O-Rings are a critical component for the proper sealing of specific pipes. They have to sit within a specified groove, which can vary based on the hardware used. That’s why it’s important to note the various types of o-ring groove design to understand better what kind of o-ring is needed.
Are the components built-in with grooves already, or do they need to be designed for specific o-rings? Take a look here (click here) to understand better the various types of o-rings we have to offer. We ensure that you will always walk away with a quality product developed and manufactured in the UK.
As one of the major UK-based o-ring suppliers, we want to make sure all your questions and concerns are appropriately handled and offer this o-ring groove design guide and overview.
How to design an O-ring groove
Let’s start at the beginning when it comes to building an o-ring groove design. First, you want to check the cross-section size and clearance for your o-ring. Once you know your numbers, you will have to do some calculations.
You’re going to need to see the seal squeeze, groove width and how much the gland is filled up percentage-wise. You will also need to figure out what the dimensions will be for the o-ring groove.
Keep in mind that o-ring groove designs need to be highly accurate, so always work with specialists familiar with getting the measurements down to the millimetre and designing them to proper specifications. That’s because o-rings themselves have to follow certain specifications and design guidelines to ensure they are compliant, such as ISO 9001:2015.
The various design types for o-rings
Standard O-ring design
A standard o-ring design comes in a static or dynamic format, as with many things. The static o-ring design means it’s a sealant for pipes that will not be moving. This is also the case when placing an item inside another item and utilising the o-ring as the final sealant. The dynamic format is structured to support movement while still maintaining the seal. An active o-ring set-up will have them move in a similar direction.
Dovetail O-ring design
If you’re applying an o-ring to a face seal, you’ll better not use a face seal o-ring groove design, sometimes referred to as a dovetail. This design is a customised and expensive method that you should only use when necessary and a temporary solution to keep the o-ring in place.
You use this method primarily when assembling new equipment or performing maintenance on it, and you need a short-term o-ring design to maintain the sealant.
Metric o-ring design
Sometimes, you may encounter this demand, which means everything is handled and designed on the metric system. It will then fall into one of the various other categories described in this o-ring design guide.
Additional situations
Extrusion can occur when high pressure is involved with the o-ring design. What needs to happen here is that backup o-rings are placed based on the direction of where the pressure is going (sometimes, on both sides of the pressure build-up is bilateral).
Otherwise, without these o-ring groove supports designed into the overall machinery architecture, the main o-ring will reach its extrusion limit and burst under pressure. This method is a different use from a standard o-ring and works by being placed in glands and moving towards the clearance gaps to provide the sealant as is needed.
In the end
Depending on the situation, it’s always wise to have an o-ring groove design chart handy, as this will help you know exactly what type of o-ring groove design is needed for what condition.
For example, does it need to lock into place, move in tandem, or be temporary? Are volatile levels of pressure an issue? All of these come into play when having a handy o-ring groove design guide. It’s imperative and priceless to know where you stand with your pipes and the system they’re in to select the most appropriate o-rings.
As always, we are your knowledge experts and local o ring supplier, so we want to make sure that you can focus on what you’re best at while we provide you with the right tools every single time. This offer includes a vast o-ring selection made of various materials, all designed for specialised instances.
Through our years of extensive experience, you’re in good hands to help deal with issues such as these. So, whether your system is moving petroleum, silicon or vegetable oils, we have o-rings that can handle all forms of liquid. In addition, they can take vast ranges in temperature while simultaneously managing their sealant and elasticity in harsh weather conditions.
Must read: All you need to know about Neoprene O rings
