Sealing Rings: The Lifeline and Safety Guardian of Hydraulic Jacks

Sealing rings are the core components of hydraulic jacks, directly determining their sealing performance, pressure-bearing capacity, and service life. Below is a detailed breakdown of key knowledge about sealing rings:

I. Core Functions of Sealing Rings

  1. 1.Prevent Hydraulic Oil Leakage
    • Ensure hydraulic oil does not leak from the sealed oil circuit, maintaining stable pressure (basis of Pascal’s Law).
  2. 2.Block External Contaminants
    • Prevent dust, moisture, etc., from entering the hydraulic system, avoiding oil contamination and part wear.
  3. 3.Reduce Friction Loss
    • Some seals (e.g., guide rings) minimize hard friction between metal parts, extending piston/cylinder life.

II. Types & Locations of Sealing Rings

Type Location Features
O-ring Static seals (end caps, valve block interfaces) Low cost, high elasticity; fills gaps via compression (seals tighter under high pressure)
U-ring (lip seal) Dynamic seals (piston, piston rod) Lip structure automatically tightens against the cylinder wall under pressure; low friction at low pressure, enhanced sealing at high pressure
V-combo seals High-pressure piston rod seals Multi-layer stacking (3–5 segments); high pressure resistance (>70 MPa), anti-extrusion
Wiper seal Outer end of piston rod Scrapes dust/oil from the rod surface; first barrier against contamination
Guide/wear ring Both sides of piston Prevents metal-to-metal contact; reduces friction and eccentric wear (keeps piston centered)

III. Material Selection & Comparison

Common materials must meet four criteria: ​oil resistance, pressure resistance, temperature resistance, wear resistance.

Material Properties Application Scenario
Nitrile (NBR) Excellent oil resistance (mineral oil); cost-effective; temp: -30°C~120°C Low/medium-pressure jacks (O-rings/U-rings)
Polyurethane (PU) Superior wear/extrusion resistance; high pressure tolerance; poor hydrolysis resistance High-pressure piston seals (U/V-rings)
Fluororubber (FKM) High-temp resistance (-20°C~200°C); chemical/fuel corrosion resistance; expensive High-temp/special oil (e.g., aviation)
PTFE (Teflon®) Ultra-low friction; chemical corrosion resistance; requires rubber elastomer support Guide rings, high-speed seals

IV. Common Causes of Seal Failure

  1. 1.Aging/Cracking
    • Long-term exposure to heat/ozone hardens rubber, losing elasticity (NBR degrades rapidly >120°C).
  2. 2.Extrusion Damage
    • Overpressure or excessive gaps force seals into metal crevices (high-pressure applications require anti-extrusion rings).
  3. 3.Wear/Scratches
    • Oil contamination, piston rod rust, or scoring (scratches >5µm can breach seals).
  4. 4.Improper Installation
    • Overstretching causes permanent deformation; burrs in seal grooves damage lips.

V. Maintenance & Replacement Guidelines

  1. 1.Regular Inspection
    • Check for oil leaks (oil droplets on the rod = main seal failure); weak lifting may indicate internal leakage (piston seal damage).
  2. 2.Cleaning & Protection
    • Retract the piston rod after use; release pressure during storage.
  3. 3.Professional Replacement
    • Replace seals in sets matching OEM size/material; use dedicated tools (avoid forceful squeezing).
  4. 4.Lubrication Requirements
    • Apply hydraulic oil to seals during assembly (dry friction burns lips).

⚠️ ​Warning: Hydraulic oil leaks/seal failure may cause:​
• Sudden load drops (Danger!​)
• Insufficient system pressure (fails to lift)
• Contaminants jamming hydraulic valves

VI. Technological Trends

• ​Composite Seals: e.g., PTFE coating + rubber base (low friction + high elasticity)
• ​Smart Monitoring: Embedded sensors detect abnormal pressure/temperature in seals.
• ​Long-life Materials: Hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) with temperature resistance up to 150°C.

Though small, sealing rings are the “lifeline” of hydraulic jacks. Proper selection and maintenance significantly enhance reliability—especially in automotive repair and heavy machinery, where safety redundancy is paramount!​Jack seal

 

Sealing rings are the core components of hydraulic jacks, directly determining their sealing performance, pressure-bearing capacity, and service life. Below is a detailed breakdown of key knowledge about sealing rings:​I. Core Functions of Sealing Rings​
1.​Prevent Hydraulic Oil Leakage​• Ensure hydraulic oil does not leak from the sealed oil circuit, maintaining stable pressure (basis of Pascal’s Law).2.​Block External Contaminants​• Prevent dust, moisture, etc., from entering the hydraulic system, avoiding oil contamination and part wear.3.​Reduce Friction Loss​• Some seals (e.g., guide rings) minimize hard friction between metal parts, extending piston/cylinder life.
​II. Types & Locations of Sealing Rings​TypeLocationFeaturesO-ringStatic seals (end caps, valve block interfaces)Low cost, high elasticity; fills gaps via compression (seals tighter under high pressure)U-ring (lip seal)Dynamic seals (piston, piston rod)Lip structure automatically tightens against the cylinder wall under pressure; low friction at low pressure, enhanced sealing at high pressureV-combo sealsHigh-pressure piston rod sealsMulti-layer stacking (3–5 segments); high pressure resistance (>70 MPa), anti-extrusionWiper sealOuter end of piston rodScrapes dust/oil from the rod surface; first barrier against contaminationGuide/wear ringBoth sides of pistonPrevents metal-to-metal contact; reduces friction and eccentric wear (keeps piston centered)​III. Material Selection & Comparison​Common materials must meet four criteria: ​oil resistance, pressure resistance, temperature resistance, wear resistance.MaterialPropertiesApplication ScenarioNitrile (NBR)Excellent oil resistance (mineral oil); cost-effective; temp: -30°C~120°CLow/medium-pressure jacks (O-rings/U-rings)Polyurethane (PU)Superior wear/extrusion resistance; high pressure tolerance; poor hydrolysis resistanceHigh-pressure piston seals (U/V-rings)Fluororubber (FKM)High-temp resistance (-20°C~200°C); chemical/fuel corrosion resistance; expensiveHigh-temp/special oil (e.g., aviation)PTFE (Teflon®)Ultra-low friction; chemical corrosion resistance; requires rubber elastomer supportGuide rings, high-speed seals​IV. Common Causes of Seal Failure​
1.​Aging/Cracking​• Long-term exposure to heat/ozone hardens rubber, losing elasticity (NBR degrades rapidly >120°C).2.​Extrusion Damage​• Overpressure or excessive gaps force seals into metal crevices (high-pressure applications require anti-extrusion rings).3.​Wear/Scratches​• Oil contamination, piston rod rust, or scoring (scratches >5µm can breach seals).4.​Improper Installation​• Overstretching causes permanent deformation; burrs in seal grooves damage lips.
​V. Maintenance & Replacement Guidelines​
1.​Regular Inspection​• Check for oil leaks (oil droplets on the rod = main seal failure); weak lifting may indicate internal leakage (piston seal damage).2.​Cleaning & Protection​• Retract the piston rod after use; release pressure during storage.3.​Professional Replacement​• Replace seals in sets matching OEM size/material; use dedicated tools (avoid forceful squeezing).4.​Lubrication Requirements​• Apply hydraulic oil to seals during assembly (dry friction burns lips).
⚠️ ​Warning: Hydraulic oil leaks/seal failure may cause:​​• Sudden load drops (Danger!​)• Insufficient system pressure (fails to lift)• Contaminants jamming hydraulic valves​VI. Technological Trends​• ​Composite Seals: e.g., PTFE coating + rubber base (low friction + high elasticity)• ​Smart Monitoring: Embedded sensors detect abnormal pressure/temperature in seals.• ​Long-life Materials: Hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) with temperature resistance up to 150°C.​Though small, sealing rings are the “lifeline” of hydraulic jacks. Proper selection and maintenance significantly enhance reliability—especially in automotive repair and heavy machinery, where safety redundancy is paramount!​


Post time: Aug-12-2025