Oil Seal Knowledge (1) – What is an Oil Seal

Thread Content

This post was last edited by qy576100527 on 2018-10-1 10:03. An oil seal is a sealing element used to seal the rotating shafts in mechanical equipment; since the chamber remains essentially stationary (see figure below), an oil seal is also known as a rotating shaft lip seal. In the frictional parts of machinery, oil enters during operation; oil seals are used to prevent this oil from leaking out through the gaps in the machinery. In addition to preventing oil leakage, oil seals are also needed to stop water and chemical liquids from leaking in, as well as to prevent dust and debris from entering from the outside. Regarding the sealing condition of the oil seal, first, there is a static seal between the outer edge of the oil seal and the chamber, which also ensures reliable positioning of the outer edge of the oil seal within the chamber. The second aspect is the sealing condition between the oil seal’s sealing lip and the shaft; it is a dynamic seal when the shaft is rotating, and a static seal when the shaft is at rest. The combined effect of various influencing factors and their interactions have a significant impact on the sealing performance and service life of oil seals.