Belleville Washers vs. Retaining Rings & Circlips
Comparing 2 standards across 15 specifications. 15 key differences identified.
The Belleville Washer (Conical Disc Spring / Cupped Spring Washer, standardized under DIN 2093 and DIN 6796) is a conical annular spring disc engineered to deliver massive axial spring clamping force across sub-millimeter deflection distances, maintaining bolted joint tension under extreme thermal expansion and dynamic vibration.
Retaining rings (circlips) provide removable shoulder stops in machined shaft and bore grooves, standardized under DIN 471 (External shaft circlips), DIN 472 (Internal bore circlips), and DIN 6799 (Radial E-clips).
Specification Comparison Table
15 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standard Specifications
|
DIN 2093 (Precision disc springs) / DIN 6796 (Heavy-duty bolted joints) / ISO 19643 | — |
|
Conical Geometry
|
Frusto-conical cup shape (cone height ≈ 0.5× to 0.7× disc thickness) | — |
|
Load Capacity
|
Extreme axial spring force (thousands of newtons in sub-millimeter stroke) | — |
|
Stacking Capabilities
|
Parallel Stacking (nests together to multiply load) or Series Stacking (tips touch to multiply deflection) | — |
|
Standard Materials
|
51CrV4 chrome-vanadium spring steel / 17-7 PH stainless / Inconel 718 (high temp) | — |
|
Primary Applications
|
High-voltage electrical busbars, engine cylinder heads, cryogenic piping, wind turbine bolts | — |
|
Governing Standards
|
— | DIN 471 (External) / DIN 472 (Internal) / DIN 6799 (E-Clip) |
|
DIN 471 10mm External Circlip
|
— | Shaft Dia: 10 mm | Groove Dia: 9.6 mm | Groove Width: 1.1 mm | Ring Thickness: 1.0 mm |
|
DIN 471 15mm External Circlip
|
— | Shaft Dia: 15 mm | Groove Dia: 14.3 mm | Groove Width: 1.1 mm | Ring Thickness: 1.0 mm |
|
DIN 471 20mm External Circlip
|
— | Shaft Dia: 20 mm | Groove Dia: 19.0 mm | Groove Width: 1.3 mm | Ring Thickness: 1.2 mm |
|
DIN 471 25mm External Circlip
|
— | Shaft Dia: 25 mm | Groove Dia: 23.9 mm | Groove Width: 1.3 mm | Ring Thickness: 1.2 mm |
|
DIN 472 20mm Internal Circlip
|
— | Bore Dia: 20 mm | Groove Dia: 21.0 mm | Groove Width: 1.1 mm | Ring Thickness: 1.0 mm |
|
DIN 472 25mm Internal Circlip
|
— | Bore Dia: 25 mm | Groove Dia: 26.2 mm | Groove Width: 1.3 mm | Ring Thickness: 1.2 mm |
|
DIN 6799 E-Clip (Radial Installation)
|
— | Installed radially with push tool without requiring axial shaft access |
|
Standard Material
|
— | Spring Steel (C67S / C75S / 50CrV4) hardened to 44–53 HRC, Stainless AISI 301/304 |