When is comes to our inflatable seals at Seal Master, there are three basic directions a seal can inflate or deflate: the axial direction, radial-in direction, or radial-out direction. Each of these three inflation directions has their own set of performance parameters for measurements and are also impacted by the cross-section geometry of the seal as well. A seal that inflates and deflates in the axial direction, or normal to the mounting plane, allows a seal to inflate up and out in order to fill a space.

A radial-in inflatable seal allows for the seal to expand inward and hold items in place. And a seal using the radial-out direction allows the seal to expand outward. Videos demonstrating these three directions our seals inflate and deflate can be found here.

Each of these inflation directions, as noted earlier, has its own parameters when it comes to specific qualities of the seal itself such as the height of inflation (or the “stroke” of the seal) and the centerline bend radius that a seal can negotiate. Using these inflation directions, Seal Master engineers can customize a solution for your specific application on any project where an inflatable seal can assist.