Appearance inspection: First, conduct an intuitive appearance inspection. Observe whether there are obvious deformations, cracks or damages on the surface of the oil seal cover. Deformation may lead to poor sealing, while cracks and damage will directly destroy the integrity of the oil seal cover. In addition, check whether there are wear, gaps or uneven marks on the edge of the oil seal cover. These defects may affect its fit with the sealing part, resulting in seal failure.
Sealing performance test: The most direct judgment method is to test the sealing performance of the oil seal cover. The pressure test method can be used to install the oil seal cover in a test device that simulates the working environment and apply a fluid (such as oil or gas) with a certain pressure. Observe whether there is leakage. If there is obvious leakage within the specified time, it means that the sealing performance of the oil seal cover has failed. A vacuum test can also be performed to detect whether there is air entering in a negative pressure environment to judge the sealing effect.
Material performance evaluation: The material performance of the oil seal cover will change with the use time and environmental factors. The aging degree of the material is detected by chemical analysis. For example, the aging of the rubber oil seal cover may be manifested as increased hardness and reduced elasticity. Use a hardness tester to measure the hardness of the oil seal cover and compare it with the initial data. If the hardness exceeds the normal range, it indicates that the material may have aged and failed. In addition, check whether the material has corrosion, swelling, etc., which may affect its sealing performance.
Dimension measurement: Accurately measure the key dimensions of the oil seal cover, such as the inner diameter, outer diameter, thickness, etc. Compared with the original design dimensions, changes in dimensions may cause poor sealing. For example, a larger inner diameter may prevent the oil seal cover from fitting tightly to shaft components, and a smaller outer diameter may not be able to effectively seal with the sealing cavity, resulting in failure.
Microstructure analysis: Use tools such as microscopes to analyze the microstructure of the oil seal cover. Observe whether there are micro cracks, pores, or material delamination. These micro defects may not be obvious on a macro scale, but they will seriously affect the sealing performance and mechanical strength of the oil seal cover. Changes in microstructure are often early signs of material performance degradation.
Operating temperature monitoring: Monitor the temperature near the oil seal cover during equipment operation. If the oil seal cover fails, it may be due to increased friction or poor sealing, which may cause abnormal local temperature increases. Measure the temperature with infrared thermometers and other equipment and compare it with the normal operating temperature range. If the temperature exceeds the normal range, it may indicate that there is a problem with the oil seal cover.
Vibration and noise analysis: When the oil seal cover fails, the equipment may generate abnormal vibration and noise during operation. Use vibration sensors and acoustic detection equipment to monitor the vibration amplitude and noise frequency of the equipment during operation. Compared with the data under normal operating conditions, if there is obvious vibration increase or abnormal noise, it may be caused by the failure of the oil seal cover, which requires further inspection and confirmation.
