Calculating seal pressure 1

[kwilli19]

I'm building an enclosure for some electronic equipment to take it underwater. Nothing complicated, a 6" cylinder with flat end caps bolted over a neoprene gasket. Is there any rule for calculating the the amount of clamping force needed on the enclosure seals to keep out the water? For example, If the end cap seals have 50 lbs of force on them, how much water pressure will that keep out?

 

[IRstuff]

That really shouldn't be an issue. Most seal designs are supposed to ensure flange to flange contact and with a minimal amount of bolt preload, there should be no loosening at all.

TTFN

 

[gwolf]

The bolts will loosen up with the pressure, your neoprene washers will probably work. It's not a good idea to use the same bolts for closing the ends and supporting the structure, better to use belt-clamps on the cylinder ends with attachment points to mount the equipment.

 

[kwilli19]

Into the 4th test session now, tested down to 50 feet, no leaks. Seal compression and bolt loosening has not been an issue yet. First victim has been a video camera.

 

[gwolf]

Very cool.