O-Rings

O-RINGS are solid-rubber, doughnut shaped seals. When pressed between two mating surfaces, O-rings block the passage of liquids or gases. O-rings can form a static or dynamic seals. A static seal is where the O-ring does not move and is used simply for containing pressure or maintaining a vacuum. Dynamic seals can be reciprocating (like a piston and cylinder), or rotating (shaft rotating in a housing). Axial squeeze and radial squeeze are two methods for applying an O-ring. An axial squeeze is when the ring is compressed parallel to a line drawn through the center or axis of the ring. In a radial squeeze the ring is compressed between the internal diameter (ID) and overall Diameter (OD).