but I may have to look at other methods.

 

[kindyr]

Looks like something you could bend out of a piece of pallet banding pretty easy.

 

[mebuildit]

Reid tools has some

 

[madosta]

Looks like something you could bend out of a piece of pallet banding pretty easy.

Cheap, easy, yes! I'll try that.