What are Oil Seals? What are Shaft Seals?

Oil seals or shaft seals are an integral part in any rotating and moving part assembly. Oil seals find great deal of usage in gearboxes, hydraulic cylinders, etc. The usage of the seals in areas concerned with motion also earns them a name of “Dynamic Oil Seals.” The purpose of the oil seals is

 

What are Oil Seals? What are Shaft ...

 

 

 

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What are Oil Seals? What are Shaft Seals?

 

 

 

 

· To act as a physical barrier retaining the lubricating oil where it is bound to be.

· To prevent thelubricating oil from leaking outside even under high pressure of the oil.

· To act as a barrier and prevent dirt, contamination and other external entities from entering the system containing the lubricating oil.

Constructional Aspects of an oil seal:

The oil seal consists of a metal ring as the inner skeleton which provides the structural stability to the oil seal.

 

 

 

 

The outer skin is made of nitrile rubber and various other materials which are used based on the requirement.

The spring on the lip of the oil seal tends to provide support to the lip and prevents the lubricant from leaking outside and also prevents the entry of contaminants from outside.

Based on the application of the oil seal, the outer skin layer tends to differ. Here are some types of the materials used for the outer skin of the oil seal.

 

 

 

 

Nitrile rubber - The commonly used material for oil seals

 

 

 

 

Silicone – Used in specific applications where only light loads are applied.

Poly acrylate

Fluroelastomer also popularly known as Viton. – The high temperature resistant material used in places where temperature is more than 120 Degree Celcius.

 

PolytetraFluroEthylene (PTFE)

The oils seals require certain prerequisites to be maintained for their proper working. They are as follows:

a) The shaft on which the oil seal is to be mounted should be ground with the surface finish or surface roughness between 0.2 to 0.8 Microns. It is best for the shaft to be hardened atleast to 40 – 45 HRc in order to prevent groove formation on the shaft due to the pressure exerted by the spring.

b) The area where the oil seal is seated is to be plunge ground in order to prevent wear grooves that normally tend to wear out the lip of the oil seal at a faster rate.

c) The lip of the oil seal needs to be lubricated in order to prevent the direct contact of the oil seal lip to the shaft.

All About Oil Seals

 

 

All About Oil Seals

 

 

 Oil seals go by many names, such as shaft seals, dirt seals, grease seals, lip seals, and many other variations of these. They are essentially simple devices used in rotary shaft equipment to prevent lubricant from escaping and for excluding contaminants such as dust, dirt and water. An oil seal’s most important function, however, is that it protects every type of ball, sleeve and roller bearing in the rotating shafts. The seals also prevent the integration of two different fluids that shouldn’t mix, such as oil and water.

 

How do oil seals work?

The basic principle of an oil seal is fairly straightforward. It is installed adjacent to the bearing, with the flexible lip against the rotating shaft and the casing pressed into the housing to hold the seal in place. It’s important that the sealing lip is lubricated to prevent it from overheating as a result of any generated friction. It’s also crucial to understand which type of seal is appropriate for your particular machinery. Before selecting your seal, consider the environment, temperature, pressure and shaft speed of your machine, as well as the type of medium the seal will come into contact with during operation. These considerations will all determine the size, colour, and type of lip material or sealing element to choose, and whether it can be sealed in or sealed out.

What material are oil seals made from?

Oil seals are made from multiple compounds and materials. Some of the oldest, still in use today, are leather and felt compounds. The trend in mass production, however, has seen a move towards synthetic rubber or elastomers. Nitrile is by far the most popular material but developments in PTFE have created a surge of interest in buyers needing seals for high-speed shaft rotation applications. Viton is taking over from the polyacrylic and silicone, as it works better in high-temperature applications and has a high-resistance to abrasion and harmful chemicals.

 

There are various sizes of industrial and ordinary oil seals, ranging from 0 to 33cm (13in). These varieties are also designed for different temperatures. As long as your seal matches the original equipment it’s intended for, you can be sure your machine will perform at its best. For further guidance and information regarding oil seals, don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable team. We are always available to assist you with your bearing, seal and gasket needs.

 

Emerson Bearing

Oil Seals

Oil seals keep contaminants separate from the lubricants that keep rotating shafts and precision bearings in good working order. Oil seals are also known as rotary shaft seals, lip seals, and shaft seals.

Request for all options and dimensions

At Emerson Bearing, we offer:

Inch Measurement Oil Seals: These seals provide essential functions in the majority of industrial equipment and factories. Various lip materials are available to suit design requirements such as temperature and chemical resistance, including nitrile for low-temperature applications and Viton® for high-temperature and low-compression operations.

Metric Oil Seals: Oil seals are available in both imperial and metric dimensions for single- and double-lip designs.

Garlock Isolator Style Oil Seals: These seals provide an ideal solution for applications in harsh environments. Advantages include no metal-to-metal contact, a single-piece design, no shaft wear, and simple installation. They are appropriate for use with most Goulds pumps and available in non-metallic models from ISO-GUARD or metallic varieties from GUARDIAN.

Benefits of Oil Seals

 

Properly installed, an oil seal will help keep machinery in perfect working order. Its primary functions include retaining or separating fluids, maintaining a bearing’s lubricity, preventing seal leakage, and preventing the entry of foreign contaminants. Other benefits of Emerson Bearing’s oil seals include:

Easy assembly

Long shelf life

A superior substitute for standard seals

Lightweight

Low friction properties

Good performance under extreme environments.

 

Applications of Oil Seals

Oil seals are used in any industrial application that has a rotating or moving part assembly. This includes:

Engine manufacturing

Off-highway jobs

Oil refineries

Power transmission

Electrical motors

Gear boxes

Industrial pumps

Fans

Compressors

Customized equipment.

It is important to choose the right type of oil seal for a given application, as it may need to address specific operational concerns such as:

Low or high temperatures

Heat resistance

Low compression

Chemical resistance

High abrasion resistance.

Choosing the wrong materials for an oil seal may result in premature wear, lip hardening, cracks, swelling, and subsequent expensive damage to the machinery in which the seal is used. It is therefore vital to gather all relevant data and consult with experts before purchasing to match the right type of oil seal with your application.

Common lip materials available for use in our oil seals include:

Nitrile

Polyacrylate

Silicone

Fluoro-elastomer

Depending on the application, premium lip materials may need to be used, such as Ethylene-acrylic (Varmac®). This material features good abrasion and dry running capabilities, higher heat capabilities than nitrile and polyacrylate, and better low-temperature performance than polyacrylate.

Oil Seals from Emerson Bearing

The team at Emerson Bearing offers significant expertise in the area of oil seals, their applications, and appropriate selection. No matter how unusual or complex your application, Emerson Bearing will find a solution for your exact oil seal needs.

Contact us to discuss oil seals with an expert at Emerson Bearing today.