The skeleton oil seal may have various failure modes during long-term use. To understand these failure modes and their causes and take corresponding troubleshooting measures is the key to ensure the normal operation of mechanical equipment. The following are common failure modes of skeleton oil seals and their analysis and troubleshooting methods:
Step 1 Wear and tear
Failure mode: Long-term friction between the seal lip and the shaft surface causes wear, and obvious wear marks appear on the seal lip surface.
Reason analysis:
Rough shaft surface: The shaft surface has burrs or rough roughness, resulting in rapid wear of the seal lip.
Shaft material: The shaft material is too hard or too soft, and is not suitable for the friction characteristics of the seal lip.
Poor lubrication: insufficient lubrication or lubricating oil contamination, resulting in increased friction.
Troubleshooting:
Check and polish the shaft surface: Make sure the shaft surface is smooth and free of burrs.
Replace the shaft with the appropriate material: Choose the shaft material that matches the sealing lip material.
Ensure adequate lubrication: Check the lubrication system regularly to ensure that the lubricating oil is clean and the appropriate amount of lubrication is maintained.
Step 2: Aging
Failure mode: Due to long-term exposure to high temperature, ultraviolet light or chemical media, the sealing lip material will age and lose its elasticity and sealing performance.
Reason analysis:
High temperature environment: the working environment temperature is too high, exceeding the temperature range of the material.
Chemical corrosion: Exposure to corrosive chemical media.
Uv exposure: Outdoor equipment is exposed to UV light for a long time.
Troubleshooting:
Choose temperature resistant materials: Choose high temperature resistant fluorine rubber or silicone rubber according to the ambient temperature.
Protective measures: Use chemical resistant materials in corrosive environments, or install a protective cover on the oil seal.
Avoid UV exposure: Use UV protection materials or add a shade on outdoor equipment.
Step 3 Harden
Failure mode: The seal lip material hardens due to aging or overuse, loses elasticity, and fails to fit tightly to the shaft surface.
Reason analysis:
High temperature: The high temperature environment causes the material to harden.
Long-term use: long-term use is not replaced, resulting in aging of the material.
Improper material selection: The material is not suitable for the current working condition.
Troubleshooting:
Replace high temperature resistant materials: choose high temperature resistant fluorine rubber or silicone rubber.
Regular replacement: According to the service life of regular replacement of the skeleton oil seal.
Correct material selection: Select the right material according to the actual working conditions.
Step 4 Tear
Failure mode: The seal lip material is torn due to external forces (such as improper installation or rough shaft surface), resulting in seal failure.
Reason analysis:
Improper installation: No lubricating oil or improper installation tools are used during installation, resulting in damage to the seal lip.
Rough shaft surface: The shaft surface has sharp burrs or bumps that scratch the seal lip.
External impact: During operation, external impact causes the seal lip to tear.
Troubleshooting:
Correct installation: Apply appropriate amount of grease to the seal lip before installation and use the appropriate installation tools.
Polished shaft surface: Ensure that the shaft surface is smooth, without burrs or bumps.
Protective measures: prevent external impact during operation, and install protective devices if necessary.
5. Creep
Failure mode: Under the action of high temperature or high pressure for a long time, the sealing lip material will creep, resulting in reduced sealing performance.
Reason analysis:
High temperature and high pressure environment: the temperature and pressure of the working environment are too high, resulting in material creep.
Improper material selection: Materials not suitable for high temperature and high pressure environments are selected.
Troubleshooting:
Choose materials that are resistant to high temperature and pressure, such as fluororubber or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Strengthen cooling measures: strengthen cooling measures in high temperature environment to reduce the working temperature.
Regular inspection: Check the status of the oil seal regularly, and replace the aging or creep oil seal in time.
Sum up
There are a variety of failure modes for skeleton oil seals, and understanding the causes of these failure modes and troubleshooting methods is essential to ensure the normal operation of mechanical equipment. Regular inspection, correct installation, reasonable material selection and good maintenance are the key measures to reduce the failure of skeleton oil seal and extend its service life. Through the system failure analysis and effective troubleshooting, the reliability and stability of the skeleton oil seal can be significantly improved.