Precision Sealing for Naval Radar Slip Ring
The application
Our customer is a globally recognised leader in the design and manufacture of advanced slip ring systems and contactless rotary joints. Their technology ensures the reliable transmission of power, data, and media across a wide range of rotating interfaces. Read more about how our engineers developed a custom spring-energised seal for this application.
For this project, the application was as demanding as they come: a naval radar system operating in some of the harshest conditions on the planet.
Mounted on a naval vessel, the slip ring assembly needed to operate continuously and flawlessly, protecting the electrical components whilst exposed to the elements (seawater, rain and wide temperature fluctuations).
The challenges
As well as these demanding conditions, the application itself had several challenges. A compact seal envelope meant design and installation had to be carefully considered. The seal needed to be durable as it was expected to withstand over 6 million cycles across a 10-year service life. The seal required minimal breakout friction to avoid wear and conserve energy consumption.
This application required a rotary seal with low temperature capability and excellent resistance to oil-based fuels. A design was required to replace the existing seal in the available housing between the rotating metal faces. Therefore a standard spring energised rotary seal would not work in the application; a bespoke design was required.
Our sealing solution
Our engineers developed a custom spring-energised seal, tailored precisely to the application’s needs.
We adapted the Parker Praedifa NLO profile and optimised it with a low-load spring for reduced friction, and a high-performance material formulation offering exceptional wear resistance.
An additional design feature were heel slots allowing for dowel pin integration within the hardware to provide enhanced application stability.
Results
The final design delivered excellent sealing performance, passed all endurance tests, and met the full 10-year lifecycle requirement. It also maintained low friction throughout, ensuring energy efficiency and minimal wear – exactly what’s needed for a radar system where reliability is non-negotiable.
Learn more about our rotary seals HERE.