Alternative to O-ring seals

A unique design, employing only three components (shaft, housing, and ferromagnetic material), means that the SuperseaL is a cost effective replacement for conventional O-ring rotary feedthroughs. By moving to a SuperseaL, the periodic maintenance requirements associated with conventional O-ring seals are eliminated. In addition, vacuum performance and rotational speed capabilities are vastly superior.

• Minimal parts for maximum reliability

• Only two machined parts

• No internal O-rings for a superior seal

• Very low stray magnetic fields

• No magnets in the vacuum

• Vacuum at either end

• High RPM operating speeds

• 2.5 atmosphere differential pressure capacity

• High tolerance to external magnetic fields

 Patented SuperseaL design

Two opposed-polarity magnets are placed within the rotating shaft and the housing (made of ferromagnetic material) is an integral part of the magnetic circuit. A number of carefully formed grooves on the surface of the shaft determine the location of the fluid sealing rings. Because the shaft diameter is larger than the bearing journals in the region containing the magnets and grooves, there is no loss of strength as a result of using a grooved shaft.

The magnets are embedded in a matrix of ferromagnetic shaft material, which acts as a magnetic shunt. The casual observer may think this would weaken the magnetic field in the fluid seal, leading to a very weak seal. However, the reality is that by proper selection of materials and careful design, it is possible to make SuperSeal feedthroughs with very high pressure capacity.