How to find the right Labyrinth Seals AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Labyrinth Seals
- Shaft and housing dimensions
- Order to the exact shaft diameter and housing bore, plus the axial space available in front of the bearing Labyrinths and bearing isolators are non-contact and depend on tight, specified clearances. Near-fit sizes do not work.
- Lubrication regime
- Use for splash or oil-mist lubricated and grease-lubricated housings. Do not use where the seal is flooded or must hold pressure. A labyrinth slows leakage and exclusion through a tortuous path. It is not a pressure seal like a lip or mechanical seal.
- Drain/expulsion port orientation
- Install with the drain port at the bottom (6 o'clock) unless the maker specifies otherwise A mis-oriented isolator cannot return oil to the sump or expel contaminants.
- Material
- Bronze or stainless steel for general industrial and washdown use; PTFE-based for chemical exposure The material sets corrosion resistance and spark behaviour. Some hazardous areas require non-sparking materials.
- Shaft movement
- Check the isolator's allowable shaft runout, misalignment and axial float against the equipment Movement beyond the design clearance causes rotor-stator contact and wear.
Brands that matter
- Inpro/Seal: Originator of the labyrinth bearing isolator, widely specified on pumps and motors.
- AESSEAL: LabTecta bearing protector line alongside its mechanical seals.
- Garlock: ISO-GARD bearing isolators and other industrial sealing.
- SKF: Labyrinth and taconite seals made for its own bearing housings.
What to avoid
- Using a labyrinth seal where the housing is flooded or pressurised
- Generic isolators without a published shaft and bore size
- Ignoring the drain orientation on installation
Questions
Why does a labyrinth seal still weep a little?
It is non-contact by design. It trades a near-zero-wear, frictionless seal for small clearance leakage, so some seepage under the wrong conditions is expected.