Plattco Awarded Patent for Industrial Valve Seal that Increases Performance of High Pressure Pneumatic Conveying Systems

Plattco’s High Pressure Mechanical Shaft Seal is a breakthrough for conveying abrasive materials like cement, lime, gypsum and fly ash long distances, at high speeds, under high pressure

PLATTSBURGH, NY - Plattco Corporation, producer of the most advanced material handling valves for industrial applications, today announced that it has been awarded a patent for a unique High Pressure Mechanical Shaft Seal that dramatically improves the performance and maintenance-free operation of industrial valves in high velocity, high pressure conveying systems. 

The Plattco High Pressure Mechanical Shaft Seal features a unique design that enables industrial valves to operate flawlessly over long time periods in conveying systems that maintain air pressure of up to 42 PSI (pounds per square inch). The Plattco High Pressure Mechanical Shaft Seal is made using corrosion-resistant 304 stainless steel and can operate without the use of an external air source and without adjustment over long time periods. 

“In designing the Plattco High Pressure Mechanical Shaft Seal, we’ve solved a number of problems experienced by industrial companies that need to convey highly abrasive materials in demanding environments,” said Dean Surprenant, the Plattco engineering manager who played a key role in the product design. “Our new patented design eliminates the excessive wear on valve shafts and housings typicallycaused by highly abrasive materials under high pressure.” 

Plattco was awarded US Patent No. 8128095 for an innovative design that incorporates the shaft bearing into the industrial valve housing as a self-contained cartridge. Plattco also incorporated unique design features that eliminate the need for scheduled lubrication and maintenance, and make the shaft seal easy to replace. 

In recent years, the Plattco High Pressure Mechanical Shaft Seal has been installed in Plattco Double Flap Airlock® valves supporting companies in cement, fertilizer, asphalt and several other industries that handle abrasive materials in their operations. Numerous companies have installed Plattco double flap valves with the High Pressure Mechanical Shaft Seal to eliminate emission-related problems caused when lantern ring air purge seals fail, enabling abrasive material to escape into the atmosphere.

“The Plattco Mechanical Shaft Seal is an outstanding improvement for the Plattco product line,” said Rich Halliday, Jr., asphalt plant superintendent at Wilkes-Barre Materials, L.L.C., operator of an asphalt plant in Northeastern Pennsylvania. “We first installed the new shaft seals on the valve that pneumatically conveys the material off our baghouse in 2010. Since then, we haven’t had to touch them to perform maintenance. That’s really impressive when you consider that we’re using the valves to remove fine (200 mesh) material that’s about 300 degrees.”