Shaft Seals, MECO

MECO Custom-Engineered Shaft Seals for Rotating Bulk Processing Equipment

News Release from: MECO Shaft Seals/Woodex Bearing Company
29/11/2007

While pump shaft sizes are standardized, mixer shafts are not. For this reason, MECO offers its custom shaft seals for slow-turning bulk processing equipment, including mixers, blenders, reactors, conveyors, dryers, bucket elevators, grinders, crushers and agitators. Recognizing that no standard seals will work properly in every application, MECO engineers specify the design and construction materials for each seal according to precise shaft diameter, speed, clearance, process chemistry, temperature, pressure, etc. Seal materials are chosen from a variety of specialty and hardened alloys, bearing-grade plastics and specialty elastomers. FDA materials are available. Engineers select the optimal, patented seal design to suit each application. Factors such as thermal growth of the shaft and process pressure variations are calculated in to the designs. A wide range of shaft diameters can be retrofitted. Seals use different gas barrier fluids, at very low flow rates (5 ±5 litres per hour).

Originally developed for screw conveyors, MECO seals solve problems caused by shaft run-out or misalignment by accommodating 6 mm diametric run-out or more in the design of its seals. MECO seals are most often used to retrofit equipment where a packing gland has failed repeatedly due to shaft run-out. MECO seals are available either partially or fully-split so that installation and rebuilding are quick and easy. In sanitary applications, seals can be removed for daily cleaning where required. MECO seals are ideal for applications requiring vacuum containment, often increasing machine efficiency dramatically.