What is an O-Ring?
An O-ring is a torus, or doughnut-shaped ring, generally molded from an elastomer. O-rings are used primarily for sealing. They are also used as light-duty, mechanical drive belts.
O-Rings are doughnut-shaped devices manufactured from elastomeric compounds such as synthetic or natural rubber. O-Rings are used in mechanical setups to seal flow of liquid or air. O-Rings fix in to the cavities/grooves, and deform accordingly to stop the flow of fluid movement. These cavities are called Glands and are used in one of the two seal designs- axial and radial. O-Rings are capable of sealing enormous pressures as high as 1000 PSI. An O-Ring is marked by its inner diameter, its cross-section diameter, material composition and its material hardness. We at Valleyseal offer a wide range of O-Rings of standard sizes to suit your machine designs. We specialize in designing and production of superior grade O-Rings and gaskets.
We follow following design parameters for producing O-Rings
The O-Ring must be compressed by fix amount as this compression determines the O-Ring cross section diameter.
The inner diameter of O-Ring is almost similar to the inner diameter of the groove. This allows O-Ring to stretch and stick to the groove.
The O-Ring cross-section diameter must be smaller than groove width to allow the radial expansion of the O-Ring when it is pressed in the cavity.
After finding out cross-section diameter and inner diameter of the O-Ring specific O-Ring are selected from the A S 568A Standard. If the desired O-Ring is not available in this standard, then manufacturer catalogs for selection. While checking the O-Ring material, we analyze the anticipated environment in which it will be used. Other factors include chemical behavior, temperature and pressure for developing strong and durable O-Rings.
We produce quality O-Rings for different industries like automotive, defense and semi-conductor to ensure safe operations and reliability. We have a state-of-the-art machine setup and cutting edge technology to produce O-Rings as per SAE AS568A standards and customized O-Rings. From the beginning to the final stage of production our engineers ensure we lend supreme material consistency to our customer needs.
O-Ring applications
In the US O-Ring sizes are managed by SAE. The commonly followed sizes in the O-Ring industry are AS568A.AN6230, AN6290 and AN123856. Aerospace industry uses AS568A standard for its applications. O-Rings find wide use in Vacuum applications.
O-Rings of copper and nickel are used for high vacuum systems below 10-9 Torr. In vacuum applications indium O-Rings are used as rubber becomes hard and brittle at low temperatures. Due to tendency of elastomers to contract under heat and pressure, O-Rings are used in a tangentially compressed state to compensate for contraction.
Advantages of O-Rings:
- They seal over a wide range of pressure, temperature and tolerance,
- Ease of service, no smearing or retightening,
- No critical torque on tightening, therefore unlikely to cause structural damage,
- O-rings normally require very little room and are light in weight,
- In many cases an O-ring can be reused, an advantage over non-elastic flat seals and crush-type gaskets,
- The duration of life in the correct application corresponds to the normal aging period of the O-ring material,
- O-ring failure is normally gradual and easily identified,
- Where differing amounts of compression effect the seal function ()as with flat gaskets), and O-ring is not effected because metal to metal contact is generally allowed for,
- They are cost-effective
- O-Rings are cost-effective and handle enormous pressures
- O-Rings can endure temperatures ranging from -200 degrees Celsius to +250+ degrees Celsius
- Elastomers filled with nano-carbon and molded into O-Rings are apt for high performance applications
- O-Rings are light weight and easy to service with no need for retightening
- O-Rings provide best sealing solutions for a wide range of temperature, pressure and tolerance
- O-Rings breakdown gradually and can be identified easily
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