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Tesla Model S uses Rotor Clip DHO retaining rings

DHO retaining rings from Rotor Clip play a key role in the mechanical drive system of the Tesla Model S electric car. Tesla has been giving consumers a glimpse into what the future of environmental friendly cars will look like with its high-performance electric vehicles that keep luxury standards high.

Tesla Model S. [Image: Tesla Motors]

 

 

The American-made DHO axially assembled internal metric rings can be found on either side of Tesla's differential that is located in the rear of the vehicle. The rings retain the bearings of the rear axle shafts, which turn the wheels of the vehicle. Once the DHO ring is installed into the groove of the differential housing, the portion of the ring protruding from the groove (also called a shoulder) holds the bearings in place securely.

Retaining rings have many uses in automotive applications to replace traditional fastening systems. Rotor Clip has put together the following chart to give some other automotive application examples.

Last year, Rotor Clip's Co-President Craig Slass took the Tesla Model S for a test drive. You can read about his experience driving the car, some information on pricing, the vehicle's range, and battery life on Rotor Clip's blog, "Making it Here."

Independent testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Tesla Model S a 5-star safety rating in August 2013, not just overall, but in every subcategory without exception. Approximately 1 percent of all cars tested by the federal government achieve 5 stars across the board. While the Model S is a sedan, it also exceeded the safety score of all SUVs and minivans. This score takes into account the probability of injury from front, side, rear, and rollover accidents.

Source: Rotor Clip

First published in Designfax May 2014. We thought it was worth another run because this is such an interesting application.

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