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Types of Composite Seals

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Composite sealing options are used in a variety of industries ranging from the military to aerospace to oil, energy and gas, just to name a few. There are four basic types of engineered sealing products: gask-o seals, integral seals, fastener and fitting seals and metal seals. For more information on industrial seal components and O-rings contact Real Seal today.

Gask-O Seals

These seals offer users a one-piece solution to sealing. The metal, plastic or composite retainer includes a custom engineered rubber ring that is affixed in a machined groove. Gask-O seals are typically made for flat or curved surfaces and are long-lasting and durable in providing a leak proof solution.

Integral Seals

These seals are made with a chemically or mechanically bonded elastomer on the frame edge, thus eliminating the machined groove. Just like a Gask-O seal, they are a one-piece solution that is flexible and can conform to a variety of mating surfaces. These seals are capable of sealing high pressure (more than 10,000 psi) and vacuums.

Fastener and Fitting Seals

These seals are designed to provide reliable static sealing around screws, bolts, tube fittings and other fasteners. You also might hear these types of seals referred to as Stat-O Seals, Thread Seals and Lock-O Seals. Stat-O seals are designed to seal beneath the head of the fastener for both internal and external pressure and vacuum systems.

Metal Seals

These types of seals are a great solution for applications where elastomers just won’t work. Metal properties like load, spring back and ductility are used to make sure there is maximum sealing, even when the seal is required to hold up in extreme heat and pressure or is exposed to chemicals. These also might be referred to as metal chevrons, O-rings, C-rings, and E-rings.

Plate Seals

Another popular seal is called a plate seal, a hybrid designed to incorporate the best features of flat gaskets and O-rings. These seals typically use aluminum or steel carriers with a groove machined into the face and a rubber sealing bead molded to the groove. There are two main types of plate seals: groove-bonded and edge-bonded.

Industrial Seals

Real Seal is a manufacturer and distributor of seal products and mechanical component goods, with a focus on performance-oriented rubber and plastic materials. Real Seal is one of the most technically advanced organizations in the industry, maintaining a fully equipped laboratory, full-time chemist and technical staff, allowing Real Seal the ability to assist with design challenges and formulate materials to meet specific criteria.

Known for their expertise in polyurethane materials, Real Seal offers a wide array of performance-oriented plastic and rubber solutions for sealing and mechanical applications. Real Seal is set up to meet the needs of the more fragmenting aspects of the industry. Industrial manufacturers are being asked to offer consumers more choices with a wider latitude of performance criteria, all with greater economic constraints. As the industry continues to evolve to meet the demands of consumers as well as the challenges of international competition, Real Seal will continue to provide practical solutions and value to our customers.

Contact Real Seal today for help in meeting your composite sealing demands.

Classifying the Types of Seals

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Depending on the direction that squeeze is applied to the O-rings cross section on a seal, it will be categorized as an AXIAL or RADIAL seal.

Static Axial Seals

A static axial seal will act in a similar manner to a gasket that is squeezed on both the top and the bottom of an O-ring’s cross section. A static axial seal is used in face (flange) type applications. When it is used as a face seal and there is internal or external pressure, the O-ring should be positioned against the low-pressure side of the groove to cut down on O-ring movement and accompanying wear within the groove.

These seals are easier to design than static radial seals since there is no extrusion gap and fewer design steps. This enables you to control the tolerances more easily.

Static Radial Seals

Typically used in cap and plug type applications, static radial seals are squeezed between the inner and outer surface of the O-ring.

Static Crush Seals

The O-ring is confined and pressure deformed (crushed) within a triangular gland which is made by machining a 45-degree angle on the male cover. In crush seal applications, the seal is squeezed at an angle to the O-ring’s axis.

Static Seals with Dovetail Glands

Sometimes O-rings are used in static or slow moving dynamic situations where a specially machined “dovetail” gland needs to be used. Controlling tolerances in the glands can be difficult because of the angles involved. The glands are meant to securely hold the O-ring in place while the machine is in operation or during maintenance and disassembly.

The O-ring squeeze is mostly axial in direction and valve operations puts force on the top and bottom seal surfaces. So that there is no tearing or nicking, the use of an O-ring lubrication is recommending while the O-ring is being installed into the dovetail gland. It is difficult to create the groove and tight tolerances are required so this type of seal application should only be used when necessary.

Reciprocating Seals

Reciprocating seals are used when there is a moving piston and rod. This is the most common dynamic application for O-rings.

Rotary Seals

Rotary seals are used for rotating shafts with the turning shaft protruding from the ID of the O-ring.

Oscillating Seals

The shaft of an oscillating O-ring application moves in an arc within the gland and is in contact with the ID of the seal. The shaft can twist so self-lubricated O-rings with a hardness of 80 to 90 durometers are most often used. If there is graphite containing compounds caution is necessary as they can pit stainless steel alloys.

Real Seal manufactures and distributes seal products and mechanical component goods. Established in 1970 as a distributor of O-rings, we are now a full-service supplier of sealing and mechanical components for many different industries.

One of the most technically advanced organizations in the industry, Real Seal maintains a fully equipped laboratory with a full-time chemist and technical staff. We are able to assist you with your design challenges and formulate materials that meet your specific needs for any types of seals. We can provide solutions to your problems and create an increased value for your company.

Different Types of Seals and the Applications that Rely on Them

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Seals have a crucial impact on system performance. Life and reliability of what is often considered a simple component can make all the difference to your products and operations.

Here is a quick look at some of the different types of seals and the applications that rely on them.

Types of Industrial Engineering Seals

Heavy industries like metal, construction, wind energy, forestry, mining, and pulp and paper all rely on different types of seals that have to operate within a wide range of speeds, temperatures, and environmental conditions.

Some of the major types of seals that can be found in industrial engineering applications include:

  • Hydraulic seals—are use to seal the opening between various components in the hydraulic cylinder.
  • Pneumatic seals—operate in dynamic applications, often at high speeds, generally with rotary or reciprocating motions.
  • Piston seals—are used in hydraulic cylinders for fluid sealing. They are internal to the cylinder head and seal against the cylinder bore, preventing fluid from flowing across the cylinder head. This allows pressure to build up on one side of the piston, making the cylinder extend or retract.
  • LC profile seals—is used in applications where pressures fluctuate rapidly.
  • Fastener seals—are composite sealing washers, consisting of a metallic carrier and a vulcanised elastomer sealing lip. They provide a static function on flanges or threaded connections, and consistently assure ideal compression conditions between the housing components to prevent the destruction of the sealing lip.
  • Integral seals—eliminate the need for a machined groove in the mating sealing flanges. The seal is kept in place by mechanically and/or chemically bonding the elastomer to a frame edge that is separate from the flange.
  • Rotary shaft seals—are used in components with oscillating or rotating parts to keep lubrication fluids in, while preventing ingress of mud and water.

Types of Mechanical Seals

There are multiple designs available for the mechanical seal configuration including:

  • Conventional seals—are relatively simple mechanical seals that have to be properly set and aligned on the shaft or the sleeve of the pump.
  • Pusher seals—incorporate secondary seals that move axially along a shaft or sleeve to maintain contact at the seal faces, to accommodate wear and to assist in the absorption of shaft misalignment.
  • Non-pusher seals—also known as a bellows seal, has a secondary seal that is in a static state at all times, even when the pump is in operation. A secondary sealing member is not required to make up the travel as the rotary and stationary seal faces wear. Primary seal face wear is typically accommodated by welded metal or elastomeric bellows, which move to assist in the compression of the rotary to stationary seal faces.
  • Unbalanced seals—are used under drastic conditions where there are vibrations, misalignment of the shaft, and the problem of the cavitation of the fluid.
  • Balanced seals—have the ability to sustain higher pressures across the faces, and they generate less heat; therefore, they are suitable for handling liquids that have low lubricating capacity and hydrocarbons that have high vapor pressure.
  • Cartridge seals—have the mechanical seal pre-mounted on a sleeve (including the gland). They fit directly over the shaft or shaft sleeve, and are available in single, double, and tandem configurations.

Types of Automotive Seals

There is also a wide spectrum of advanced sealing solutions for cars, light vehicles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and bikes, including:

  • Bearing seals—rolling resistance is a significant factor in the power losses of vehicles. Seals used in bearings can be a significant contributor due to the friction generated.
  • Body seals—gas springs are used to assist opening, closing, lifting, lowering, and damping movements.
  • Driveline seals—can deliver unparalleled performance over a wide range of operating conditions to reduce power losses and minimize fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. In addition, for automatic transmissions, the gear change performance affects the overall comfort of the vehicle.
  • Engine seals—a variety of outer diameter designs are available for optimal installation and retention of the seal, which provide optimized performance for automotive applications.
  • Steering seals—many power steering applications use high-pressure hydraulic systems where seals are critical components, playing an important role in preventing pressure loss.
  • Suspension seals—serve a duel purpose: contributing to the vehicles road holding and braking capacity, and keeping occupants comfortable and reasonably isolated from road noise, bumps, and vibrations.
  • Wheel end seals—are key to determining the life of the unit. If the seal allows external contaminants to enter the bearing or lubricant to escape from the bearing, then premature failure of the unit will result.

 

For more information on a variety of engineered rubber and plastic sealants, machinery devices, laboratory testing, and industrial engineering, contact Real Seal. Our organization is geared to meet the more fragmenting aspects of industry today. Industrial engineering manufacturers are being tasked with offering consumers more choice, a wider latitude of performance criterion, and greater economic restraints. As American industry continues to evolve to meet the demands of today’s consumers and the challenges of international competition, Real Seal continues to provide solutions and create value.