Rod seals are one of the many sealing solutions available at SSP to help support your specific cylinder application requirements.
We know that avoiding leaks within applications and preventing contaminants from getting in is vital; that’s why we provide high-quality seals that you can trust.
The good news is that piston rod seals help to ensure efficiency through the provision of a high-quality seal, keeping system fluids and gas within the hydraulic cylinder system.
In this post, we look at rod seals in more detail and their function in specific applications.
What are rod seals?
Rod seals, also known as piston seals, are typically found in hydraulic cylinders, helping to optimise the performance of the piston rod and for the cylinder to operate at its best.
Used in hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders, rod seals help to prevent pressurised hydraulic fluid contained within the cylinder from escaping while also preventing dirt and contaminants from getting in.
They create a tight, reliable seal that can withstand high and low pressure and perform well in high and low temperature ranges.
Rod seals can have threaded ends, their length is adjustable, making them compatible with all hydraulic cylinders, and they can be single acting or double acting, depending on the application’s demands.
A rod seal’s primary function is to prevent leaks from occurring in the cylinder, maintaining the pressure and preventing fluid from escaping.
If a leak does occur within the hydraulic cylinder, it can cause serious environmental damage and lead to further accidents and challenges for the application and the user.
Rod seal material
Piston seals are available in a range of materials; however, in our experience, polyurethane is one of the most popular as this particular material type offers high abrasion resistance, mechanical strength, and is resistant to hydraulic fluids.
All rod seals offer numerous benefits, including:
- Excellent sealing capabilities
- Long-life span – offering cost savings
- Suitable for harsh conditions
How do rod seals work?
It’s important to know exactly where the rod seal will be placed, understanding the specifications, and if the seal material is compatible with the application.
You will find rod seals installed inside the cylinder gland or housing, providing a tight seal against the piston rod.
Rod seals are made of high-tensile steel and are precision manufactured. Typically CNC machined, allowing you to request bespoke sizes (note: standard sizes in piston rods are also available) and manufactured in a variety of different materials to suit varying applications and requirements.
(You can customise the inner and outer diameter of the rod seal as well as the height and tolerances to suit the application. The key is to focus on the design and where the seal will sit within the application. This is especially important to help you avoid gap extrusion.)
The rod sealing system consists of:
- Guide rings
- Tapes
- Rod seals
- Wipers
Supporting the conversion of hydraulic energy into a linear and mechanical movement, the rod seal’s function is to absorb the hydraulic pressure from the piston and move this toward the load.
To avoid metal-on-metal contact with the cylinder and smooth movement within the application, rod seals should be used in conjunction with the right wiper and gland housing to ensure correct operation.
Guide rings can also be put in place to guide the rod and the piston, helping to ensure precision at every stage and the absorption of the forces and vibrations the application will encounter.
Note: A thin oil film must be left after passing an effective wiper seal in order to return to the cylinder.
Industries that use rod seals
Ring-type joint gaskets are found in:
- Oil and gas industry
- Petrochemical sector
- Petroleum oil field drilling equipment
- Offshore applications
Ring-type joint gasket
Rod seals are available in a range of shapes and dimensions, with standard sizes also available.
It’s important that you choose the right seal for your application.
To avoid contamination leading to hydraulic system failure, rod seals will often be used in conjunction with appropriate wipers and guides to create a second layer of protection.
However, it’s important to note that the rod seals and wipers you opt for must be compatible to avoid the wiper potentially damaging the seal and, in fact, causing a leak rather than helping to prevent one.
Ring-type joints
At Specialist Sealing Products, we can help you find the most appropriate RTJs for your application. We also provide a wide range of other high-quality sealing products, including tri-clamp fittings, which are essential for sanitary process lines in industries like foor and beverages and Pharmaceuticals
All our ring-type joint gaskets are precision manufactured, available in a wide range of materials, and quality assured for various temperature and pressure applications.
Experts in our field, we design and manufacture to meet your requirements
Offering you flexible and high-quality products, call us now on 01535 274 776 or email a team member at sales@specialistsealingproducts.co.uk, and we’ll make sure to get back to you.
