Aug 08 2024
Oil Seal Rubber: The Industrial Wisdom Behind the Miracle of Elasticity
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Rubber O-ring seals are rubber rings with a circular cross-section. Because their cross-section is O-shaped, they are called O-ring seals, also known as O-rings. They first appeared in the mid-19th century and were initially used as sealing elements for steam engine cylinders. They are the most widely used type of seals in hydraulic and pneumatic transmission systems. In Taiwanese and Japanese companies, they are commonly referred to as O-rings.
Rubber O-ring seals are circular rubber sealing rings with a round cross-section. They are primarily used to prevent the leakage of liquid and gas media in static conditions of mechanical components. In some cases, O-ring seals can also be used as dynamic sealing elements for axial reciprocating motions and low-speed rotational motions. Depending on different conditions, different materials can be selected to match them.
When selecting O-ring seals, it is generally advisable to choose O-ring seals with a larger cross-section. Under the same gap conditions, the volume of the O-ring seal extruded into the gap should be less than its maximum allowable extrusion value.
For different types of fixed or dynamic sealing applications, O-ring seals provide designers with an effective and economical sealing solution. O-ring seals are bi-directional sealing elements. The initial compression in the radial or axial direction during installation gives the O-ring seal its initial sealing capability. The sealing force generated by system pressure combines with the initial sealing force to create the total sealing force, which increases with the system pressure. O-ring seals demonstrate outstanding performance in static sealing situations. However, in appropriate dynamic applications, O-ring seals are also frequently used but are limited by the speed and pressure at the sealing site.
Compact structure, easy to install and disassemble;
Can be used for both static and dynamic sealing;
Low dynamic friction resistance;
Using a single O-ring seal can provide sealing in both directions.
Rubber O-ring seals are suitable for installation on various mechanical equipment. They serve sealing functions in static or moving states under specified temperatures, pressures, and different liquid and gas media. They are extensively used in machine tools, ships, automobiles, aerospace equipment, metallurgical machinery, chemical machinery, engineering machinery, construction machinery, mining machinery, petroleum machinery, plastic machinery, agricultural machinery, and various kinds of instruments. Rubber O-ring seals are mainly used for static sealing and reciprocating motion sealing. For rotational motion sealing, they are limited to low-speed rotational sealing devices. Rubber O-ring seals are generally installed in rectangular cross-sectional grooves on the outer or inner circumference to achieve sealing effects. In environments resistive to oil, acid-base, abrasion, and chemical erosion, rubber O-ring seals still provide good sealing and shock absorption. Thus, rubber O-ring seals are the most widely used sealing elements in hydraulic and pneumatic transmission systems.
