Development and mass-production of RD3 seal with superior sealing capability for compressor pulley bearing
～Application to other bearing types planned～

JTEKT Corporation has developed a new "RD3" seal that features both low torque and excellent sealing capability and has begun mass-production of this seal for application on bearings for automotive air conditioning compressor pulleys. In addition, because its superior performance has been confirmed in the market, JTEKT is standardizing this seal and expanding application to idler bearings, etc.

Features such as high-speed rotation and resistance to heat, water, dust, and grease leakage are required of bearings used in automotive air conditioner compressor pulleys, and because the pulley is often located near the engine bottom, requirements concerning water resistance in particular are severe. The RD3 seal, in which the double-lip structure of the conventional product has been replaced with a triple-lip structure, meets these requirements fully while also retaining the low-torque feature of the conventional product. In order to secure proper tension and flexibility during rotation, the main lip's length and sliding surface interference have been optimized based on CAE analysis of the centrifugal force exerted on the main lip during outer ring rotation. Also, overall water resistance has been improved by strengthening the main and sub lip labyrinths with the seal grooves.

Having confirmed the superior sealing performance of the RD3 seal on bearings for automotive air conditioning compressor pulleys, JTEKT plans to expand application of this seal to idler bearings and other bearings with outer ring rotation.