Springless seals cut friction to save energy

One easy way of cutting the power input of motors is to reduce the friction forces at shaft seals.

One easy way of cutting the power demands of motors is to reduce the friction forces at shaft seals.

This is made possible by the springless energy-saving Simmerring (ESS for short) developed by Freudenberg Simrit.

In old radial shaft seals, the spring was responsible for creating the necessary contact pressure force that kept the sealing lip on the shaft being sealed.

This ensured a long-term sealing effect.

The radial shaft seal acted like a microscopic pump, which was in a position to transport lubricants beneath the sealing lip and back into the oil chamber.

This created the necessary lubrication between the shaft and the seal ring.

The radial contact pressure force of the sealing lip is of paramount importance for the functioning of the seal, abrasion resistance, and friction.

Excessive radial forces increase wear, overheat the sealing edge, make the oil coke, and result in energy losses and leakages.

Insufficient radial forces prevent the sealing lip from sitting securely on the shaft, thereby causing leakages and oil drips.

This is why optimising the radial force that keeps the sealing lip on the shaft is of elementary importance.

In order to keep friction forces to a minimum and to simultaneously optimise the function of the seal, Freudenberg Simrit developed the ESS.

In this seal, the radial force remains stable at a low level over a broad speed range even as the temperature in the joint gap rises.

This was made possible by the development of a special elastomer compound and a completely new design.

Thanks to this springless radial shaft seal, losses generated by friction can be reduced by up to 50W for a shaft with a diameter of 45mm at a speed of 6000rev/min.

This creates energy-saving potential for motors and transmissions that can be used to great competitive advantage.

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