Gas springs that enhance comfort are found in a wide range of consumer goods and everyday devices. But in industry, as well, gas springs are increasingly being used to improve process reliability and efficiency. To deliver dependable performance in their respective applications, all gas springs require an absolutely reliable sealing system that corresponds exactly to their specific requirements profile.
The functional principle of a gas spring
The gas spring is a pneumatic spring. It is energized by a highly compressed gas. The system, which is basically of a relatively simple design, consists of a cylinder, piston, piston rod and the closure package with the seal as its core elements. Initially introduced nitrogen generates the service pressure and a few cubic centimetres of – typically synthetic – lubricants assist in performing the desired function. The gas pressure acts on the cross-sections of the piston, which vary in size, and generates a force in the outbound direction of travel when the piston rod enters the the piston. The job of the rod seal is to protect the amount of gas that has been introduced into the cylinder from leakage and to thereby prevent loss of the spring’s functionality.
The GS rod seal: specialist for gas spring applications
The GS rod seal has been specifically developed for the challenging demands of gas spring applications. Apart from small housings, they include long service life and maximum gas tightness with low friction. These properties make the seal, in addition to its use in gas springs, suitable for applications in hydraulic and pneumatic equipment that involve the same demands.
The short contact space of the sealing area guarantees low friction values. Back-up rings or retainers are not required due to the special shape. The seal can be used in both hydraulic and pneumatic systems with oiled air.
The GS rod seal is available in various Parker-Prädifa Ultrathan® (TPU)-compounds and can thus be matched to the respective requirements. It is compatible with the time-tested C1 seal profile and fits into the same housings.
Service life comparison
Compared to conventional seals made from NBR or FKM materials, the GS rod seal reaches an up to 10 times longer service life.
Product benefits
- Excellent wear resistance
- Very low permeation rates
- Very broad media resistance
- Broad temperature range
- Easy assembly
- Suitable compounds available for special requirements of the chemical process industry and the food industry
- Installation in closed and undercut grooves
For more information about the GS gas spring seal, please download our brochure
or contact the experts at Parker-Prädifa.
Article contributed by Stefan Reichle,
Market Unit Manager Industrial/Consumer/CPI,
Engineered Materials Group,
Packing Division Europe.