seal
·Oil Seal
An oil seal, often called a grease or dirt seal, is a type of seal utilized to retain grease in a case or housing. Oil seals close spaces between stationary and moving components in mechanical equipment, helping prevent lubricant escape. Preventing harmful containments from entering machinery is another critical function of an oil seal. In a typical application, the oil seal is installed adjacent to a bearing, sealing in or sealing out, as necessary, the various liquids, gases or solids encountered by the particular mechanism.
Oil seals are available in numerous lip materials. Popular materials include felt, leather, urethane, nitrile, polyacrylate, ethylene-acrylic or polyacrylic, silicone, fluoro-elastomer, tetrafluoro-ethylene propylene and PTFE. Use of one material over another is application specific, as materials will have different temperature and speed ranges. Oil seals also come in numerous constructions. Of particular note is the number of lips, with single and double lip being the most popular. Many popular styles of oil seals will utilize a spring on the lip to increase sealing capabilities. Some oil seals have a coated metal casing with a “rubber” lip while other seals will be a uniform with the lip material. Available in a wide array of sizes, both inch and metric, most oil seals are interchangeable between manufacturers. Critical dimensions on an oil seal include the inside diameter or bore (the OD of the shaft the seal rides on), the outside diameter (often called the housing bore) and the width. The ID and the OD are the most critical dimensions, as it is the oil seal lip that actually does the sealing. In most applications, a replacement seal that is thinner in width than the original will work, as it will still fit into the grove provided. Depending on this groove dimension, on occasion, a wider replacement seal will also work. Oil seals should not be confused with U-Cups or Packings that are designed to handle higher pressure. A standard oil seal is designed to handle low or no pressure.
Oil seals are generally the least expensive component in a mechanical system, but they serve to be the most important, as they protect the more expensive components, such as the bearings and gears. The most common failure mode for most bearings is a lack of or improper lubrication. The grease seal keeps the correct amount of lubrication in and the harmful contaminants out. Regularily checking and replacing the oil seal is critical to successful preventive maintenance programs.
Please contact US to assist in recommending the right oil seal for your application.
·Grease Seal
A grease seal, often called an oil or dirt seal, is a type of seal utilized to retain grease in a case or housing. Grease seals close spaces between stationary and moving components in mechanical equipment, helping prevent lubricant escape. Preventing harmful containments from entering machinery is another critical function of a grease seal. In a typical application, the grease seal is installed adjacent to a bearing, sealing in or sealing out, as necessary, the various liquids, gases or solids encountered by the particular mechanism.
Oil and grease seals are available in numerous lip materials. Popular materials include felt, leather, urethane, nitrile, polyacrylate, ethylene-acrylic or polyacrylic, silicone, fluoro-elastomer, tetrafluoro-ethylene propylene and PTFE. Use of one material over another is application specific, as materials will have different temperature and speed ranges. Grease seals also come in numerous constructions. Of particular note is the number of lips, with single and double lip being the most popular. Many popular styles of grease seals will utilize a spring on the lip to increase sealing capabilities. Some grease seals have a coated metal casing with a “rubber” lip while other seals will be a uniform with the lip material. Available in a wide array of sizes, both inch and metric, most grease seals are interchangeable between manufacturers. Critical dimensions on a grease seal include the inside diameter or bore (the OD of the shaft the seal rides on), the outside diameter (often called the housing bore) and the width. The ID and the OD are the most critical dimensions, as it is the grease seal lip that actually does the sealing. In most applications, a replacement seal that is thinner in width than the original will work, as it will still fit into the grove provided. Depending on this groove dimension, on occasion, a wider replacement seal will also work. Grease seals should not be confused with U Cups or Packings that are designed to handle higher pressure. A standard grease seal is designed to handle 7 or less PSI depending on the manufacturer.
Grease seals are generally the least expensive component in a mechanical system, but they serve to be the most important, as they protect the more expensive components, such as the bearings and gears. The most common failure mode for most bearings is a lack of or improper lubrication. The grease seal keeps the correct amount of lubrication in and the harmful contaminants out. Regularily checking and replacing the grease seal is a part of successful preventive maintenance programs.
Please contact US to assist in recommending the right Grease Seal for your application.
·Mechanical Seal
A mechanical seal is a component which helps join mechanisms together by preventing leakage, containing pressure, or excluding contamination. A mechanical seal consists of a stationary element, a rotating element, and a spring to supply force to hold the two elements together. Mechanical seals are utilized predominantly in pump applications, and are available in a number of head and seat configurations.
A mechanical seal contains a primary sealing surfaces, a secondary sealing surface, a means of actuation and a means of drive. Mechanical seals can be divided into either dynamic or stationary categories. Dynamic mechanical seals will employ a secondary dynamic seal (o-ring) which moves axially with the primary seal face. Stationary mechanical seals will employ a static secondary seal (o-ring, packing, or bellows). Mechanical seals come in numerous classifications and materials and are considerably more complex than standard oil seals.
Please contact US to assist in recommending the right Mechanical Seal for your application.
·O-Rings & Cord
An O-Ring is a product used in sealing applications. Typically an O-Ring is an elastomeric ring, manufactured to be a compressed, static seal between non-moving parts. O-Rings can be used as a face seal on a valve, and used on rotating shafts inside a valve. An O-Ring is a gasket consisting of a flat or round ring of rubber or urethane; used to seal a joint against high pressure. Two dimensions define the size of an O-Ring: its inside diameter (ID) and its cross-sectional diameter, and these sizes can be inch or metric. A good rule of thumb when trying to ascertain if an O-Ring is in inch or metric dimensions is to know where the equipment the O Ring is utilized on was manufactured. If manufactured in the USA, the O-Ring is likely an inch series, if manufactured anywhere else it is likely metric.
O-Rings are available in numerous materials and durometers. What type of material utilized depends on the application. The most common material utilized is Buna. Buna is the least expensive O-Rng material and utilized in the majority of applications. Viton is also a common O Ring material. Viton is more expensive but is better in higher heat applications and more resistant to most chemicals than Buna. Silicone is also used as an O-Ring material in many applications, particularly those that require resistance to extreme cold and heat. O-Rings also are available in different durometers or hardness. The standard durometer is 70. It is common to also have applications that require 75 or 90 durometer O-Rings.
O-Rings can be spliced to size out of O-Ring cord. Standard O-Ring cord cross sections include both inch and metric sizes. An O-Ring splice kit is a good tool for most industries to possess as it allows the end user to manufacture O-Rings on site for their specific applications. Standardized O-Ring kits are also available at a low cost and can cover a majority of an end users applications. Bearing Service stocks most common series of O-Rings, O-Ring cord and both inch and metric O-Ring kits.
Please contact US to assist in recommending the right O-Rings & Cord for your application.
·U-Cups
A U-Cup is a type of seal that is formed into a u-shaped channel that is utilized in pressure applications where an O-Ring is not desirable. Liquid or air pressure “inflates” the U-Cup and creates a seal. U-Cups are utilized in numerous applications, commonly found on cylinders or counter balances and as either rod or piston seals. U-Cups come in a wide array of sizes depending on the application. Generally the larger the application shaft size and greater the pressure, the more desirable it becomes for an application to utilize a U-Cup over an O-Ring.
Standard U-Cups are made out of fabric and rubber; however they can be made out of other materials such as leather or urethane. Leather U-Cups are still available however their use has decreased over time as there are more effective sealing options. Urethane has become an increasingly popular U-Cup material as it is more chemical and wear resistant.
Please contact US to assist in recommending the right U-Cups for your application.
·V-Rings
V-Rings are a low cost sealing option. V-Rings are made are manufactured completely out of rubber and designed to seal on a shaft against a bearing, housing or often behind another shaft seal. Nitrile V-Rings are most common, however they are also available in fluoroelastomer for higher heat applications V-Rings protect equipment components from contamination while retaining grease. Improper, inadequate or contaminated lubrication is the most common failure mode for all types of bearings and V-Rings offer an economical way to protect the more expensive components on industrial equipment. V-Rings typically do well in dry, low torque applications.
A V-Ring is comprised of a lip, a hinge and a body. The body rotates with the shaft while the lip forms a seal. V-Rings have more misalignment capabilities and are easier to install than standard grease seals, however they are not designed for oil or high speed applications.
Please contact US to assist in recommending the right V-Rings for your application.