Rotary shaft seal types
Hydrodynamic (wave) lip shaft seals
A hydrodynamic lip carries a waved or patterned form that pumps leakage back under the lip as the shaft turns, instead of relying on contact force alone. Conquest Seal supplies radial shaft seals, also sold as rotary shaft seals, rotary lip seals and oil seals, in inch and metric sizes. Send the part number or drawing and we quote it.
- Family
- Radial lip seals
- Designation
- wave lip
- Lips
- 1
- Dust lip
- No
- Garter spring
- Yes
- Outside diameter
- Metal
- Case
- single or double metal case
- Surface speed
- 25 m/s (4,921 ft/min), rated by SKF® for its HDS large-diameter designs
Radial lip seals
A flexible lip pressed against a rotating shaft by a garter spring, held in the housing by a case. This is what most people mean by an oil seal, and it retains lubricant at low pressure rather than holding pressure.
When to use it
Retaining thin oils, and reducing the heat a straight lip generates. The lip carries a waved or otherwise hydrodynamic form that pumps leakage back under rotation instead of relying on contact force alone.
When another type fits better
- SC: Single lip, rubber-covered outside diameter, when the shaft turns both ways and the lip form is directional.
Watch for
A hydrodynamic feature can be directional. A replacement matched on dimensions alone can leak on a shaft that turns the other way, which a straight lip would not.
Sources: SKF Industrial Seals, Product Overview, read 2026-09-16.
SKF is a trademark of Aktiebolaget SKF. The maker designations on this page are the makers' own. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Related pages
Orders are handled under Conquest Seal's AS9100D quality management system, whose certificate scope includes distribution.
Send the shaft, bore and width, or the old seal's markings
The three dimensions or the code printed on the old seal, the speed, any pressure, the fluid and the quantity. A Conquest representative replies with the quote.
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