New low friction seal performs in "pod" applications

A new low-friction seal offered by Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. is helping design engineers meet strict weight, wear and performance requirements in "pod" or gimbal-type applications commonly found in manned and unmanned aircraft.

The Bal Seal® spring-energized seal combines unique wear-resistant geometry with SP-83 HT, a specially-formulated polymer-filled PTFE material, to deliver excellent sealing performance and an extremely low dynamic coefficient of friction. The seal's physical and mechanical properties make it ideal for use in rotating turrets, pods and other types of housings, where it can protect sensitive internal components against environmental conditions and contaminants without restricting movement or compromising motor life.

The company says the new seal is designed to deliver effective sealing performance with minimal friction at low speeds, in moderate temperatures (-40F° to +160°F) and in dry or moist environments. It can seal against a variety of materials, hardnesses and finishes, and can be engineered to meet a broad range of media and pressure requirements. Its Canted-coil™ spring energizer exerts a customizable, near-constant force that compensates for wear and improves service life.

To illustrate the seal's function, Bal Seal has produced an animation sequence which can be viewed at http://mediaroom.balseal.com/vod21