Over 100 years of experience and expertise gives our Products the ability to design the compressor packing components that will satisfy your specific reciprocating compressor requirements. The application of materials ranging from traditional cast iron to space age thermoplastic, combined with exacting manufacturing and quality standards, guarantees reliable performance and extended service life.
France combines a wide variety of materials and designs to meet any specific packing requirement -- Cast iron, FLUR-O-FRAN®, LAM-O-FRANTM , FRANLONTM and bronze are just a few of the materials available. All of these materials are available in rings designed for unidirectional and bi-directional sealing, low pressure vent sealing, and gas purge sealing. Also available are high speed and high pressure rings as well as the France SANDWICHTM and TRIPLE CIRCLETM designs.
The introduction of FRANLONTM compressor packing materials has extended the non-metallic packing capabilities beyond those limits previously associated with PTFE based materials. As a prime manufacturer of thermoplastics, France maintains total control of the manufacturing process from blending through molding to finished machining.
The following are common France packing ring designs:
Type 211
Packing ring pair consisting of a radial ring and a tangent ring for sealing in one direction. This is the most common single-acting seal ring pair. The radial ring must be installed to face the maximum pressure for the ring pair to seal on the compression stroke. The tangent ring is the primary sealing element of the pair.
Type 212
Packing ring pair consisting of two tangent rings. This pair of rings provides a seal in both directions and is normally used to seal at a vent point. This is the most common double- acting seal ring pair.
Type 250
Metallic ring usually used in the groove closest to the cylinder. The ring throttles the flow of gas into the packing case and also back towards the cylinder. It is particularly effective on high speed compressors.
Type 205/252
Tangent-to-the-rod ring with pressure side relief grooves. This style of ring is used in applications where the ring groove width is not sufficient to accomodate the single-acting Type 211 ring pair. A Type 252 metallic back-up ring is commonly used to prevent extrusion. France does not recommend plunging the rod with this type of ring due to the potential damage to the inner tips of the ring.
France oil wiper rings are designed to effectively provide positive containment of lubricants within the crankcase. Several designs, including tangent cut unidirectional, tangent cut bi-directional and radial cut wiper rings are available in a variety of materials.
The France LIARDTM scraper is designed specifically for those applications where total oil control is necessary. Available in both cast iron and bronze, the unique design and operation of these rings provide extremely effective containment of lubricants in their intended area as well as long trouble free service.
Double Edge - Tangent Cut
Type 242
Tangent cut, double-acting ring. The dual scraping edges are separated for mazimum stability on the rod and the annular area between the edges is vented for drainage. Face slots allow for the draining of lubricant removed in either direction. This ring is particularly effective on vertical piston rods. France does not recommend plunging the rod with this type of ring due to the potential damage to the inner tips of the ring.
Single Edge - Tangent Cut
Type 243
Tangent cut ring with a wiping edge on one side to form a single-acting wiper ring. This uni-directional wiper offers all of the features of the Type 242 ring with the exception that drainage slots are provided only on one face. France does not recommend plunging the rod with this type of ring due to the potential damage to the inner tips of the ring.
Single Edge - Radial Cut
Type 244
Radial cut ring with a wiping edge on one side and slots on the face to form a single-acting wiper ring. These rings are normally used in multiple ring assemblies to prevent a direct leakage path through the radial gaps. This style of wiper is particularly effective on small diameter piston rods due to the total lack of joint friction.
Liard Wiper - Radial Cut
Type 288
The Liard wiper, which was developed by the France Compressor facility in France, is used whenever oil control is a problem. The unique design and operation of the Liard wiper provides extremely effective containment of lubricants. Unlike conventional oil wiper rings, the Type 288 Liard wiper ring has no drain slots on the ring faces. As a result the possibility of oil bypassing the rings along the side of the groove via these slots is essentially eliminated.
Tangent-to-the-Rod
with Back-up
Type 206/252
Tangent-to-the-rod ring with no relief grooves. This style of ring is used in applications where the ring groove width is not sufficient to accomodate the double-acting Type 212 ring pair. A Type 252 metallic back-up ring is commonly used to prevent extrusion. France does not recommend plunging the rod with this type of ring due to the potential damage to the inner tips of the ring
