SKF launches integrated monotube seal for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles

Nov. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- SKF (http://www.skf.com/portal/skf_gb/home/), the knowledge engineering company, has launched an innovative monotube seal (http://www.skf.com/portal/skf/home/industries?contentId=515269&lang=en) assembly that has been designed for use with motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), including quad bikes and snowmobiles. The integrated unit can replace multi-component seal assemblies on rear wheel shock absorbers, cutting assembly costs and improving performance.

Until now, rear wheel shock absorbers have had a complex construction with energiser and retaining washers, rubber seal, static outside diameter seal or O-ring, and rubber bumper stops. Each component needs to be installed separately, which is time consuming and requires a large factory inventory of parts. It also increases the potential for premature failure in use.

SKF Project Manager, Paolo Giraudo, explains, “We’ve worked closely with manufacturers of motorcycles and ATVs to develop the integrated monotube seal. The new seal is supplied as a self-contained module, making it easy to install. This cuts assembly times and reduces the inventory of parts. We also make use of advanced materials to provide greater reliability over temperatures from -40°C to +150°C. Combined, these benefits mean reduced assembly costs for our customers and better performance for the owners of motorcycles and similar vehicles”.

The advanced materials used in the integrated monotube seal include HNBR (Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) elastomers with exceptional low temperature capacity, and tough glass-filled polyamide backup rings to withstand high operating pressures and reduce friction and wear. The lip profile of the seal has also been designed to improve performance at low temperatures, while the overall construction helps to cut unit height. This enables the length of shock absorbers to be shortened without affecting their functionality.

For further information, please contact: Phil Burge, Communication Manager, SKF (U.K.) Limited

T: +44 (0)1582 496433 (tel:%2B44%20%280%291582%20496433)   M: +44 (0)7770 647591 (tel:%2B44%20%280%297770%20647591)   phil.burge@skf.com

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SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2011 were SEK 66,216 million and the number of employees was 46,039. www.skf.co.uk