Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

A method for installing a locking retainer in a tube to maintain internal components within the tube under compression comprising the steps of: a) providing an elongated retainer spring having large and small diameter sections with the large diameter section of a size for an interference fit with the interior diameter of the tube and the smaller diameter section of a size having a clearance with the interior diameter of the tube; b) inserting a smaller diameter section of an elongated tool into the larger diameter section of the elongated retainer spring; c) engaging a transition between the smaller and larger diameter sections of the tool against a transition between the larger and smaller diameter sections of the elongated retainer spring; d) inserting the combined tool and retainer spring into an open end of the tube containing internal components with an end of the smaller diameter section of the retainer spring entering the tube first; e) advancing the combined tool and retainer spring within the tube to compress the smaller diameter spring against an adjacent internal component until an end of the tool engages the adjacent internal component enabling the spring to apply a selected axial preload on the internal components in the tube; and f) withdrawing the tool from the retainer spring.