Everything breaks. Nothing lasts forever. Both of these statements are true. But are they good reasons to justify something going wrong and resulting in costly repairs?
For reliability and proofing managers, there is no justification. If managers can’t show improved cost savings year after year, they pay the difference out of their own pocket. It sounds like a risky way to make a living, but it does provide an incentive to perform at the highest level.
CinchSeal: One Way to Tip the Scales in Reliability and Proofing Managers’ Favor
In industries that involve processing and bulk handling, one way reliability and proofing managers can give themselves an edge has to do with rotary shaft seals. These seals are often critical to efficient and safe operation.
Over and over, CinchSeal rotary shaft seals have shown the ability to reap savings in industries like food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, ethanol production and pulp and paper manufacturing, to name a few.
Why should you choose CinchSeal?
CinchSeal is the best rotary seal for multiple reasons, including that it:
- Lasts longer, even in the harshest production environments
- Needs less maintenance
- Eliminates leaks
In other words, CinchSeal saves money and the savings multiply with the number of seals in service.
Durability
Compared to lip seals and mechanical packing seals, CinchSeal lasts much longer. They’re designed to reduce the impact of wear and tear by removing the major causes.
For example, other seals are designed to “grab” the rotating shaft and to remain stationary. Over time, the seal damages the shaft, allowing leakage and making expensive repairs necessary.
CinchSeal, on the other hand, features an elastomer that spins with the shaft. By eliminating the single point of contact, the seal also removes the opportunity for damage to occur. Further, polished stainless steel-plated and PTFE rotor cups last longer and reduce the chance of contamination and leakage.
Lower Maintenance
Every piece of equipment requires maintenance but if the work is extensive and has to be done frequently, the cost can be quite high. Maintaining CinchSeal is easy because of its design.
In addition to the spinning elastomer, CinchSeals feature:
- Split internal parts to make future repairs possible without having to remove the bearing, drive and/or gear-box system, saving time and labor costs
- Inherent self-lubrication to keep the production process moving
- Boot-mounted rotor cups that allow the rotary assembly to float with the shaft, thus accepting the ¼” shaft misalignment common to bulk-handling equipment
- Air purging that reduces friction-generated heat by cooling the rotating seal faces, thus prolonging seal life
- Repair kits that require only an elastomer and two PTFE rotor cups to make the seal like new again
These design innovations reduce maintenance and replacement requirements so significantly that CinchSeal is practically maintenance-free for extended periods. The savings in labor and materials can be substantial.
Leak-Free Performance
CinchSeal stops leaks in a variety of ways, thus preventing contamination and keeping the workplace safer by eliminating hazards such as wet floors. The ways that CinchSeal prevents leaks include:
- Silicon elastomer molded slightly smaller than the rotating shaft, forming an interference fit that stops material from leaking out
- Rotor cups that are compressed to optimum load against stationary faces to seal potential leak paths as the elastomer turns with the shaft
- Air or nitrogen purging that closes the sliding interface and prevents material from entering or leaving the seal
Leak prevention is designed into CinchSeal at every vulnerable point. A little extra design expertise and creativity goes a long way.
A Few Last Thoughts
Reliability and proofing managers have a tough job. Keeping the following items in mind can make it a little easier when it comes to rotary shaft seals:
- Consider design elements that prevent damage from the seal’s own parts, which occurs in lip seals
- Pay attention to more than the initial cost of the seal and factor in the overall life expectancy and maintenance outlays
- Look for solutions to leakage at every point in the seal, not just the most obvious
The big picture is essential when considering the year-over-year cost of rotary shaft seals. It boils down to a long-term value.
For over 25 years, CinchSeal has been a major manufacturer of rotary shaft seals for screw conveyors, ribbon blenders and all kinds of bulk handling equipment. CinchSeal products serve as replacements and major upgrades that make the need for machine replacement far less likely.
More information is available by contacting CinchSeal. Quotes and drawings are guaranteed to be available in 24 hours. Custom engineering usually takes 10 days.
