Oil Seal:
As products,
oil seals may be simply described as devices that close or seal the spaces
between stationary and moving components in mechanical equipment...they prevent
lubricant from escaping. Oil seals, often called grease, fluid or dirt
seals, are the vital components of practically every type of machine and
vehicle in operation. These seals fulfill an exacting function: they
protect all types of precision constructed, close fitting ball, sleeve and
roller bearings.
Oil seals are used
wherever shafts rotate and bearings require lubrication. In short, a seal is a
barrier with three basic functions: 1) Retaining lubricants and liquids; 2)
Excluding contaminants; 3) Seal or separate dissimilar fluids or gases.
• Precision bearings rely on the oil seal to prevent lubricants from escaping the bearings or a specific area.
• Components of machines rely on the oil seal to prevent abrasives, corrosive moisture and other harmful contaminants from entering the mechanics of the machine.
• Separation of fluids and gases may completely rely on the seal to prevent inter mixture of two different mediums such as lubricating oil and water.
In a typical
application, the oil seal is installed adjacent to a bearing, sealing in or
sealing out, as necessary, the various liquids, gases or solids encountered by
the particular mechanism.
The
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Society of Testing
Materials (ASTM) have developed and adapted a standard to identify component
parts that make up an oil seal, as well as terminology and basic lip seal
designs.
