RBT-10 Rubber Bellows – Durable Mechanical Seal Solution
RBT-10 Rubber Bellows – Durable Mechanical Seal Solution
Overview
The RBT-10 is designed as a close-coupled water seal and is supplied with a rubber bellows and friction-drive collar which engages with the shaft to provide rotational movement to the seal faces.
The seal has a number of design features including a monolithic seal face and is supplied with a stationary seat as standard, suitable for use in Johnson water pumps.
Product Description
Technical Specifications
| Seal Shaft Sizes | 0.47” – 2.17” |
| Inboard Seal Face Combination | Car/SiC, Car/Cer, SiC/SiC |
| Bellows | EPDM |
| Shaft Speeds | Up to 10 m/s |
| Pressures | Up to 5 barg (73 psig) – Shaft Size Specific |
Typical Applications & Industry Use Cases
The RBT-10 is a flexible rubber-bellows mechanical seal designed for general-purpose pumping applications. Its elastomer bellows construction provides excellent flexibility, ease of installation, and strong vibration-absorption characteristics. This makes the seal ideal for equipment with minor shaft misalignment or runout, as the bellows naturally compensates for axial movement while maintaining face contact.
Industries Served
Water supply and irrigation systems
HVAC and building services pumping
Light industrial fluid transfer
Wastewater handling for non-abrasive fluids
Food, beverage, and general processing equipment (based on elastomer compatibility)
Equipment & Use-Case Scenarios
- Small to medium centrifugal pumps that handle clean or slightly contaminated liquids
- Motors or pumps with minor shaft deflection, where a flexible bellows improves sealing reliability
- Low-pressure, moderate-temperature applications where elastomer bellows outperform rigid secondary seals
- OEM pump designs requiring an economical, easy-to-install sealing solution
- Applications where quick replacement and minimal alignment requirements are beneficial
Why It Fits These Applications
- The rubber bellows acts as both a sealing element and a drive mechanism, ensuring positive shaft engagement without complex hardware.
- Its flexibility helps maintain proper seal-face alignment even when the shaft is not perfectly centered.
- The design eliminates the need for secondary sliding seals, reducing the risk of leakage from elastomer wear under moderate conditions.
- A compact overall form makes it ideal for pumps with limited stuffing-box space or simplified seal housings.
Installation Guidelines
Inspect and clean the shaft and seal housing thoroughly before installation; remove any corrosion or residue.
Apply a light lubricant compatible with the elastomer to facilitate installation over the shaft without distorting it.
Position the seal at the correct working length, ensuring the bellows is not stretched or compressed after assembly.
Tighten all retaining components evenly to avoid cocking the seal faces or distorting the bellows.
Conduct a slow, controlled startup to confirm proper sealing, checking for vibration, leakage, or abnormal temperature rise.
Maintenance & Inspection Best Practices
- Periodically inspect the bellows for hardening, cracking, swelling, or chemical degradation.
- Examine seal faces for wear patterns, scoring, or thermal damage; replace when wear becomes excessive.
- Monitor pump alignment and vibration levels — excessive vibration can accelerate bellows fatigue.
- Replace elastomer components proactively if operating near the upper limit of the material’s temperature or chemical resistance.
- Avoid dry running, which can lead to rapid seal-face damage and premature bellows failure.
Service & Support Options
- Pre-selection assistance to ensure elastomer compatibility with the process fluid.
- Availability of replacement bellows, seal faces, springs, and supporting hardware for quick rebuilds.
- Installation support to verify correct working length, alignment, and seal orientation.
- Preventive maintenance programs for facilities running multiple pumps using rubber-bellows seals.
- Recommend upgrade paths if process conditions become more demanding (e.g., higher temperatures, abrasives, aggressive chemicals).
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Contact HydroMax Seal
Contact HydroMax Seal today for innovative solutions, expert guidance, and over a century of engineering excellence. Your journey to mechanical sealing excellence starts with HydroMax Seal!
E-Mail: sales@hydromaxseal.com
Address: 18511 Beaumont Hwy Building D
Houston, TX
77049
