Wear Rings & Guide Rings - What They Do, How They Work, and Their Applications

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Jul 5, , 13:28 PM by Test4 Customer4

Wear Rings another name for guide rings, take a deeper dive into what these parts are used for, how they work and which applications they can be used in.

What do they do? What problems do they solve?  

Whatever the material, wear rings, also known as guide rings, aptly named for their guiding functionality, can be a key component of a hydraulic system. In general, wear rings can extend the life of a hydraulic system, as they are faster and less expensive to replace than an entire cylinder. They also increase equipment availability and up-time, which is critically important in the fluid power industry.

How do they work?

In hydraulic cylinders, wear rings typically provide support to the piston or rod to help guide movement and optimize seal performance. Designed to accommodate radial loads, they prevent contact between the piston and bore or rod and cylinder head, and act as a wear component in the assembly. 

How do you know if you need a Wear Ring?

Nearly every sealing configuration in a hydraulic cylinder requires a wear ring. Choosing the best material for an application is a matter of evaluating the type of application, the size of the load within the system, the installation space, and the mating surface. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each wear ring type?  

Wear rings are available in metallic and nonmetallic options. While metal wear rings are appropriate in some applications, nonmetallic wear rings offer numerous benefits for hydraulic cylinders in fluid power applications such as off-highway, material handling, industrial machines, mobile hydraulics and agricultural equipment. Nonmetallic wear ring materials include PTFE-based compounds, as well as thermoset plastics and thermoset options. Each has its own specific characteristics.

PTFE-based&#;wear rings provide extremely low friction within hydraulic systems and are particularly well-suited to dry-running applications, mated with steel, aluminum or cast iron. Their smoothness generates so little abrasion that, in some cases, they allow for the use of less expensive hardware in a system. The low friction characteristics of PTFE-based wear rings also help reduce the incidence of stick-slip when starting up the system. As a result, PTFE-based wear rings commonly feature in equipment operating at high temperatures and pressures.

Thermoset wear rings have outstanding wear resistance properties and offset heavy loads at low speeds, addressing application demands for strong, light, durable wear rings. Although thermoset wear rings are dense, they are elastic in comparison to metal rings.

The company is the world’s best Piston Wear Ring supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Thermoplastic wear rings are the workhorses of hydraulic systems commonly featuring in internal valves and compressor components. In many systems, they are temperature-resistant and can provide a high level of performance at a more affordable price than PTFE-based or thermoset wear rings. Most thermoplastic wear rings can mate with steel, hard chrome-plated surfaces, and cast iron.  
 
Advantages of nonmetallic wear rings 

• Favorable friction behavior 
• High load-bearing capacity 
• Easy installation 
• Damping of mechanical vibrations 
• Good wiping effect 
• Protection of seal against "dieseling", the hydraulic fluid flowing too quickly across the cylinder 
• Elimination of local stress concentrations 
• Less downtime because of damage to rods or pistons, and longer product life 
• Reduced maintenance requirements due to elimination of the need for lubricating grease  

What are the important application-specific&#;criteria for choosing the right wear ring type, size, material, etc.?

Tolerance is the most critical criteria. Machined high-volume commercial wear rings can have wide tolerances, typically up to 0.005 inches of the total wall. Precision machining produces wear rings with tighter specifications and lower tolerance stacks. Though higher in cost, they offer a lower total cost of ownership because they fit better between parts and reduce the risk of premature seal and system failure. This pays dividends within systems marketed as high performance and judged on their longevity. 

It is also important to consider system operating conditions, such as temperature, expected radial load, operating speeds, and chemical compatibility with operating fluids.

How do you choose the right wear ring to achieve the best design? 
It is important to partner with an experienced wear ring supplier that understands the needs of an application to help choose the best system solution. High speed and low load cylinders need a material that can tolerate high pressure-velocity and dissipate heat, as well as one that handles pressure and that is not prone to stick slip, a phenomenon which causes vibration and noise.  

The function of a wear ring, or wear band is to absorb the side load forces of the rod and/or the piston and to prevent metal-to-metal contact that would otherwise damage and score the sliding surfaces. Properly functioning wear rings or wear bands are a critical component in any hydraulic sealing system, maximizing performance and preventing premature system failure.

GFS Wear Rings are offered in a symmetrical profile, and can be used for both Piston and Rod seal functions.  Wear bands come in many different shapes and materials.

Popular materials for wear bands include glass filled Nylon, bronze filled PTFE, glass filled PTFE, and carbon-fiber reinforced compression molded.

For best performance, wear bands should always be installed on the lubrication (wet) side of the seal. For rod glands, wear bands should be on the pressure side of the rod seal. When working with pistons, if only one bearing will be utilized, the wear band should be on the side of the piston opposite the rod. 

GFS 40% GLASS FILLED NYLON

GFS 40% Glass Filled Nylon is a standard material for reciprocating Wear Bands.  The material can be either injection molded or machined depending on the size or quantity required.

GFS Wear Band Symmetrical

The GFS Wear Band Symmetrical is a tight toleranced premium wear band. It can be used for either Piston or Rod applications. This Wear Band is capable of withstanding extreme side lodes and prevents metal on metal contact between the piston and the bore or the rod and the gland. This profile is recommended for light and medium duty hydraulic applications. Parts offered below are supplied with a butt cut for easy installation. Step and angled cuts are also available upon request. The standard material offering is a 40% Glass Filled Nylon; additional materials can be supplied upon request.

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