SKF sealing solutions

for industrial gear units

Optimizing performance in any gearbox application environment

The Power of Knowledge Engineering

 Seal performance

SKF sealing application solutions

• Gear motors
• Helical and bevel-helical gear units
• Customized gear units
• Mobile and stationary planetary gear units
is always conditional
Whether you’re an OEM or an end-user, you need gearbox Fig. 1
seals that do not leak and are long-lasting. But given the Principal causes for bearing failure
tremendously wide range of gearbox applications and
operating environments, choosing or developing a seal that 15%
can meet those requirements can be difficult. n Lubrication problem*
36% n Contamination
15% n Corrosion
The same seal that works well in a relatively clean environ- n Geometrical errors
ment can perform poorly in a highly contaminated one. n Mounting problems
n Other
Similarly, a seal designed for use with mineral oil-based 11%
*Influenced by sealing arrangement
lubricants can wear out prematurely if used with synthetic 13% 10%
lubricants.
≈Sealing arrangements contribute to 41% of bearing failures
Finding solutions to accommodate these and other sealing
requirements has traditionally been a big challenge, particu-
larly for larger, customized transmission applications. With A single source for countless requirements
SKF, it’s never been easier. Backed by more than 100 years of industrial applications
and rotating machinery expertise, SKF has developed an
unmatched understanding of the interaction between
Prepare your transmissions for any bearings, seals, lubrication, shafts, housings and operating
challenge with SKF environments. By focusing on how these components and
While SKF is synonymous with high quality bearings, we are conditions function as a system, SKF develops seals that are
also one of the world’s leading producers of high quality optimized for any transmission application.
sealing systems for rotating, reciprocating, static and other
SKF’s proprietary elastomeric compounds, for example, have
applications.
been formulated to resist a wide range of conventional and
For industrial transmission OEMs and end-users, SKF offers synthetic lubricants. SKF seals are also available in an array
a comprehensive range of standard and customized seals for of thermoplastic elastomers, PTFE and plastics. We can work
industrial gear units and gear motors. With both moulded with you to identify and recommend the most appropriate
and machined seal manufacturing capabilities available seal material and profile to operate in your application.
worldwide, SKF can deliver seals in different design styles Additionally, we can work with customers to evaluate sealing
and in quantities ranging from prototypes to serial produc- performance on site, or at one of our global testing facilities.
tion.
Whether you need to develop a new transmission seal or up-
grade an existing one, SKF sealing solutions can help deliver:

• Increased productivity and reliability

• Reduced maintenance and downtime
• Extended seal and asset service life
• Reduced lifecycle operating costs
• Shorter product development times
• Reduced warranty costs
Sealing solutions fit for any application
As Figure 1 shows, the sealing system plays a role in around 41%
of bearing failures. For industrial transmissions, finding a seal that
can withstand harsh and diverse conditions is complicated. Even
different seals in the same unit can face very different operating
requirements – input shaft seals generally endure high speeds and
temperatures, while output shaft seals can face severe contamina-
tion.
Fortunately, SKF offers a proven, comprehensive range of sealing
profiles, materials and services to support greater uptime in any
environment or application.

Radial shaft seals HMS5 and HMSA10

SKF metric rubber outside diameter radial shaft seals HMS5 and
HMSA10 combine a spring-loaded sealing lip and a nitrile rubber
compound (NBR) developed specifically for industrial gearbox
applications. The result is an optimized radial load and wide
compatibility with aggressive gearbox lubricants, all of which help
contribute to superior seal life († fig. 2).
The spring-loaded sealing lip contributes to a quick response in
handling dynamic runout and maintaining the sealing perfor-
mance, even during progressive wear of the lip. The HMSA10
features an auxiliary, non-contacting dust lip that allows the same
operational speeds as the HMS5, but with reduced risk of generat-
ing the excessive under lip temperatures that typically result with a
positive contacting dust lip.
HMS5 and HMSA10 seals are available for the full range of sizes
that include many that meet ISO or DIN standards. For higher
operational speed applications, the same design and size range is
also available in a high performance fluoro rubber compound with
a stainless steel garter spring as standard.

Fig. 2

Average seal life

(as a percentage of baseline, product A)
500

400

300

200

100

0
Product A Product B Product C
Standard NBR High-performance New standard SKF
compound NBR compound compound RG
Low friction seals with SKF Wave lip design SKF Speedi-Sleeve
These metal outside diameter shaft seals feature the Dismantling and re-machining worn shafts can be a time-con-
patented SKF Wave lip design that has a very effective suming, costly proposition. With SKF wear sleeves, it’s also
pumping action to return the lubricant towards the unnecessary:
bearing as the shaft rotates. Compared to conventional
straight edge radial lip seals, SKF Wave seals generate up SKF Speedi-Sleeve – Standard and Gold
to 35% less heat and 20% less friction for better lubrica- SKF Speedi-Sleeve is a thin-walled shaft
tion and a reduced risk of premature seal failures. sleeve with a detachable flange that allows
users to press the sleeve into position over
The seals also feature SKF Bore Tite Coating on the outside
a damaged shaft surface to provide a new
diameter, a non-hardening, water-based acrylic sealant that helps
sealing surface – without power tools,
fill small imperfections in the housing bore.
heating or the need to change seal sizes.
For highly contaminated operating condi-
Heavy-duty custom shaft seals for large diameters tions, SKF Speedi-Sleeve Gold features a
In heavy industries like metals, construction and tougher, special metallic coating that reduces abrasive wear.
mining, keeping lubricants in and contaminants out of
transmissions is a serious challenge. SKF can meet this Large diameter sleeves
challenge with our comprehensive assortment of Designed for the heaviest industrial applications, large diameter
heavy-duty custom shaft seals. The assortment wear sleeves accommodate shaft diameters between approxi-
includes heavy-duty metal-cased seals, rubber outside mately 200 mm (8 in.) and 1 143 mm (45 in.). These robust wear
diameter seals with metal inserts or rubber reinforce- sleeves have a thicker cross-section to reduce the risk of distortion
ment, polyurethane seals and the recently launched all-rubber and require controlled heating for installation and removal.
reinforced HSS seals.
Originally developed as a repair tool, SKF wear sleeves also allow
To handle high temperatures and abrasive contaminants, these OEMs to offer easier replacement options for the end-user,
seals are available in a broad range of elastomers and polyure- particularly for applications with specialized, expensive materials
thanes. Other key features include SKF Springlock and SKF or for applications with high levels of contamination.
Springcover for retaining and protecting the spring.

Machined seals concept

SKF Mudblock seals for Mobile Planetary Drives Providing a fast, flexible alternative to
Planetary gears are frequently used for powering moulded seal production, the machined
mobile wheel or track-driven vehicles. The operational seals concept allows SKF to deliver polymer
environment for these vehicles can often be very seals quickly in virtually any dimension and
severe with immersion into mud and water. design, standard or non-standard, and in
SKF Mudblock is a family of special unitized cassette virtually any gearbox or gear motor
seals for use in greased or oil-filled applications. This application. The concept combines several
self-contained unit has multiple pre-lubricated sealing SKF strengths:
lips and an integral sleeve to provide the optimum running surface, • Application engineering support
and it can be installed in one piece.
• Wide selection of standard and non-standard seal profiles
and materials
V-ring seals
• A unique CNC manufacturing process
V-ring seals from SKF offer an easy-to-install
solution for transmission shaft applications, • Rapid delivery worldwide
including use as a secondary seal in highly con- • Customized solutions, optimized for customer performance
taminated environments. They have no reinforce- requirements
ment, so they can be stretched over the shaft and,
depending on size, pushed over other components.
SKF – your global development partner

Application engineering Flexible manufacturing

Expert SKF application engineers are available worldwide to assist Spanning North America, Europe and Asia, our flexible seal
with seal development projects at every stage. Following a detailed production footprint combines moulded and machined manufac-
analysis of operational requirements, our engineers use an turing capabilities to accommodate virtually any demand. With
extensive application database to find the most suitable sealing competencies in compression, injection and transfer moulding
solution. They can also use SKF Simulator software to explore the technologies, SKF can apply the most appropriate option for your
non-linear behaviour of various sealing materials, which helps to requirements.
predict sealing performance under various conditions.
Along with our extensive moulded seal manufacturing
capabilities, we offer on-demand machined polymer seal
Research and development production at SKF SEAL JET centers and SKF Solution Factory
Because developing optimized sealing solutions requires sophisti- locations worldwide.
cated testing and analysis, SKF operates a global network of
dedicated testing facilities. Every year, these state-of-the-art
laboratories conduct thousands of tests, including durability,
contaminant exclusion, salt fog corrosion, cold fracture, pump rate,
friction torque, dry wear and chemical compatibility.
 See inserts for more details about
SKF solutions for sealing applications
in industrial transmissions.

The Power of Knowledge Engineering

 The Power of Knowledge Engineering These competence areas include bearings and
Combining products, people, and application- units, seals, lubrication systems, mechatronics,
Seals
Bearings
and units
Lubrication
systems
specific knowledge, SKF delivers innovative and a wide range of services, from 3-D computer
solutions to equipment manufacturers and pro- modelling to cloud-based condition monitoring
duction facilities in every major industry world- and asset management services.
wide. Having expertise in multiple competence SKF’s global footprint provides SKF customers
Mechatronics Services
areas supports SKF Life Cycle Management, a with uniform quality standards and worldwide
proven approach to improving equipment reliabil- product availability. Our local presence provides
ity, optimizing operational and energy efficiency direct access to the experience, knowledge and
and reducing total cost of ownership. ingenuity of SKF people.

SKF BeyondZero is more than our climate strategy our customers the SKF BeyondZero portfolio of
for a sustainable environment: it is our mantra; a products and services with enhanced environ-
way of thinking, innovating and acting. mental performance characteristics.
For us, SKF BeyondZero means that we will For inclusion in the SKF BeyondZero portfolio,
reduce the negative environmental impact from a product, service or solution must deliver signifi-
our own operations and at the same time, increase cant environmental benefits without serious
the positive environmental contribution by offering environmental trade-offs.

® SKF, BeyondZero, SEAL JET, SPEEDI-SLEEVE and WAVE are registered trademarks of the SKF Group.
© SKF Group 2014
The contents of this publication are the copyright of the publisher and may not be reproduced (even extracts) unless
prior written permission is granted. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in
this publication but no liability can be accepted for any loss or damage whether direct, indirect or consequential arising
out of the use of the information contained herein.
PUB 51/P2 14952 EN · September 2014
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