Compression Seal Fitting - Components

Components

A very basic compression seal fitting is composed of four mechanical parts:

• The body, which holds the elements being sealed and enables the other components to compress into it.
• The cap, which secures the sealant and follower into the body. Most importantly, when it is torqued into the body, it pushes the follower into the sealant which creates the axial force and creates the seal.
• The follower, which is pushed into the sealant from the torque on the cap and compresses the sealant. The sealant then fills all void spaces around the element and between the body.
• The soft sealant (a solid rubber-like component, not a liquid or paste), which surrounds the elements being sealed and when it is compressed by axial force, a hermetic(airtight) seal is created. The continuous tension in the torqued body acts like a spring to maintain compression on the sealant and maintain a positive seal. Some soft sealants include Neoprene, Viton, Teflon, Lava and Grafoil. The appropriate sealant for a gland depends on the environment you are trying to seal against.

A single compression seal fitting may seal on a single or multiple elements. Sealing glands designed to seal on single elements consist of a body, cap, sealant and follower. When sealing on multiple elements, gland designs also include a seat and an anti-rotation pin to prevent wires/conductors from twisting and shearing. One or more insulators may also be included when electrical isolation is required.