Labyrinth seal is a type of mechanical seal that helps to prevent leakage. An example of such a seal is sometimes found within an axle’s bearing to help prevent the leakage of the oil lubricating the bearing.

A labyrinth seal may be composed of many grooves that press tightly inside another axle, or inside a hole, so that the fluid has to pass through a long and difficult path to escape. Sometimes screw threads exist on the outer and inner portion. These interlock, to produce the long characteristic path which slows leakage.

Labyrinth seals on rotating shafts provide non-contact sealing action by controlling the passage of fluid through a variety of chambers by centrifugal motion, as well as by the formation of controlled fluid vortices. At higher speeds, centrifugal motion forces the liquid towards the outside and therefore away from any passages

If the labyrinth chambers are correctly designed, any liquid that has escaped the main chamber becomes entrapped in a labyrinth chamber, where it is forced into a vortex-like motion. This acts to prevent its escape, and also acts to repel any other fluid. Because these labyrinth seals are non-contact, they do not wear out.

Labyrinth seals are also found on pistons, which use them to store oil and seal against high pressure during compression and power strokes, as well as on other non-rotating shafts.

Oz Labyrinth seals are custom engineered for each application. Design factors include seal arrangement, operating temperatures, pressure, speed and thermal expansion. For more information on Oz Labyrinth seals, please feel free to contact our Brisbane branch office at 07 3290 1846 or email us at sales@ozseals.com.