o-ring design guidelines
- October 20, 2015
Technology is always moving forward, but some things stand the test of time.
One of those things is the O-Ring, which was first patented in 1896. What is an O-Ring? It’s a doughnut-shaped loop designed to prevent the passage of liquids or gases. It’s one of the simplest precision mechanical pieces ever produced, and continue to be one of the most widely-utilized sealing products.
O-Rings can be made from plastic or metal, but for the purposes of our blog, we’ll focus solely on rubber – or elastomeric -- O-Ring design.
An O-Ring, also known as a “torus,” works in tandem with the glands in which they are installed. The gland is normally cut from the metallic hardware, and works with the O-Ring to seal. The gland and the O-Ring must be designed together to insure top performance.
