Challenge

A company specializing in medical devices builds swivel systems used for infusion and blood sampling in laboratory research. The system must allow 360° rotation and exhibit low torque. The fluid connections are 20 gauge or smaller with the swivel body less than ¼” diameter. Seals for these swivels must be leak-tight, low friction, and miniature.

Infusion and blood sampling swivel.

Solution

A Chesterton Series 200 – Elliptical Spring-Energized Seal was designed for this application. Since the seal was sized for a gland less than 0.050” in cross-section and low friction was a requirement, an elliptical spring was fabricated as it could be made in a miniature profile with low spring force.  The seal jacket was made from Virgin PTFE and spring from 300 stainless steel.

Chesterton Series 200 – Elliptical Spring-Energized Seal.

Results

Seal performance was verified through functional trials, where Chesterton also assisted in the creation of seal installation tools and guidelines. The Chesterton Series 200 – Elliptical Spring-Energized Seal provided successful low torque sealing per the customer’s test regime and acceptance criteria, ongoing factory acceptance testing, and subsequent performance in the field.

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