Custom Designed & Manufactured Nitrile Mechanical Seal for a Washing Machine Tub

Clark Seals Ltd. was contacted by the largest manufacturer of commercial laundry equipment with a problem they were having with seals leaking in sandy environments. Sand was getting between the sealing surfaces of the mechanical seal, grooving the face and causing leakage.

To solve the problem, we designed a custom two-piece integrated sealing solution that sealed against the top and bottom of the tub. The top seal was designed to press-fit around the tub bearing to improve alignment between the transmission, tub and agitator and a triple sealing lip to prevent water, sand and debris from entering the bearing cavity. The bottom seal was designed with a locking pin to resist torque and press-fit into the top seal during installation. To further reduce sand and other contaminants, our engineers developed and patented a unique negative "R"; sealing lip geometry that allowed the sprung lip to perform as an excluder lip and keep all sand out of the sealing environment.

The end result was a patented sealing solution that eliminated warranty claims, cost 80% less and lasted more than 700% longer than the mechanical seal it replaced.

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Washing Machine Tub Seal

Washing Machine Tub Seal Drawing

Custom Designed & Manufactured Seal Specifications

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