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An R-clip, also known as an R-pin, R-key, hairpin cotter pin, hairpin cotter,
[.] bridge pin,
hitch pin clip or spring cotter pin, is a
fastener
A fastener (US English) or fastening (UK English) is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. In general, fasteners are used to create non-permanent joints; that is, joints that can be removed or disman ...
made of a durable but flexible material, commonly hardened metal wire, resembling the shape of the letter "R".
R-clips are commonly used to secure the ends of round shafts such as
axle
An axle or axletree is a central shaft for a rotation, rotating wheel and axle, wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to the vehicle, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In ...
s and
clevis pins. The straight leg of the R-clip is pushed into a hole near one end of the shaft until the semicircular "belly" in the middle of the other, bent leg of the R-clip grips one side of the shaft resisting any force removing the R-clip from its hole. To assist insertion, the end of the bent leg is angled away from the straight leg. This angled end rides the side of the shaft and opens the "belly" mouth enough to pass the widest part of the shaft as the R-clip is inserted.
There is also a double loop variety when a wider range of suitable shafts is required, and to facilitate the attachment of a retaining tether to prevent the pin's loss when removed. It also spreads out the stresses more evenly for a longer life.
[.]
This type of pin is usually made of round wire of a harder metal than is appropriate for traditional cotter pins.
R-clips are similar in function to
split pin
A split pin, also known as a cotter pin, or cotter key in the United States of America, US, is a metal fastener with two wiktionary:tine, tines that are bent during installation, similar to a staple (fastener), staple or rivet. Typically made o ...
s and
linchpins. Compared to split pins, they are easier to remove and are re-usable.
DIN 11024 is example of standard that defines a set of R-clips.
Uses
* Hitch pin clip (vehicles, towing, caravans)
* Hood pin (
stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of Auto racing, automobile racing run on oval track racing, oval tracks and road courses. It originally used Production vehicle, production-model cars, hence the name "stock car", but is now run using cars specifical ...
)
* Button attachment (brass buttons on certain military, railroad, and other uniform jackets)
* Body fastener (
radio-controlled car
Radio-controlled cars, or RC cars for short, are miniature vehicles (cars, vans, buses, buggies, etc.) controlled via radio.
Nitro powered models use glow plug engines, small internal combustion engines fuelled by a special mixture of n ...
)
See also
*
Circle cotter
*
Hairpin clip
*
Linchpin
*
Split pin
A split pin, also known as a cotter pin, or cotter key in the United States of America, US, is a metal fastener with two wiktionary:tine, tines that are bent during installation, similar to a staple (fastener), staple or rivet. Typically made o ...
*
Spring pin
References
External links
* {{Commons category inline, R pins
Fasteners