Edited by Stephen J. Mraz
The key to the line of canted-coil Bal- Springs from Bal Seal Engineering Co. Inc., Foothill Ranch, Calif. (balseal.com), is the spring (or energizer) that surrounds the lip of the seal. Its design ensures spring force remains nearly constant over a relatively wide deflection range. So as the seal jacket wears from use, the spring goes on providing the same sealing force. And different spring materials and designs are available, so users can choose the right seal for their application. For example, springs can be made of various steels, beryllium copper, Hastelloy, Inconel, or titanium. There are also six different types of spring designs that let users optimize for friction, sealing ability, wear characteristics, pressures (including vacuum), and speeds.
