Flexible solution to rotary seals

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 30, 2003

A new design of rotary seal can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of the toughest manufacturing and process environments.

Ceetak has a new rotary seal design it reckons can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of the toughest manufacturing and process environments.

The new VR rotary seal is designed to incorporate a variety of compound partnerships, resulting in a truly flexible sealing solution that addresses the specific sealing problems found in medical applications, the oil and gas sectors and the chemical process industries.

Ceetak's ingenious design also means the new VR rotary seal requires less radial force to form an integral seal, resulting in less damage or tracking on the shaft, increased component life expectancy and reduced system leakage.

This unique construction can be supplied in a number of different materials, including nitrile rubber, FPM/PTFE elastomers and numerous viton variations.

Crucially, these materials can be specified separately for the front and back components of the seal depending on the shaft media.

By addressing the specific component demands, the VR rotary seal relinquishes the need for expensive mechanical seals, costly angular bearings and pricey chromed or surface-coated shafts.

The tailor-made seals' design defies operational wear and tear brought about by high speeds and excessive friction, which can often limit the life expectancies of conventional mechanical seals.

These impressive characteristics are not only perfectly suited for pumps, valves and electronic control devices; they can also reduce component life-cycle costs.

The new VR rotary seal represents a significant development in seal design.

Andrew Kownacki, Technical Director at Ceetak, described the development process that led to the innovative solution.

"To ensure the new seal was able to provide cost savings to the widest possible range of applications, we undertook an 18-month development programme, during which we confirmed that the VR rotary seal required only one third of the radial force needed by conventional rotary sealing elements".

He continued: "This feature, combined with its material flexibility, means the VR rotary seal supersedes expensive mechanical seals by delivering tangible cost benefits and a longer operating life".