A guide to wiper seal varieties

The vital role of wiper seals in the hydraulic cylinder should not be underestimated. The selection and sizing process should be carefully considered, so here Martin’s Rubber Company gives you some useful tips on how to choose the right scraper seal. Wiper seals (also known as wiper scraper seals or scraper seals) are axial seals that form a tight fit but still allow a reciprocating ram rod to pass through the seal’s inner bore. Commonly used in hydraulic cylinders to scrape dirt, chips or moisture from piston rods, wiper seals essentially prevent any potentially damaging contamination from entering the sealing system.

Wiper seal selection

Foreign bodies entering the seal housing can damage the rod, cylinder and other seals operating within the system. This can often lead to expensive – and sometimes dangerous – results. Damage to rods, cylinders and the seals that operate on them usually starts from a failed or inappropriate wiper seal. When choosing a wiper seal, consideration needs to be given to the environment expected, the friction losses acceptable, and whether energisation is necessary. It is important to choose the correct material for the application, and consider the environment in which it will be operating. There are a range of clip-in, multi step wiper seals (like our A101, A102 and A103 varieties) that utilise an interference fit on the rod to provide an accurate closure and thus a reliable seal to protect against the penetration of dirt and dust whilst still allowing the backflow of a residual oil film.

Scraper seal sizing

It is worth taking a look at our standard profiles, where you will find our standard wiper seals listed including A101-A103 conforming to BS 6852:1987 & BS ISO 6195:2013 type E. These styles can be rapidly manufactured in a variety of different materials depending on the application. We also stock standard products for immediate shipment. If you have a seal to measure, for example an A101, simply provide the A, B, C and E dimensions so that we can offer a suitable alternative to your part. If you can measure the housing for the seal and provide the D, E, F and G dimensions, this allows us to calculate a suitable seal size for the application. If there are any part numbers on the seal, please give these as well since we have an extensive library of information that we can cross reference. We also need to know the likely operating conditions for the seal, so that we can give you the best advice. Check out our guide to wiper seals for more information about how to correctly size your wiper seal. Contact us today on 023 8022 6330, or email [email protected], for more information about all our rubber manufacturing services and products.

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