Why Use Inflatable Seals
The most beneficial feature of inflatable seals is their ability to apply their own seal pressure. Conventional sealing methods typically rely on the compression of elastomer gaskets to create an effective seal between the surfaces. This compressive stress usually involves the use of bolts or other clamping methods to maintain the compressive stress. The subsequent clamping and unclamping of mating surfaces can be inconvenient and time-consuming.
Inflatable seals, on the other hand, can displace as needed to fill gaps of various shapes and sizes in seconds, forming seals in a fraction of the time compared to conventional sealing methods.
Despite their name, inflatable seals, can be used for applications other than sealing. Some alternative uses include:
* Applying squeezing forces to materials to assist in the movement of objects
* Producing holding or clamping mechanical forces
* Acting as expandable brake calipers to stop rotating equipment
* Moving objects by applying a pushing force similar to an actuator on a conveyor belt
* Gripping and lifting objects when inflated
Because of their versatility, inflatable seals are employed in a wide range of industrial applications, including:
* Bulkhead perimeter seals
* Chemical barriers
* Radiation barriers
* General manufacturing, sealing, and packing
* Underwater installations
* Drilling fluid contamination seals
How Pneumatic Seals / Inflatable Seals Work
An inflatable seal, also known as a pneumatic seal, is a fabric-reinforced hollow elastomeric tube designed to form a liquid or airtight barrier between a mounting and a striking surface. Depending on the application, they can be molded in a concave, convoluted, or flat configuration.
Inflatable seals introduce a pressurized medium from an external source into the cavity of the hollow seal. This inflation pressure causes the seal to displace in three primary directions: axial, radial in, and radial out.
Once fully inflated, the tubing forms a positive seal between the mounting and striking surfaces. When the inflation pressure is removed, the seal deflates and retracts to its original memorized configuration, allowing free relative movement between surfaces.
The most common medium used to inflate seals is air, but some applications may also use various gases, liquids, or gels. The inflation medium is usually administered to the seal via a fitted flexible hose or tubing system.
