What is Oil Seal:
Oil Seal is a device that is used to prevent the leakage of lubricating oil in mechanical equipment by closing the spaces between the moving and stationary components of the equipment. Oil seals are also used in precision bearings to maintain lubricants in the bearings and prevent corrosive moisture from entering the bearings. Oil seals are also known as rubber oil seals, oil gaskets or dirt seals.
There are nine factors that designers and maintenance engineers must evaluate when oil seals are specified:
Shaft Speed:
The maximum allowable shaft speed is a function of the shaft finish, runout, housing bore and shaft concentricity, type of fluid being sealed and the type of oil seal material.
Temperature:
The temperature range of the mechanism in which the seal is installed must not exceed the temperature range of the seal elastomer.
Pressure:
Most conventional oil seals are designed only to withstand very low-pressure applications (about 8 psi or less). If additional internal pressure is present or anticipated, pressure relief is necessary.
Shaft Hardness:
Longer seal life can be expected with shafts having a Rockwell (RC) hardness of 30 or more. When exposed to abrasive contamination, the hardness should be increased to RC 60.
Shaft Surface Finish:
Most effective sealing is obtained with optimum shaft surface finishes. The sealing efficiency is affected by the direction of the finish tool marks and the spiral lead. Best sealing results are obtained with polished or ground shafts with concentric (no spiral lead) finish marks. If you must use shafts with spiral finish leads, they should lead toward the fluid when the shaft rotates.
Concentricity:
When the bore and shaft centers are misaligned, seal life will be shortened because the wear will be concentrated on one side of the sealing lip.
Shaft and Bore Tolerances:
The best seal performance is achieved when close shaft and bore tolerances are present. Other factors include shaft eccentricity, end play and vibration.
Runout:
Runout must be kept to a minimum. Movement of the center of rotation is usually caused by bearing wobble or shaft whip. When coupled with misalignment, this problem is compounded. Contrary to popular belief and common practice, the installation of flexible couplings cannot correct or compensate for misalignment.
Lubricant:
Seals perform much better and longer when they are continuously lubricated with an oil that has the correct viscosity for the application and that is compatible with the seal lip elastomer material. The consideration of seal incompatibility, particularly with certain additives and some synthetic lubricants, should not be ignored, but unfortunately very often is.
