eclipse engineering
- December 29, 2022
In the world of engineering, machinery, and mechanical systems, dust can be the difference between a reliable piece of equipment and disaster.
Dust can cause major damage to cylinder walls, rods, seals and other components inside of machinery. And if you’re not careful, dirt, mud, debris, and water can all cause damage as well.
These foreign contaminants are real problems for mechanical systems, especially as they build up in small quantities over time. A single particle of dust today may be no big deal. But a speck of dust per day will eventually become enough of a presence to cause serious issues, like friction, surface wear, and imperfect seal contact between surfaces.
These issues could compound until the mechanical system experiences a complete failure. And in some applications, like in automobiles and aircraft, failure is simply not an option.
Beyond those industries, many types of equipment need to stay clean on the inside, even when things get extremely messy
- October 20, 2022
Channel Seals for Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems
The Channel Seal (or Cap Seal, as it’s often referred to), was one of the earliest forms of Polymer or Teflon sealing in the seal industry.
The product is easily applied. It didn’t replace the O-ring, but instead offered improved life while reducing drag.
In doing so, hydraulic and pneumatic systems operated cooler and quieter, while improving overall performance of the product.
Evolution of the Channel Seal
Before the Channel Seal, the Backup ring was established. The first Backup rings started out as leather,
- October 07, 2022
A combination of crimped can seals will handle a variety of applications when a rubber lip seal is not your solution.
Rotary seals are often secured in sealing hardware by crimping the sealing element in a metal can. One of the most common rotary seals is a molded rubber lip seal in a can.
While not crimped, the can retains the sealing element, and stops the seal from rotating in the gland. Rotary sealing elements for low pressure (under 15 psi), are often nitrile or Viton rubber sealing elements.
This style of seal comes in many cross sections, and may include garter springs to help the seal stay engaged with the shaft. These seals are typically low in cost, and produced in high volume.
These seals are found in many low-pressure applications. However, as the pressures begin to climb over 10 psi and speeds run over 500 ft/min, friction generates heat,
- September 15, 2021
With the marijuana and cannabis industry expected to take in nearly $24 billion by the end of in 2021, and more than $40 billion by 2025, the market is primed for innovation in production volume and technology.
The growth in popularity of vaporizers, infused edibles, and topical cannabis products means the demand for cannabis oil extraction is a fast multiplying industry.
The two primary means for oil extraction is via petroleum based solvents such as butane or propane, or by supercritical fluid extraction (most often carbon dioxide, or CO2).
Increased Longevity and Durability
Supercritical fluid extraction has been around for decades, and has been used in a wide variety of industries, including decaffeinating coffee and extracting essential oils. But the explosive growth and demand of the cannabis industry has raised the need for increased volume and reduced cycle time to new heights.
Our partners at Eclipse have been approached by multiple
- July 16, 2021
As the operating parameters of industrial technologies and manufacturing processes get more extreme, the need for optimal sealing solutions become that much more important.
Elevated temperatures and pressures, higher speeds, extreme environments, faster gas decompression, and aggressive medias all make sealing more critical. This extends right across static, reciprocating, rotary, and oscillating applications.
This challenge has been met very effectively by the inventive addition of energizers to seals. Energized seals give the ultimate performance in the most demanding conditions and critical applications.
Spring or o-ring energizers can extend the normal limits of PTFE and plastic materials to deliver durable ultra-tight sealing capability. Here’s a rundown of how energizers work and how they can elevate your next sealing challenge.
- May 11, 2021
Here we’ll discuss the basic functionality and design principles of spring energized seals and discover why one might be the perfect sealing solution in your application. This article was written by GFS supplier/partner Eclipse Engineering.
Spring energized PTFE seals perform reliably in a variety of applications where conventional elastomeric seals fail due to chemical attack, extreme heat or cold, friction, extrusion or compression set.
- October 20, 2020
When considering polymer jacketed seals — especially PTFE-based products — some form of energizer is typically required. These types of seals are usually specified to operate both in very high pressures, low pressures, or even in a vacuum.
At certain pressures (typically above 100psi), the system pressure will energize the seal and prevent leakage. But at low pressures, additional energy is required to force the jacket material to mate with the hardware.
The solution to this is to add a spring to the seal. The spring provides the needed sealing-energy to prevent leakage at low media pressures.
When considering a high pressure-application, there are start/stop conditions where the system is at low pressure. If the seal allows some amount of leakage at low pressure, it becomes possible for that leakage level to increase once as the pressure builds.
This phenomenon is called “blow-by.” Once it occurs in a system, it’s difficult to get the seal to seat and seal correctly.
Canted Coil Spring Energizer
There are several types of energizers to consider when specifying a seal. These can be as simple as an O-Ring or some other elastomer.
- September 25, 2020
“How much pressure can this seal handle?”
The answer to this question depends on a number of parameters and conditions. But the principle limiting factor in the pressure handling of any seal system is the extrusion gap.
Commonly referred to as the “E-Gap,” the extrusion gap is one of the most critical design aspects in any high-pressure application. Seal design, type, and material are all influenced by the extrusion gap and the desired pressure handling capability.
What exactly is an extrusion gap, and why is it so important in the successful design of a sealing system? Let’s find out.
The Basics: What is an Extrusion Gap?
In terms of sealing systems, the extrusion gap is defined as the clearance between the hardware components.
In a piston configuration, this would be the clearance between the piston and bore. In a rod configuration, this is the clearance between the rod and housing it’s passing through.
The extrusion gap can be expressed in terms of radial or diametral clearance, which can lead to some confusion. Our partners at Eclipse define the E-Gap by stating it as the radial clearance. The radial clearance is equal to the diametral clearance divided by two.
It’s important to note that while hardware components might be machined to have a specified clearance, this gap might not be perfectly realized or maintained.
- September 01, 2020
When it comes to maintaining a high-functioning rotary shaft, you need to select the appropriate lip seal.
The shaft seal protects the rotary shaft from contaminants such as dust and dirt, and it keeps water out and lubricant in.
A rotary seal, also known as a radial shaft seal, typically sits between a rotary shaft and a fixed housing — such as a cylinder wall — to stop fluid leaking along the shaft. The rotary seal’s outside surface is fixed to the housing, while the seal’s inner lip presses against the rotating shaft.
Common applications for shaft seals include motors, gear boxes, pumps and axles. They’re also increasingly used for food and chemical processing, as well in pressurized gas applications.
Three of the most important considerations when the choosing the best lip seal for a rotary shaft are:
- The material the seal is made of,
- the hardness of the shaft’s surface, and
- the roughness of the shaft’s surface.
Here’s your quick go-to guide on how to achieve optimum performance and longevity for your seals and shafts, ultimately minimizing the risk of seal failure. Presented by our partners at Eclipse Engineering:
- July 22, 2020
Back-up rings serve an important role in world of seals. While the design principle and construction are incredibly simple, they greatly extend the usefulness of the most common and prolific sealing device in the world: the O-ring.
Back-up rings are aptly named as they do just that: they back-up an O-ring.
Back-up rings are commonly nothing more than a ring of polymer meant to space the O-ring away from the extrusion gap in hardware. By blocking off the extrusion gap, the pressure-handling ability of an ordinary O-ring is greatly increased.
Solid or split back-up rings out of virgin PTFE can usually be found on the shelf, and are largely considered commodity items.
While the design and functionality of a back-up ring rarely changes, the material selected can greatly complicate this simple device. Some applications require specific material properties and/or special material certifications.
Back-up rings can be made for a variety of unique applications;: Military-spec back-up rings out of fully certified AMS 3678/1 virgin PTFE; Certified “MS” style back-up ring (MS27595 or MS28774); PTFE blends; Thermoplastic elastomers; Urethanes. But the most common custom material for back-up rings is usually PEEK (polyether ether ketone).
In certain applications, PEEK has some distinct advantages as a back-up ring material. But with these advantages comes some potential issues.
Read on if switching from a PTFE to a PEEK back-up ring sounds like an enticing proposition to see what you need to consider before making the change.
