The paper shows that a seal of the type referred to operates under hydrodynamic lubrication conditions with a liquid film thickness of obout 0·5 μm. Contact angles of oil against rubber and steel are measured, and it is also shown by experiments with capillaries how a meniscus may be turned inside out to resist pressure. The conclusion is that the liquid film is prevented from leaking by the surface tension of the liquid itself.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
InyE. H.‘A theory of sealing with radial face seals’, Wear197118, 51.
2.
KuzmaD. C.‘Theory of the mechanism of sealing, with application to face seals’, Paper 18 Proc. B.H.R.A. 1969 4th Int. Conf. on Fluid Sealing.
3.
BrkichA.‘Mechanical seals, theory and criteria for their design’, Prod. Engng195021, 85.
4.
RajakovicsG. E.‘On the sealing mechanism of fluid seals’, Paper A6 Proc. B.H.R.A. 1971 5th Int. Conf. on Fluid Sealing.
5.
JaggerE. T.‘Rotary shaft seals: The sealing mechanism of synthetic rubber seals running at atmospheric pressure’, Proc. Instn mech. Engrs1957171 (No. 18), 597–604.
6.
JaggerE. T.WallaceD.HarrisonF.‘A new design of thermocouple for oil film temperature measurements’, Proc. B.H.R.A.1973 6th Int. Conf. on Fluid Sealing.
7.
AndreasJ. M.HauserE. A.TuckerW. B.‘Boundary tension by pendant drops’, J. Phys. Chem.193842, 1001.
8.
BascomW. D.SingleterryC. R.‘The effects of polar-non-polar solutes on the water wettability of solid surfaces submerged in oil’, J. Phys. Chem.196468, 1586.
