Vesconite Bearings is exploring new engineering design methods, including reducing or eliminating grooves, where possible, in industrial and marine applications.
Vesconite’s bearing materials are internally lubricated so, when replacing traditional materials, Vesconite is challenging engineers to explore designs that remove redundant or superfluous grooves for cooling lubricant or water.
For instance, Vesconite engineers have redesigned a forklift lower wear pad without the seven grooves on the upper surface that were in place in the original moulded nylon parts.
“Eliminating grooves improves the structural integrity of the part and reduces manufacturing times and costs,” says forklift application engineer Calvin Mpofu.
Similarly, Vesconite Bearings can better on previous marine stern-tube bearing designs where constant
The oil and gas industry poses some of the most challenging seal applications for any seal designer. This is largely due to the varying chemical compatibility of fluids, and extremely high temperatures. The fluids often contain solids, which tend to be extremely abrasive. And applications are usually at high rotary speeds with extreme pressures.
This combination creates PV values (pressure x velocity) often reaching the limits of the seal materials. On top of these extremes, as seal designers we are also faced with containing fugitive emissions from valves and rotary equipment, in a very hostile environment like the oil field.
That’s where the rising stem valve has provided numerous solutions in the oil and gas industry.
A component’s reliability and service life are top priorities for wind turbine manufacturers. This is especially true for main shaft seals, which are exposed to powerful forces. In addition, larger shaft diameters have prompted adoption of new, more stringent operating requirements. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has succeeded in developing a new seal that reliably prevents leaks from the grease-lubricated main bearings used in conjunction with these shafts while tolerating strong shaft runout.
Manufacturers continue to increase the size of wind turbines in an effort to generate an ever-increasing
While you could buy seals made with the size and materials of industry standards, sometimes the performance may not be up-to-snuff. Whether you have a static or a dynamic application, each one has its own unique traits and characteristics. Rather than finding a product that "fills the needs" of your specific application, wouldn't it be more prudent to create the perfect solution?
Using custom-engineered seals from GFS, specific to your application, can help solve that.
Size
No matter the size, Gallagher can assist. Whether less than 1 millimeter or dozens of inches of diameter, our expert engineering team can help design the solution for the exact dimensions you need. Our ability to have the exact sizes and designs fabricated with our global partnerships can help you get it for the right price, too.
This new case study from Gallagher Fluid Seals outlines the benefits of using a PTFE spring energized seal in high friction applications.
Our customer is a manufacturer of power transmission products with a focus on magnetic force. Their product line includes magnetic capping heads, shaft couplings, current-controlled brakes, and clutches.
CUSTOMER PROBLEM:
The customer's magnetic clutch and was having design problems with high friction and break-away force, ultimately causing delayed production schedules.
As the name implies, these O-Rings are used to seal Straight Threaded Tube Fittings. As with otherO-Ringsin static application designs, they make a seal between two mating components. Unlike most O-Rings, they are not completely housed in a rectangular groove or gland. The threaded male tubing fittingdoescontain a radiused partial groove that retains the O-Ring. The mating part, typically a valve or cylinder port, has a chamfered face that compresses the O-Ring diagonally. The straight threads of both components allow the tube fitting to set completely, causing the O-Ring to be nearly fully compressed. This technique is often referred to as an O-Ring Boss system.
CUSTOMER BACKGROUND The customer is a maker of petrochemical feed-stocks used in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, fibers, solvents, detergents, fertilizers and paints.