John Crane Innovation

John Crane Innovation

With a history steeped in a long tradition of innovation, John Crane is globally renowned for its ongoing commitment to research and development. The company’s pioneering spirit was first sparked back in 1910 when John Crane himself, inspired by a scrap of foil from a tobacco packet, invented a novel new design for packing. The advancements continued with the design of the world’s first automotive mechanical seal in 1939, followed closely by the Type 1 end-face elastomer bellows shaft seal just a few years later. Then in 1968, the first gas seal spiral groove patent launched the company’s reputation as a world leader in sealing technology — a distinction that endures today.

Innovating for the Future

  • Mechanical Seals and Systems
  • Power Transmission Couplings
  • Hydrodynamic Bearings
  • Artificial Lift
  • Filtration Systems
  • Packing
  • Water Management Services

Learn More: John Crane Innovation

Mechanical Seal Maintenance Simplified

For rotating shaft equipment and machinery that include large pumps, seal maintenance can be a time-consuming and expensive proposition. That was the case at one Midwestern power plant, where installing and maintaining the cartridge seals on its six large, recirculating service pumps were a regular ordeal.

Repairing or replacing one of its cartridge seals was a process that involved disassembling the pump, removing and replacing the seal and rebuilding the pump—which required 240 man-hours throughout multiple days. The plant usually performed seal maintenance at least once per year on these large pumps, so the labor hours and costs added up quickly.

New Piping Plans for Better Leak Detection

Piping plans for mechanical seals are used to improve the environmental conditions around a seal, extend its capabilities and allow operators to monitor seal performance. American Petroleum Institute (API) 682 contains the most widely referenced specifications for mechanical seal piping plans. This standard includes existing piping plans used in the field and introduces new piping plans that follow advancements in technology and respond to improvements required by the industry.

Image courtesy of pump-zone.com