Do you know the difference between gaskets and seals? The terms are often used interchangeably within the heavy machinery industry, but these two parts actually have a subtle difference in their meaning and their applications. Let’s take a look at the main differences between them and how they work.
When it comes to heavy machinery, a seal is simply the term used for a part which is used to prevent leakages in mechanisms within the machine.
There are many different types of seals, including rotary seals, duo cone seals, shaft seals, valve stem seals, and hydraulic seals, and each of these have individual properties which make them best suited to their particular application.
For example, duo cone seals, also known as floating face seals, have two metal faces and two flexible rings which push the two faces together, resulting in a very tight seal, in turn preventing oil leakage from your drive motor.
We normally come across O ring seals in hydraulic pipes and hydraulic applications.
Hydraulic seals are generally relatively soft, non-metallic rings captured in groove or fixed in a combination of rings, forming a seal assembly, to block or separate fluid in reciprocating motion applications. Hydraulic seals are vital in machinery. Their use is critical in providing a way for fluid power to be converted to linear motion.
Hydraulic seals can be made from a variety of materials such as polyurethane, rubber or PTFE. The type of material is determined by the specific operating conditions or limits due to fluid type, pressure, fluid chemical compatibility or temperature.
A static hydraulic seal is located in a groove and sees no movement – only sealing within its confined space, acting like gasket.
A type of dynamic hydraulic seal called a rod seal is exposed to movement on its inner diameter along the shaft or rod of a hydraulic cylinder. A type of dynamic hydraulic seal called a piston seal is exposed to movement on its outer diameter along the tube or bore of a hydraulic cylinder.
Another example you might have come across are valve stem seals, which control the amount of oil and lubricant being used by the valve stem in your heavy machinery, made possible by their hull shape.
A gasket, as briefly mentioned above, is a type of seal for your heavy machinery. Its elastomeric properties include high viscosity and elasticity, meaning that they undergo ‘elastic recovery and deformation’ when force is applied and removed. This makes gaskets durable and able to withstand and resist extremes in temperature and pressure due to their high tensile strength and flexibility.
Gaskets are essential in protecting moving parts, reducing friction between them, and keeping contaminants and moisture out of your hydraulic cylinder, transmission and diesel engine. To withstand the high temperatures in and around your heavy machinery’s parts, gaskets are tested with hot compression tests to determine the amount of heat it is able to withstand. Commonly used in mining, deep sea and construction sectors, gaskets are available for a whole range of environments and can meet bespoke specifications too.
At Jaytrac, we supply a wide range of seals, including gaskets, for industrial applications. Whether you’re in the demolition, construction, mining or deep sea industry, we have a seal for your heavy machinery.
Quality sealing products are essential to the performance of your machinery, and we only source sealing products from quality manufacturers to ensure that we’re consistently providing the best quality of sealing parts to our valued customers.
We stock seal and gasket replacements for a selection of brands at Jaytrac. Our products include:
As well as being a supplier of individual seals and gaskets, here at Jaytrac we are also able to build and assemble full or partial overhaul kits to manufacture a bespoke solution to your machinery’s specifications and project requirements.
Looking for high quality replacement seals and gaskets for your heavy machinery? Don’t hesitate to give our team a call on +44 (0) 1604 491133 or email us at sales@jaytrac.co.uk to find out more about our catalogue of parts. Alternatively, fill out one of our contact forms and we’ll be in touch promptly.
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