The development of direct bonding of nitrile rubber compounds to metal inserts during the molding process has made the single lip molded seal a viable probability.
Empirical data was used to formulate design criteria which provided the optimum torque characteristic and sealing capability. Five parameters were investigated during empirical testing which included the static seal torque, seal lip thickness, undercut radius, lip/hub interference, and operational speed.
Housing temperature rise was used to evaluate the influence of parameter variation. The primary contributor to operational temperature was speed, and secondary was seal lip thickness.
Lip/hub interference and undercut radius were major contributors to sealing capability.