Product category:
Seals
News Release from: Minnesota Rubber and Plastics | Subject: Custom seal design
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 12 April 2004
Redesigned seal cuts costs and assembly
problems
In redesigning a piston V-cup seal, Minnesota Rubber has combined two components into a single part while maintaining part function and life.
In redesigning a piston V-cup seal, Minnesota Rubber has combined two components into a single part while maintaining part function and life Used in outboard motor fuel assemblies, these new seals provide improved seal life while reducing manufacturing and assembly costs
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 11 Feb 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The original two-part design was functionally satisfactory but overly complicated by today's standards.
The two components acted as a horizontal dynamic piston seal with the sealing function occurring for pressure travelling in either direction in and out.
Two parts were stacked back-to-back to accomplish this bidirectional sealing process.
This seal worked well enough without trapping pressure between the seal surfaces.
However, the assembly process to achieve the seal consistency was labour intensive, requiring skilful part handling and placement as well as special testing.
In a joint customer/supplier programme, Minnesota Rubber brought to bear its six decades of experience with fluid sealing applications in harsh operating environments.
Minnesota Rubber developed a new, single V-cup seal design that simplified and sped up the assembly process, resulting in improved efficiencies, reduced labour content and lower costs.
Minnesota Rubber's material selection for this seal was also critical to the success of the single part design.
A special fuel resistant fluoroelastomer material was formulated so that the part would withstand the harshness of extended fuels.
In addition to providing the needed fuel resistance, the fluoroelastomer provided excellent flex fatigue resistance, excellent compression set, and most important, lower cost.
Produced in high speed, automated moulding presses, just-in-time volume requirements were met while the new, single part cost was 23% less than the previous two-part assembly.
Delivery time was shortened while part quality and repeatability was enhanced because of the one-piece design.
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