A lip seal is a rotary seal
incorporating a deflected lip seal geometry. Anti-rotational devices
such as flanges and O-rings are often utilized to prevent the seal
from rotating with the shaft. Standard and custom sizes are available
with a wide selection of PTFE materials. Lip seals are suitable for
sealing corrosive and abrasive media. A wide range of geometries and
materials are available, depending on specific application
requirements. Lip seals are
often used on motors and compressors and other components with high
speed rotary shafts due to their ability to resist wear even while
pressurized.
The most common lip shape is the
chamfered or back-beveled design and is available with the V and C
Series spring types. This design allows for ease of installation and
permits lubrication to nest under the lip and feed through in
reciprocating dynamic applications. The result is a microscopic film
of lubrication that increases seal and hardware service life. Since
the footprint (contact point) of a chamfered lip is a single point,
all of the sealing force is concentrated on that point, yielding the
highest sustainability and lowest friction.
Applications often involve medias with
abrasive particles that can get caught between the seal lip and the
mating hardware. This increases wear to both the seal and the mating
surface. To prevent particles from accumulating, the scraper lip
design is available with all three spring types. The scraper lip
contact point is positioned directly over the load point of the
spring in each design for maximum scraping action. The scraper lip
can be positioned on the ID, OD or both. The scraper lip also stays
in place better in a stepped gland where the step is not very large.
The beaded shape contacts the surface
in much the same way as an O-ring, and is available with the V and H
Series spring types. Similar to the chamfered lip, it is easy to
install and helps to lubricate the reciprocating sealing surface. In
fact, the beaded lip yields a film of oil that is slightly thicker
than that of a chamfered lip, making it advantageous for applications
with rapid reciprocating motion. Darcoid Nor-Cal Seal is an excellent
supplier of lip seals.