Pneumatic seals are a device that
restricts the escape of air or the entrance of foreign materials in a
pneumatic application such as a cylinder. Pneumatic Seals are
designed for low operating pressure. Pneumatic Seals are vital in
machinery. Pneumatic Seals may be used for rotary and reciprocating
motion. Pneumatic cylinders typically demand higher operating speeds
and lower friction pneumatic seals. Common pneumatic seals include
rod seals, piston seals, symmetrical seals, V-Rings, wipers, rotary
shaft seals, wear rings, static seals, back-up rings, o-rings, buffer
rings, u-cups and gaskets. Pneumatic seals can either be single or
double acting. Single acting pneumatic seals are used for one axial
direction only. Double acting pneumatic seals are used in both
directions for a reciprocating motion. Pneumatic seals require
minimal lubrication when exposed to air in order to create a tight
seal.
Pneumatic seals may also be exposed to high operating speeds at which the pressure is not high. Piston seals, rod seals, flange packings, u-cups, and vee-cups are a few sealing designs that take advantage of pneumatic seals. The difference between pneumatic seals and hydraulic seals is pressure. Pneumatic seals typically have a pressure range of 1 to 150 pound-force per square inch (psi), while hydraulic pressure can reach greater than 10,000 psi. Pneumatic seals can be made of a variety of materials like Polyurethane, Nitrile, Viton, Silicone, EPDM and some types of PTFE. A pneumatic seal's sealing orientation can be internal as with a rod seal, external as with a piston, symmetrical, or axial. With internal pneumatic seals, a housing bore surrounds the seal and the sealing lip touches the shaft. This seal requires very little lubricant. With external piston pneumatic seals, the seal surrounds a shaft and the sealing lip touches the housing bore. This system requires more lubrication. Symmetric pneumatic seals are the same on both sides, and axial pneumatic seals fit axially against the housing. In both cases, however, the seals are used externally and require more lubrication.
Sometimes, composite seals are used as pneumatic seals. Composite seals are seals composed of two or three different materials. Therefore, pneumatic seals are often found in products requiring one seal for many parts. A PTFE ring and an elastomer ring are often used in this situation. NASA uses this technology in their rocket systems. Composite pneumatic seals are also used in the diesel engines for trucks. Rotary applications need only one pneumatic seal. This seal is considered to be single acting because it can seal in one axial direction while the application is moving. On the other hand, a reciprocating application requires two pneumatic seals, or double acting seals. In this case, one seal is needed for each of the directions. Double acting pneumatic seals are more complicated than single acting ones.
Darcoid Nor-Cal Seals is an ace supplier of sealing solutions and accessories. Darcoid supplies a number of seals, wear rings and scrapers / wipers specifically engineered for pneumatic applications, where cylinders and valves are actuated by air. Pneumatic seals operate in dynamic applications, often at high speeds, generally with rotary or reciprocating motions.
Pneumatic seals may also be exposed to high operating speeds at which the pressure is not high. Piston seals, rod seals, flange packings, u-cups, and vee-cups are a few sealing designs that take advantage of pneumatic seals. The difference between pneumatic seals and hydraulic seals is pressure. Pneumatic seals typically have a pressure range of 1 to 150 pound-force per square inch (psi), while hydraulic pressure can reach greater than 10,000 psi. Pneumatic seals can be made of a variety of materials like Polyurethane, Nitrile, Viton, Silicone, EPDM and some types of PTFE. A pneumatic seal's sealing orientation can be internal as with a rod seal, external as with a piston, symmetrical, or axial. With internal pneumatic seals, a housing bore surrounds the seal and the sealing lip touches the shaft. This seal requires very little lubricant. With external piston pneumatic seals, the seal surrounds a shaft and the sealing lip touches the housing bore. This system requires more lubrication. Symmetric pneumatic seals are the same on both sides, and axial pneumatic seals fit axially against the housing. In both cases, however, the seals are used externally and require more lubrication.
Sometimes, composite seals are used as pneumatic seals. Composite seals are seals composed of two or three different materials. Therefore, pneumatic seals are often found in products requiring one seal for many parts. A PTFE ring and an elastomer ring are often used in this situation. NASA uses this technology in their rocket systems. Composite pneumatic seals are also used in the diesel engines for trucks. Rotary applications need only one pneumatic seal. This seal is considered to be single acting because it can seal in one axial direction while the application is moving. On the other hand, a reciprocating application requires two pneumatic seals, or double acting seals. In this case, one seal is needed for each of the directions. Double acting pneumatic seals are more complicated than single acting ones.
Darcoid Nor-Cal Seals is an ace supplier of sealing solutions and accessories. Darcoid supplies a number of seals, wear rings and scrapers / wipers specifically engineered for pneumatic applications, where cylinders and valves are actuated by air. Pneumatic seals operate in dynamic applications, often at high speeds, generally with rotary or reciprocating motions.