Oil seals
Precision-engineered sealing element designed for use on rotating shafts. Its primary function is to prevent leakage of the operating medium, such as oil, grease, or process fluids, while protecting the system against the ingress of external contaminants.
Design
A typical rotary shaft seal consists of three basic components:
- Seal body – manufactured from an elastomer or an elastomer reinforced with a metal insert. It provides dimensional stability and ensures secure seating in the housing.
- Sealing lip – a flexible sealing element that maintains contact with the shaft surface, providing an effective dynamic seal during shaft rotation.
- Garter spring – a spring-loaded element that maintains a constant radial load on the sealing lip, compensating for wear, shaft runout, and operating vibrations.
Typical Applications
Simmerings are found wherever a rotating shaft passes through a housing wall:
- Automotive — crankshafts, camshafts, gearboxes, wheel hubs, differentials and water pumps.
- Industrial machinery — pumps, electric motors, reducers, compressors and machine tool spindles.
- Agricultural and construction equipment — exposed to dust, mud and high shock loads.
- Household appliances — washing machine drums and small motors.
Why Specification Matters
A specification that names only the nominal dimensions — inner diameter, outer diameter and width — leaves the most important variables undefined. Temperature range, shaft speed, media, pressure differential, runout and expected service interval all shape the correct choice of lip material, spring type, case design and surface finish. Matching the seal to the application is what converts an inexpensive standard part into years of trouble-free operation.