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Content

            1. Spring Energized Seal Description
            2. Spring Energized Seal Design
                        1. Dynamic Lip Configuration
                        2. Static Lip Configuration
                        3. Jacket Material
                        4. Spring Design
                        5. Spring Material
  




Description

Spring energized seals incorporate a metal or composite print into their design. The spring loads the seal lips against the mating hardware. This creates a seal capable of compensating for movement in dynamic applications. The spring provides the necessary lip squeeze to compensate for movement in dynamic applications.


Spring Energized Seal Design

Hi-Tech Seals recommends that clients contact one of our representatives when designing a new application.

Download a Seal Application Data Sheet to assist with communicating application needs

1. Select a dynamic lip configuration that suits your needs:

 Seal Type        Advantages        Disadvantages
  • Low wear rate
  • Preferred design for oscillatory and slow rotary applications
  • Radius lip reduces probability of seal lip damage during installation
  • Should not be used for dynamic sealing of abrasive media
  • May weep in high speed reciprocating applications due to seal
    lip hydroplaning
  • Improved sealability, prefered design for dynamic sealing
    of gas/vapor
  • Beveled lip reduces probability of seal lip damage during installation
  • Should not be used for dynamic sealing of abrasive media
  • May weep in high speed reciprocating applications due to seal
    lip hydroplaning
  • Locks seal into reduced glands
  • Reduced probability of seal lip hydroplaning
  • Low wear rate
  • Good excluder for debris/contamination
  • Requires good lead-in chamfer if hardware is installed lip first
  • May weep light fluids or gases
  • Low wear rate
  • Redundant seal lip design
  • Trapped fluid between contact points provides added
    lubrication to seal
  • Should not be used for dynamic sealing of abrasive media
  • May weep in high speed reciprocating applications due to seal
    lip hydroplaning
  • Improved sealability over D style lip
  • Preferred lip design for dynamic sealing of abrasive media
  • Reduced probability of seal lip hydroplaning
  • Requires good lead-in chamfer if hardware is installed lip first
  • Lip design must be used in combination with other lip style
  • High load of helical wound spring improves sealability
  • Suitable for sealing cryogenic gases and fluids
  • Radius lip reduces probability of seal lip damage during installation
  • Should not be used for dynamic sealing of abrasive media
  • May weep in high speed reciprocating applications due to seal
    lip hydroplaning
  • High load of helical wound spring improves sealability
  • Preferred lip design for dynamic sealing of abrasive media
  • Reduced probability of seal lip hydroplaning
  • Requires good lead-in chamfer if hardware is installed lip first
  • Lip design must be used in combination with radius lip style

2. Determine if the same sealing lip is appropriate for the static lip. Spring energized seals do not need to be symmetrical.

3. Identify which jacket material is required.

Variables to consider include temperature, chemical, pressure, velocity, and cost.
 Jacket Material*:
Temp. Range
 Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
-260°C
to
260°C
 Carbon/Graphite Reinforced PTFE
-260°C
to
260°C
 Glass/Moly Reinforced PTFE
-260°C
to
260°C
 Bronze Reinforced PTFE
-260°C
to
260°C
 Carbon Reinforced PTFE
-260°C
to
260°C
 KasPex™ PEEK
-70°C
to
260°C
 UHMW-PE
-250°C
to
80°C
4. Select a Spring Design

Our in-house manufacturing typically uses cantilever springs. Helical and Slanted/Canted Coil Springs are available upon request. Additionally, Hi-Tech Seals provides welded springs upon request.


Cantilever Spring (V-Spring or Finger Spring)

A cantilever spring is recommended for dynamic, medium load applications where low friction is desired. The V-shape spring provides constant compression load and is further energized by system pressure.
Helical Wound Spring

A helical wound spring is made from a metal ribbon, which is coiled into a helix. The spring compresses radially producing a very high load versus deflection. The helical wound spring is preferred for static applications or applications where sealability is more of a concern than friction.
Slanted/Canted Coil Spring

A slanted coil spring, also known as a canted coil spring, is manufactured from a round wire that is coiled and angled. The process creates a compression force in the radial direction. The canted coil design is suited for dynamic applications where low friction is critical.
Go to our seal spring dimension charts.



5. Select a Spring Material

Most springs are composed of stainless steel; however, Hastelloy®, Inconel, and Elgiloy® are used in applications that require additional corrosion resistance.