Bearing isolator innovator Inpro/Seal releases new model to increase machine reliability

Illinois, US-based sealing solutions provider Inpro/Seal has released the VB45-S bearing isolator, expanding its venerable 40-year-old product line that increases equipment reliability through permanent bearing protection.

Invented by Inpro/Seal in 1977, the bearing isolator extends bearing life by increasing protection against contamination ingress and lubrication loss, in turn driving customer expectations for increased pump reliability.

The original bearing isolator, a simple two-piece design, consisted of a rotor and stator interface to keep contaminants from entering the bearing housing.

Over the past 40 years, Inpro/Seal has continued to drive the standard in bearing isolator technology with innovative solutions for multiple applications across a variety of industries.

The new VB45-S isolator provides permanent bearing protection to rotating equipment with premium protection against contamination ingress and lubrication loss.

It utilises Inpro/Seal’s patented XX Interface, coupled with an enlarged contamination chamber to achieve an IP66 rating, the standard for premium ingress protection against both harmful dust particulates and powerful water jets from all directions.

For efficient protection against lubrication loss, the VB45-S utilises an enlarged D-groove to capture oil and return it back to the bearing housing or a grease band to block grease from traveling down the shaft and escaping from the bearing housing.

The VB45-S employs a compact design with only a 15.88mm (0.625”) overall axial length, making it the shortest IP66-rated bearing isolator available, Inpro/Seal said.

A short overall length allows for easy installation, often without the need for equipment modifications.