The Different Types of Bearing Seals

Bearings are used in a wide range of applications each in their own unique environment. Contaminants like water or dust, and foreign matter can easily enter an unprotected bearing. Bearings without a sealing device can fail dramatically and quickly. Bearing operation will be adversely affected as heat increases and lubricant deteriorates.

Sealing a bearing can be accomplished with seals or shields. Seals unlike shields come in a variety of materials and types. Shields are manufactured from metal and are non-contacting whereas seals are shields with a rubber bonded to its outer surface. Seals can be manufactured as full, light or slight or no contact and may have a variety of customized features depending upon the manufacturer.

You must look at a few key considerations when choosing a bearing seal.

What are the seals characteristics and how are they important to bearing and sealing performance? What impact does the seal have on the amount of friction created? Generally sealing devices for rolling bearings fall into two main classifications: non-contact seals and contact seals. 

High sealing performance or contact seals cause a relatively greater increase in friction, and low-friction seals or non contact seals have lower sealing performance. 

Typical Seal types

Standard ball bearing seal types shown below. Other types or similarly designed seals may be used in housings and roller bearings.

As a rule, bearing seals have two main functions which are to prevent lubricating oil or grease from leaking out and to prevent dust, water and other contaminants from entering the bearing.

Additional considerations include seal peripheral speed, shaft fitting errors, space limitations, seal friction and resultant heat increase, and cost. 

Non-contact seals and shields have a very small clearance between the inner ring and the enclosure being either a seal or shield. In the case of non contact seals or shields friction is negligible to non-existent. This type of seal is very suitable for high speeds.

Contact seals have a lip which fully contacts the inner ring where the pressure of the synthetic rubber acts as a barrier for grease retention and the prevention of particles entering the bearing сontact seals can be considered superior to non-contact seals in sealing efficiency, although their friction torque and temperature rise coefficients will be higher. Also when the lip portion of a contact seal rotates contacting the inner ring, the allowable seal peripheral speed will vary. Keep in mind that lubrication is necessary at the contact surface between the lip part of the contact seal and the inner ring. Ordinary bearing lubricant can be used for this purpose.

Types of designations for shields are Z and ZZ  where in this case a metal shield plate is affixed to the outside ring. For common seal designations you will find in many catalogs RS, 2RS, LB, LLB, LU and LLU. For sealed bearings the Inner ring incorporates a V-groove and labyrinth clearance. The outer ring incorporates synthetic rubber molded to a steel plate where the seal edge contacts the V-groove along the inner ring surface. LLU and and contact 2RS seals are excellent for dust proofing and very good for water proofing.

Bearings need to have adequate lubrication to prevent metal to metal contact between the rolling elements, raceways and cages. Proper lubrication prevents wear and helps protect the bearing from corrosion. Sealed bearings with shields or seals filled with grease are the most commonly specified and widely used in numerous applications. Grease has the advantage over oil due to better retention in the bearing. Full contact sealed bearings are referred to as lubricated for life and therefore maintenance free. Sealed or shielded bearings for normal, and medium loads are highly produced and therefore have low production costs. Common applications for standard sealed 600 and 6200 series bearings include electric motors, drills, pumps and fans.

Allowable lip speed and operating temperature range of bearing seals

Specialized Seal Types

For highly contaminated environments, SKF offers a three-barrier solution shown in the following example.

The first barrier is an external housing seal, the second barrier is the grease fill captured in the housing, and the third barrier is the integral bearing seal. For highly  contaminated environments, the SKF 3 barrier sealing solution will significantly extend bearing service life. 

NSK’s special low friction seal

NSK  has developed a seal it claims is both high in sealing performance and provides low friction. For most manufacturers this would be difficult as you may have one of these features at the expense of the other.

Shown on the left NSK developed the new low friction yet high sealing performance seal. Normally as I stated earlier a high sealing performance seal causes more  friction due to its high contact. Low-friction seals have lower sealing performance due to its lighter contact. Now NSK offers an option for customers to get both an effective seal but not at the expense of increased friction.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Seal

Selecting an appropriate bearing seal demands a proper assessment of the operational environment. The operating speed, denoted often by angular velocity, plays a role in determining heat generation and potential wear rates. The type and viscosity of the lubricant, combined with the expected bearing load (both radial and axial), directly influence the seal’s efficiency and longevity. Furthermore, bearing dimensions, particularly the bore diameter and width, are essential for ensuring a perfect fit and avoiding potential leak paths.

Conclusion

Sealed bearings can have many different designs and features, which are important to the optimal performance in mechanical systems. Engineers equipped with an in-depth understanding of various seal options can make informed decisions tailored to specific applications. The proper selection will result in longer bearing life and prolong the operational efficiency of the bearing assemblies.

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