Understanding Pipe Fittings

Understanding Pipe Fittings

Pipe fittings are components used to join pipe sections together with other fluid control products like valves and pumps to create pipelines. The common connotation for the term fittings is associated with the ones used for metal and plastic pipes which carry fluids. There are also other forms of pipe fittings that can be used to connect pipes for handrails and other architectural elements, where providing a leak-proof connection is not a requirement. Pipe link fittings may be welded or threaded, mechanically joined, or chemically adhered, to name the most common mechanisms, depending on the material of the pipe.

    There is some inconsistency in terminology surrounding the terms pipe, tube, and tubing. Therefore, the term pipe fittings will sometimes be mentioned in the context of tubing as well as pipe. While similar in shape to tube fittings, pipe fittings are seldom joined by methods such as soldering. Some methods overlap, such as the use of compression power fittings, but where these are commonplace for connecting tubes or tubing, their use in pipe connections is rarer. It suffices to say that while there are general distinctions, the common usage of terms can differ from supplier to supplier, although they represent the same items.

    Pipe Fittings Explained: Fitting Materials and Manufacturing Processes

    Cast and malleable iron

    Fittings for cast iron pipe fall under hubless and bell-and-spigot styles. Hubless designs rely on elastomeric couplers that are secured to the outer diameters of the pipe or fitting by tension clamps, usually a stainless steel band clamp that compresses the elastomeric material and forms a seal. These hubless or no hub designs are sometimes referred to as rubber pipe couplings or rubber plumbing couplings and are especially popular for transitioning from one material to another—from copper to cast iron, for instance. Bell-and-spigot, or sometimes, hub-and-spigot, overhead line fittings are joined today primarily with elastomeric gaskets that fit inside the bell and accommodate the insertion of the plain pipe end or fitting. Older systems before the 1950s were caulked using a combination of molten lead and a fibrous material such as oakum. Cast iron pipe is sometimes joined with bolted flanges, or in some cases, mechanical compression connections. Flanged joints employed in underground applications can subject the pipe to settlement stresses unless the pipe is adequately supported.

    The anti-vibration hammer is designed to reduce wind-induced wire vibration. High-voltage overhead lines have high pole positions and large spans. When the wire is subjected to wind, it vibrates. When the wire vibrates, the working conditions at the wire suspension are the most unfavorable. Due to multiple vibrations, the wire will be fatigue damage due to periodic bending. When the span of the overhead line is greater than 120 meters, vibration-resistant hammers are generally used to prevent vibration. The installation position of the anti-vibration hammer should be determined according to the construction requirements. After the anti-vibration hammer is installed, it can produce the movement opposite to the vibration of the wire, thus eliminating or weakening the vibration of the wire.

    Pole Line Hardware is Used in Multiple Industries

    Pole line hardware is used in industries such as telecommunication, aviation, electrical, automotive, fabrication, marine, medical, mining and aerospace. This hardware is made of various materials including steel, aluminum, platinum, silver, titanium and copper.

    Manufacturers of pole line hardware have been in existence since the 19th century. As such, the manufacture and design of pole line hardware has improved over time. It is important to understand the different specifications and requirements of your cables. Choosing fasteners that are suited to these exact tolerances is crucial to ensure stability.

    Since pole lines support and distribute utilities for long periods of time, the hardware used in the making of pole lines must be subjected to tests that enhance strength and eliminate the possibility of weakness. These tests include wet and dry AC withstands, thermal imaging, compression, radio interference voltage and partial voltage tests.

    With daily advancements in technology, distributors of pole line utilities have embraced safety and efficiency that goes a long way in serving the general population. AMAC Equipment supplies tested and true high-quality hardware like crossover clamps and drops hardware to suit multiple applications in the field.

    Bolts are one of the most common elements used in construction and machine design. They hold every-thing together – from screws in electric toothbrushes and door hinges to massive bolts that secure concrete pillars in buildings. Yet, have you ever stopped to wonder where they actually came from?

    What the majority of researchers on this topic do agree on, though, is that it was the Industrial Revolution that sped up the development of the nuts and bolts and put them firmly on the map as an important component in engineering and construction world.