Solid gland, easy fit with Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Turcon Variseal SA

Citation

(2007), "Solid gland, easy fit with Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Turcon Variseal SA", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779fad.020

Solid gland, easy fit with Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Turcon Variseal SA

Solid gland, easy fit with Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Turcon Variseal SA The newly developed Turcon Variseal SA (Figure 8) from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions provides a PTFE-based sealing solution said to be suitable for the solid glands preferred by aerospace engineers. This seal claims easy installation combined with high- temperature operation, chemical resistance and low friction, making it suitable for high-frequency applications such as fight control.

Figure 8 The newly developed Turcon Variseal SA from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

To house seals, aerospace engineers favor the use of a solid gland, a simple groove cut into component hardware, to simplify installation. Slipper seals, which are compact in design, can fit into these without a problem. However, the spring energized Turcon Variseal is often a preferred sealing option, because it is thought to have a number of advantages in aircraft applications.

Its jacket of Turcon, the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions proprietary PTFE- based material, is said to be capable of operating in extremes of temperature and is resistant to aggressive aerospace fluids such as synthetic hydrocarbon, petroleum base, phosphate ester and all types of aviation jet fuels. It also reportedly has a very low coefficient of friction, which optimizes sealing load, making it ideal for the high-frequency cycling of primary flight controls.

During installation into a solid gland, seals need to be compressed substantially. Owing to the lip configuration of the Turcon Variseal, the spring energiser within it tends to flare its jacket outwards. This makes installation very difficult without a split gland, especially in smaller diameter housings. The problem is said to be solved with Turcon Variseal SA, which is specially designed for closed glands. Its Slantcoil spring is reportedly not susceptible to compression set and can accommodate more deformation than other springs during installation. While providing all the inherent capabilities of a Turcon Variseal, the Turcon Variseal SA is believed to be suited for fitment in even the smallest diameter Mil-G- 5514F glands.

“The development of Turcon Variseal SA represents a significant product advancement, bringing real benefits to our customers,” says Brian Bowen, Chief Product Engineer responsible for the new product at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Bridgwater. “It expands the use of Turcon Variseal in aerospace applications and as it can directly replace slipper seals or O-Rings in standard grooves, it can give improved performance in existing housings.”

Details available from: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, Tel:+44 (0) 121 746 3621, E-mail: donna.guinivan@trelleborg.com