Patent ID: 8348513

Claim:
A device for axially preloading a machine element that is arranged in a housing, with an annular steel spring that has an open hollow profile in cross-section, on which at least on one side, an annular collar that rests on the machine clement and that has an axial contact surface, the steel spring being stressed via a safety element against the machine element with a force FO that exceeds the operating load that occurs, wherein the steel spring with an axisymmetrical, semi-circular section with an essentially uniform radius R 1 undergoes transition indirectly or directly via a smaller radius R 2 into the annular collar, and wherein between the semi-circular section and the radius R 2 of the annular collar, a linear transition area that has a defined angle W 1 to a perpendicular line of between ±10 degrees, which undergoes transition tangentially into the adjoining radii R 1 , R 2 .