Rotary Shaft Seals are used to seal rotating shafts, especially in mechanical engineering and in equipment construction, as well as in the motor vehicle industry.

The medium to be sealed can be fluid (grease), liquid or gaseous. Usually the medium to be sealed is lubricating oil and lubricating grease.

The major features are:
1- The cylindrical outer covering of elastomer or rubber. The types with elastometric outer coverings are designed with integral metal inserts (Figure 1); the types with metallic outer surfaces are supplied with the outer diameter ready-drawn or having a ground finish (Figure 2).
2- The spring-loaded sealing lip. This has the function of ensuring static and dynamic tightness against the shaft whilst the latter is either rotating or stationary (Figures 1 and 2). Continual development has led to the optimisation of the sealing lip.
3- An additional sealing lip, if required, for sealing against external exposure to dust and dirt (Figure 1).

In addition to the main requirements for good sealing, further demands are placed upon rotary shaft seals:
· operational reliability
· long working life
· simple fitting
· compatibility towards the media to be sealed
· low friction

The importance given to the following factors in each individual case, and the operating conditions, are critical when selecting a seal:
· the medium to be sealed
· the surface speed
· the temperature
· the pressure
· exposure to external dirt

In cases where higher stresses or special demands occur, the seal should be chosen in collaboration with us because tests to determine the operational reliability are often essential.