Simrit Enhances Durability and Dependability of Diesel Engine Crankshaft Seals

PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 15 -- While many engineers consider polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) crankshaft seals as the industry standard for diesel engines, Simrit -- the industrial products division of Plymouth, Mich.- based Freudenberg-NOK -- has developed three new seal designs that enhance durability and dependability of the system. These new innovations will be on display at Simrit's booth (#13849) during the International Exposition for Power Transmission (IFPE) in Las Vegas.

"We are able to offer our customers a great depth of expertise because our focus is on industrial sealing -- nothing more, nothing less -- and we are proud to call ourselves the Technology Specialist," said Joel T. Johnson, vice president of technology for Simrit. "These three new innovations in engine sealing are a testament to our ability to think outside the box and to provide our customers with the latest technology advancements."

The first new application to be displayed is what Simrit terms the second- generation of PTFE engine oil seal, uniquely designed to offer substantial performance improvements over its predecessors. The patented new concept allows the PTFE seal to be installed in a non-conventional direction, such as with the lip facing the air side of the system (or in general terms, backwards), which provides installation, contaminant exclusion and performance benefits.

Several improvements were integrated into the PTFE engine oil seal during the design stage, with the main goal being to increase the pumping ability of the seal while lowering the overall load the seal puts on the shaft. Lower loads lead to less heat generation ensuring less wear and longer life.

Also, the seal does not require an installation aid, which greatly reduces the potential for seal lip damage at the time of assembly. It can also be inspected immediately upon installation, resulting in substantial warranty cost savings.

Taking development a step further, Simrit has also integrated other components -- including speed sensors, seal carriers with molded-in gaskets, and multi-pole encoders -- into the seal design to provide a sealing / sensing system that uses the most advanced technology. The new design is robust, lightweight and provides an economical way to measure speed.

  Some of the benefits behind this "smart sealing" product include:
   *  a choice between a passive and active sensor;
   *  a reduction in vibrations;
   *  simplified assembly because of the integration of functions; and
   *  improved supply chain management resulting from the reduction of part
      numbers.

Freudenberg-NOK / Simrit is the only company that manufactures these integrated seals in North America.

Finally, Simrit has adopted a sealing concept that has been proven to work on many Asian vehicles, but is not yet widely used in North America. The company has researched this concept with its global partner -- NOK Corp. of Japan -- and slightly modified the design for its customers' requirements.

The CASCO design, which was developed in collaboration with Freudenberg Europe, has a double spiral helix molded into the axial lip and pumps on a surface perpendicular to the shaft. This helps reduce wear on the seal and increases product life. Johnson said this type of global cooperation allows Simrit to push the envelope of seal performance to match the industry needs.

A market leader in the aerospace, industrial and agriculture/construction market segments, Simrit draws from more than 150 years of experience and well- known brand names including Freudenberg(R), NOK(R), Disogrin(R), Merkel and International Seal(R).

The Simrit division is based at Freudenberg-NOK's headquarters in Plymouth, Mich. Freudenberg-NOK is part of the Freudenberg and NOK Group Companies, which have total annual sales of nearly $7 billion. The global Freudenberg and NOK Group offers an extensive portfolio of precision-molded products for the aerospace, agriculture/construction, appliance, automotive, diesel engine, marine, medical and recreational vehicle markets.

For more information, visit the Simrit website at http://www.simrit.com/ .