I L LU S T RAT E D S 0 U R C E B 0 0K of ME C H A N I CAL C 0 M P 0N E N T S

S E C T I O N 13

8 Unusual Applications for O-Rings 13-2

16 Unusual Applications for the O-Ring 13-4
Look at O-Rings Differently 13-6
O-Rings Solve Design Problems I 13-8
O-Rings Solve Design Problems II 13-10
7 More Applications for O-Rings 13-12
Design Recommendations for O-Ring Seals 13-14
O-Ring Seals for Pump Valves 13-16
13-2

8 Unusual Applications for 0-Rings

Playing many different roles, O-rings can perform as protective
devices, hole liners, float stops, and other key design-components.
Robert 0. Parmley

Rope
\

CUSHION: ROPE IN
V-SECTION PULLEY

F/ouf

5 QUICKLY ADJUST FLOAT STOP

0-Rings 13-3
13-4

16 Unusual A ,plications
for the 0-Ring -
This handy little component finds a place in pumps, drives, glands,
shock-mounts, pivots, knobs, valves and seals.
James F. Machen

0
Tapered bore ...
in diecasting, plus loose-fitting O-ring, gives
Sealed pivot ...
allows transmittal of multidirectional, mechanical movement to hydraulically
low-cost pump for low-pressure applications. or pneumatically isolated system. For high-temperature seals, silicone rubber
Exomple: carburetor accelerator-pump. can often solve the problem-but always guard against excessive "set.'

Simple drives ...

utilize not only O-ring but its physical properties also-high friction and elasticity.

Single-ring gland ... Shaft seal ...

is ideal for low pressures and high-
viscosity fluids. If necessary, another
ring may be installed.
may be held by rolling the thin body-wall over the O-ring. Bolt seal (8) i s
squeezed into countersink when bolt i s tightened. Cross-sectional area of
countersink must not be less than that of O-ring since molded rubber is
practically incompressible when confined.

-
One-way pressure ...
applications require O-ring seals to be supported on pressure side only. Seal may be movable (9) as in grease gun,
or static (10) as in pipe plug. Anchor ring to plunger and plug for greater convenience and reliability.
4
Friction grip ...
on knob not only allows better grip but
insulates fingers from heat or electricity.
It olio improves appearance on both mock-
ups and working models.
High-pressure checkvalve ...
shown here cannot allow release of back-
pressure but could be easily modified to
do this by letting valve stem protrude.
0-Rings 13-5
- Pressure
side
Plug
Miniature shock-mount .. .
will isolate equipment from vi-
brations in accordance with be-
havior of visco-elastic materials
Checkvalves ...
may have ball free (A); or spring-
loaded (9). Back pressure will always
force ball onto seat provided that
gravity first helps locate ball on seat.
Heavier-duty checkvalve (14) can be
opened to allow back pressure to
escape if necessary for shutdown etc.
Butterfly valve ...
can become a checkvalve if it i s
unbalanced: otherwise, it will
act as normal two-way valve,
13-6

Look at O-Rings Differently

Sure they’re seals, but they can also do a variety of other iobs
as well as more sophisticated pieces of hardware
Robert 0. Parrnley

0 0 0 0 0 0

5 Cup rest and strainer seal

6 Aligning bumper ~
 0-Rings 13-7

Pressure..
I

I- *.. *

3 Bowlsealing , d

Housing

\
cum /ock

7 Lever stop 8 Chamberseal

fever
13-8

O-Rings Solve Design Problems I

Rubber rings provide for thermal expansion, protect surfaces, seal pipe ends and
connections, and prevent slipping.
Robert 0. Parmley
 0-Rings 13-9

-- - - . I

, .... I I .. .,_ , .. . ,

SEAL$ IN VAPOR DURING FILLING* .

* A -
.a
SEALS !

.. , . . , ,. , ,.... . 1
i
, . , > t .

. . . ~ : .. . . , .:
. . - . I
I ...
i ,
. ,. . . . i t <
13- 10

0-Rings Solve Design Problems II

More examples of how rubber rings provide seals for shafts, lids, nozzles, and elbows,
and also protect corners, cushion metal surfaces.
Robert 0. Parmley

SEAL FOR SLOWLY ROTATING SHAFT

-Th;n rubber or
plastic iube

d-4 & RETAINER FOR TUBE-TO-TUBE CONNECTIONS 5 CLAMP-$AN0 FOR SIMPLE BAG ATTACHMENT
 0-Rings 13-11

/
0-ring compresses when LIQUID- OR AIR-NOZZLE SEAL
screw is tightened

2 LOCKING-SEAL FOR LID ASSMBLY

) swing
creu

Turn handle
{fiuhten for jock msition.
A 8 fhis compressing O-ring)
Fillet curve Exterior curve.

TOP
Adhesive bond rotafor

0 -ring t Component
piece

Typical section

PROTECTIVE MOLDING CUSHION-RING FOR

MADE FROM O-RING SEGMENTS SWIVEL OR LIGHTWEIGHT ROTATING COMPONENTS
13-12

7 More Applications for 0-Rings

For an encore to the roundup in the previous issue, O-rings are shown here performing
in valves, on guide wheels, and as cushioning etc.
Robert 0. Parrnley

LOW-COST VALVE has easily changed O-ring,

Add or subjecf 0-rmgs
plus flutes for liquid flow, and caulked pin (A).
Simpler valve (B) is adequate at less cost.

ION-RINGS for vibration isolation or

lent are quickly adjustable by merely
or removing O-rings from the stack.

Horizontal -application

PROTECTED GUIDE WHEELS are often needed to

guide, move, or align work. An O-ring here
provides both friction and protection.
 0-Rings 13-13

WORKING-TABLE FOR G L A S S or other delicate

materials has O-ring resting pads set into
Furface at over-all or grouped locations.
13-14
Design Recommendations
for 0-Ring Seals
J. H. Swartz
1 Rectangular ) 1 Dovetail
1(upRectangular grooves are recommended for most applica-
tions, whether static or dynamic. Slightly sloping sides
to 5 deg) facilitate machining with form tools.
Where
practical, all groove surfaces should have the same degree of
finish as the rod or cylinder against which the O-ring operates.
The Vee type groove is used for static seals and is especially
effective against low pressures. The dovetail groove reduces
operating friction and minimizes starting friction. The effec-
tiveness of the seal with this groove is critical depending
upon: pressure, ring squeeze and angle of undercut. In
general, the groove volume should exceed the maximum ring
volume by at least 15 percent.
EXTERNAL GROOVES
3-
On small diameters, to facilitate machining, O-ring
3 grooves
on
should be located on the ram or rod rather than
an inside surface. For larger diameters, grooves can he
machined either way. One important factor is that the
rubbing surfaces must be extremely smooth. The recom-
Poor Good
Poor Good
6 T o facilitate assembly, all members which slide over O-rings
should be chamfered or tapered at an angle less than 30 degrees. An
alternative method is to use a generous radius. Such details prevent
any possibility of pinching or cutting the O-ring during assembly.
\
Initial
squeeze
To insure a positive seal, a definite initial squeeze or inter-
2is approximately
ference of the ring is required. As a rule, this squeeze
10 percent of the O-ring cross sectional
diameter d. This results in a ring contact distance of approxi-
mately 40 percent under zero pressure and can increase 'as
much as 80 percent of the cross section diameter depending
on pressure and composition of the ring. Starting friction
can he reduced somewhat by decreasing the amount of squeeze
but such a seal would be only moderately effective at pres-
sures above 500 psi. Table I lists the recommended dimen-
sions and tolerances for O-ring grooves for both static and
dynamic applications.
INTERNAL GROOVES
mended dimensional data in Table 1 and listed under dynamic
seals should he used for these applications. All cylinders and
rods should have a gradual taper to prevent damage to the
O-ring during assembly. Equations are listed for calculating
limiting dimensions for both external and internal grooves.
.
0.060"
min.
radius
Undercut all sharp edges, or cross-
7mustdrilled ports over which O-rings
pass. While under pressure, rings
should not pass over ports or grooves.
 0-Rings 13- 15

Table I-Dimensional Data for Standard AN or J.I.C. 0-Rings

- and Gaskets
I For Static Seals I For Dynamic Seals
I___
Specification
AN 6227 or Nominal
J. I..C.
0-Ring
Riig
Section
Actual
d

Section
Diametral
Squeeze*
C
I
I I C D
Groove
R I 2E I
>ength*:
Dash Number Diameter Diameter (minimum (maximum)
-0.005 I 1-0 001
-1-1-
I 0.07010.003 I I I 1 I
1 to7
8 to 14
15 to27
28 to 52
53 to 88
I
1/16
3132
1/8
3/16
0.015
0.103l0.003 0.017
0 139f0.004 0.022
0.210=1=0.0050.032
0.275%0.006/ 0.049
0.052
0.083
0.113
0.173
0.220
1
I
0.010
0.010
0 012
0.017
0.029
1
1
0.057
0 090
0.123
0.188
0.240
3/32

9132
318
1/64
1164
1/32
3/64 1
0.005
0005
0 006
0 007 !
0.002
0002
0 003
0 004
l/4
-I 1-i
AN 6230 or
J. I. C. gaskets
1 to 52
118 0.139&0.004 0.022
O.Il3 I -- I 3/16 1/32 1 0.006 1 0.003

Note: All dimensions are i inches.

Diametral squeeze is the minimum interference between 0-Ring cross section diameter d and land width C.
**If space is limited, thegroave length D can be reduced
to a dietance equal t o the maximum %-Ring diameter d plus the static scsl sqheeze.

FACE SEAL GROOVES

Fw internol pressure only For pressure or vacuum

(A) tal)
For static face seals, two types of grooves are shown.
4 Type (A) is more commonly used because of simpler ma-
chining. Groove depths listed in Table I under static seals
apply to this application. In high pressure applications where
steel flanges are used, slight undercutting of one face (not
exceeding 0.010 in.) minimizes possible O-ring extrusion.
5doesRadial clearances should never exceed one-half of the
recommended O-ring squeeze even where the pressure
not require the use of a close between sliding parts.
fit
Under these conditions, if the shaft is eccentric (A), the ring
will still maintain its sealing contact. (B) Excessive clear-
ance results in the loss of sealing contact of the O-ring.

Poor Good
POPPET VALVES

cross sect&
rad

(8)
PLUG SEAL

Metal-to-metal contact of the inner

8avoided.
mating surfaces (A) should be 9 Simple stamping (A) pressed in
housing is for low speeds and pres- 10 Rectangular grooves (A) should
be normal to the sealing surface.
Special grooves (B) avoid the washout
Clearances should be per- sures. (B) Chamfered corners of plug
mitted only on inner surfaces (B). makes a recess for an O-ring. of O-rings during pressure surges.
13- 16

0-Ring Seals for Pump Valves

Robert 0. Parrnley

RING
“0”

PIPE

UNION --c____1“““7 ’
\
A-Combination Pump Valve
The CPV O-ring seal fitting (a Navy standard) uses an O-ring which is
inserted in the packing-gland recess on the face or the union which
has been silver-brazed to the end of a pipe. The union and pipe are
sometimes called a “tailpiece.”

HANDLE O-RING

HOSE BIB ;“
\
\
\

\
NOZZLE HEAD
J

\
HOSE

B-Hand-Adjusted Pump Nozzle

The discharge end (nozzle head) of this portable pump unit has
the spray adjusted by manually turning the nozzle head. The O-ring
maintains a positive, water-tight seal for any adjusted position.
 0-Rings 13-17

C-Manual Pump Seal

The O-ring, which is seated by the threaded retainer, provides
a water-tight seal for the up & down action of the piston rod.