BASIC COMPONENTS OF A MECHANICAL SEAL

By
Er. Laxman Singh Sankhla
B.E.Mech., Chartered Engineer
Jodhpur, India
Mail ID: laxman9992001@yahoo.co.in
BASIC COMPONENTS OF A MECHANICAL SEAL.
The sealing of fluids within Mechanical Seals is performed by two discs or
rings. These rings are firmly pressed against each other and their mating
surfaces are extremely flat, they form a seal.
The Primary Ring is usually mounted within the Rotating Sub-assembly and
rotates with the shaft. The Mating Ring is usually mounted within the Stationary
Sub-Assembly and does not rotate. This seal prevents the escape of the pumped
fluids in Pumps.
Mechanical Seals can generally be split into two basic sub-assemblies:

Rotating Sub-Assembly.
This sub-assembly is located within the General Mechanical Seal and is fitted to
the Pump Shaft. This assembly rotates with the Pump Shaft. There are a number
of components and sub-assemblies that make-up the Rotating Sub-Assembly.
Primary Ring It provides the Primary Sealing of the process fluid within the
Mechanical Seal. This is achieved between the Rotating Face of the Primary
Ring and the Stationary Seat of the Mating Ring.
Sleeve.
The Sleeve can be considered as the main component of the Rotating Assembly,
and it is installed on the Pump Shaft. All the other components within the
Rotating Seal Sub-Assembly are either located on or fitted to the Sleeve.
Sleeve O Ring.
The Sleeve O Ring provides a secondary seal between the Pump Shaft and the
Rotating Seal Assembly Sleeve.
Locking Screws.
The Locking Screws firmly locks and clamps the Rotating Seal Assembly to the
Pump Shaft. In doing so, these screws provide torque and drive the Rotating
Seal Assembly.

Seal Tensioning Assembly.

The Seal Tensioning Assembly is connected to the Sleeve at the rear of the
Rotating Seal Assembly. The Seal Tensioning Assembly allows for fine
adjustment in order to correctly set and tension the spring.
Stationary Sub-Assembly.
This sub-assembly is considered to be the main body of the General Mechanical
Seal. It is bolted to the Pump Casing and houses all the seal components and
Sub-Assemblies including the Rotating Sub-Assembly. The Stationary SubAssembly does not rotate with the Pump Shaft. There are a number of
components and sub-assemblies that make-up the Stationary Sub-Assembly, and
they are discribed below as follows:
Gland.
The Gland is the largest component of the Mechanical Seal and is considered to
the the main housing for all other components and Sub-Assemblies.
The Gland is bolted to the Pump Casing at the Stuffing Box.
Gland Gasket.
This Gasket provides sealing between the Gland and the Pump Casing and the
Stuffing Box.
Neck Ring.
The Neck Ring reduces the clearance between the Gland internal bore and the
Pump Shaft.
Reducing the clearance reduces the possibility of ingress of foreign bodies and
dirt entering inside the Seal.
Retaining Ring (Neck Ring).
The Retaining Ring holds the Neck Ring in the correct location.
Mating Ring.
Provides the Primary Sealing of the process fluid within the Mechanical Seal.
This is achieved between the Stationary Seat of the Mating Ring and the
Rotating Face of the Primary Ring.
Mating Ring O Ring.
The Mating Ring O Ring provides Secondary Sealing between the Mating
Ring and the Gland and prevents the escape of process fluid or gas into the
atmosphere.
Gland Ports.
Most Mechanical Seal Glands are machined with a number of drilled and tapped
holes. These specially machined holes are called Ports, and they provide a
number of different functions that assist in enhancing Seal capabilities. These
varieties of functions are listed bellow:
1. Seal Flush. 2. Seal Drain. 3. Seal Barrier. 4. Seal Quench.