The Amateurs Guide to Knowing Everything About Hydraulic Seals
Hydraulic applications are the result of combining several pistons, metal parts and hydraulic fluids during operations. Hydraulic seals are one of the essential components of this setup. They prevent metal-to-metal contact when you are using a hydraulic machine. They also keep dust and dirt from infiltrating the hydraulic chamber, which keeps the machinery operating efficiently at all times. Third, the hydraulic seals keep the hydraulic lubricants in the right tubes so that they do not leak. You can keep talking about the excellent job done by hydraulic seals, but it takes a little more than that to understand their role fully. Here is everything you need to learn about hydraulic seals.
Dynamic Hydraulic Seals
Dynamic seals sit between two hydraulic components that are in relative motion. There is reciprocating motion between the head and the piston rod. Dynamic seals come in two forms. The first one is a rod seal, while the other one is a seal installed between the cylinder bore and the piston. Essentially, dynamic seals are ideal for covering the ends of two components that experience lots of movement.
The primary functions of dynamic rod seals are:
- They provide a pressure barrier to contain the hydraulic fluid within the cylinder.
- They receive the lubrication film into the hydraulic cylinder whenever the rod retracts.
- They prevent the corrosion of the piston rod by regulating the fluid film that extends over the piston rod.
The function of piston seals is:
- Piston seals maintain appropriate pressure levels so that the hydraulic fluid does not go over the piston. This function is essential for controlling the movement of the cylinder or keeping it in the desired position when the equipment is at rest.
Static Seals
Some of the components of a hydraulic system do not experience any relative motions. However, you still need to protect such components from extreme heat and load, and there is no better way to do this than using a seal. The use of these seals will vary according to the design and specific configurations of the hydraulic equipment.
Scraper and Wipers
You cannot talk about hydraulic seals without bringing scrapers and wipers into the conversation. They are a great addition to the system. They keep dirt and foreign materials from your pistons as they move back into the system. This happens every time you use the equipment. The best scrapers and wipers are made from Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyurethane, which are excellent at withstanding the harsh conditions in the hydraulic system.