Investigation into the sealing contacts of reciprocating elastomeric seals- correlation of calculations with contact force measurements and optical observations

摘要

Reciprocating seals made from elastomers are used in numerous hydraulic and pneumatic applications. The range of material combinations, of sizes and seal shapes is just as wide as the range of operating conditions encountered. However, all reciprocating seals have two requirements in common: their friction should be constant and as low as possible, and they must maintain tightness during their service life. For optimisation of these conflicting properties, it is necessary to know what happens in the sealing contact. Interaction of the seal surface, rod surface and the lubricant determines the frictional and functional behaviour of a given design. For hydraulic seals, the hydraulic fluid also acts as a lubricant, whereas in pneumatic seals, greased contacts prevail.