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ELF seal hits the market
groove technology with Sealol welded metal bellows, resulting in a seal that eliminates face contact and wear and offers precise face loading and resistance to hang-up. The Type 285 seal operates on a gas film. The small amount of heat generated at the seal interface vapourises the fluid. The spiral grooves gather and compress the gas. As the gas is forced towards the closed groove ends, the pressure rises and creates a gas cushion, separating the sealing faces. This spiral groove technology also minimises product loss, reduces power consumption and eliminates the need for costly support systems.
Replacement for paper gaskets, "always works" The search for a replacement gasket was found close to home when IMI Fittings redesigned its Aquadapt water valve to reduce weight. Liquid gaskets, formed from Loctite 574 already in use at the IMI factory were found to overcome problems with paper gaskets.
Sealing TechnologyNo. 71
Difficult cryogenic pump startup conditions are combated by the seal's face alignment capabilities. A floating carbon ring and positive drive eliminate torque transmitted to the bellows. An anti-spark sleeve, constructed of a special grade of tin bronze, provides safe operation, meeting liquid oxygen safety standards. The seal has been found to operate reliably at temperatures from -196 °C (-320 °F) to ambient, at pressures up to 7 bar g (1 O0 psi g) and speeds up to 10 000 rpm. Contact: John Crane,6400 Oakton Street, Morton Grove, IL 60053, USA.Tel:+1 847 967 2400; Fax: +1 847 967 3915.
The need for a better seal became apparent when IMI Yorkshire Fittings' Aquadapt gunmetal valve was redesigned. "We wanted a smaller lighter, more user-friendly unit", explained IMI's technical manager Steve Mather. "This meant the bolt pattern changed - the distance from the central area to the perimeter screw holes were extended. Since we had also reduced the flange thickness to meet our design target of 50% less weight, the flanges bowed slightly when the four M5 stainless steel clamping screws were tightened." To seal the flanges by compressing the paper gasket required a torque which exceeded the strength of the threads tapped into the valve body. Consequently the threads stripped.
ELF seal hits the market
Tom Willaredt of Messer in San Diego, California, USA installed two ELF seals into troubled applications where conventional seals were used. According to Willaredt, the results have been outstanding. "We had been replacing seals at least once per month because of higher suction pressures and difficult argon applications, so when ACD asked us to test the ELF seals, we accepted. We installed the ELF seals last year and the pumps are still running with the same seals. The ELF seals are a significant improvement over anything we have used," he said. The ELF seals use an aerospace grade carbon on a new welded bellows assembly that mates with a new sintered silicon carbide composite ring seal.
ACD has introduced its Extended Life Flex (ELF) seal. In development and testing for more than a year, the ELF seal features a new bellows assembly and rotating ring. ACD daims that the wear rates for the ELF seal are significantly better than those for other mechanical contacting seals currently on the market. To accomplish this, ACD tested more than 20 combinations of contacting materials used between the nosepiece of the bellows and ring seals. Testing revealed significant wear patterns on conventional materials. As a result, ACD expanded its search to include materials used in the aerospace industry. These materials yielded positive results in both inhouse and field-testing.
696 7840; Fax: +1 909 698 7484.
Loctite 574 was already used at the IMI factory in Leeds, UK for general maintenance work. When
applied to the valve's smooth milled gun metal flanges, the sealant filled gaps up to 0.5mm. It gave an instant
Contact: ACD, 25720 JeffersonAvenue, Murrieta, CA 92562 USA.Tel: +1 909
(~
Replacement for paper gaskets, "always works" The search for a replacement gasket was found close to home when IMI Fittings redesigned its Aquadapt water valve to reduce weight. Liquid gaskets, formed from Loctite 574 already in use at the IMI factory were found to overcome problems with paper gaskets.
Sealing TechnologyNo. 71
Difficult cryogenic pump startup conditions are combated by the seal's face alignment capabilities. A floating carbon ring and positive drive eliminate torque transmitted to the bellows. An anti-spark sleeve, constructed of a special grade of tin bronze, provides safe operation, meeting liquid oxygen safety standards. The seal has been found to operate reliably at temperatures from -196 °C (-320 °F) to ambient, at pressures up to 7 bar g (1 O0 psi g) and speeds up to 10 000 rpm. Contact: John Crane,6400 Oakton Street, Morton Grove, IL 60053, USA.Tel:+1 847 967 2400; Fax: +1 847 967 3915.
The need for a better seal became apparent when IMI Yorkshire Fittings' Aquadapt gunmetal valve was redesigned. "We wanted a smaller lighter, more user-friendly unit", explained IMI's technical manager Steve Mather. "This meant the bolt pattern changed - the distance from the central area to the perimeter screw holes were extended. Since we had also reduced the flange thickness to meet our design target of 50% less weight, the flanges bowed slightly when the four M5 stainless steel clamping screws were tightened." To seal the flanges by compressing the paper gasket required a torque which exceeded the strength of the threads tapped into the valve body. Consequently the threads stripped.
ELF seal hits the market
Tom Willaredt of Messer in San Diego, California, USA installed two ELF seals into troubled applications where conventional seals were used. According to Willaredt, the results have been outstanding. "We had been replacing seals at least once per month because of higher suction pressures and difficult argon applications, so when ACD asked us to test the ELF seals, we accepted. We installed the ELF seals last year and the pumps are still running with the same seals. The ELF seals are a significant improvement over anything we have used," he said. The ELF seals use an aerospace grade carbon on a new welded bellows assembly that mates with a new sintered silicon carbide composite ring seal.
ACD has introduced its Extended Life Flex (ELF) seal. In development and testing for more than a year, the ELF seal features a new bellows assembly and rotating ring. ACD daims that the wear rates for the ELF seal are significantly better than those for other mechanical contacting seals currently on the market. To accomplish this, ACD tested more than 20 combinations of contacting materials used between the nosepiece of the bellows and ring seals. Testing revealed significant wear patterns on conventional materials. As a result, ACD expanded its search to include materials used in the aerospace industry. These materials yielded positive results in both inhouse and field-testing.
696 7840; Fax: +1 909 698 7484.
Loctite 574 was already used at the IMI factory in Leeds, UK for general maintenance work. When
applied to the valve's smooth milled gun metal flanges, the sealant filled gaps up to 0.5mm. It gave an instant
Contact: ACD, 25720 JeffersonAvenue, Murrieta, CA 92562 USA.Tel: +1 909
(~