Push On Fittings: A Viable Choice for Pneumatic Industries
March 20, 2020Types Of Checking Valve In The Market
July 1, 2021Selection of system components for industrial applications mainly relies on two factors: safety and productivity.
Quick acting couplings, often used in pneumatic systems, are an example of components designed for improved safety and higher productivity.
Both regular and safety specific designs are available in the market. If you’re working with pneumatic systems, should you opt for safety couplings?
Why are safety couplings important?
These couplings are designed specifically to reduce the risk of damage and injury caused by hose whips. It is one of the most often experienced problems in pneumatic industries.
Hose whips may occur when a pressurized hose is disconnected using a simple quick disconnect coupling. The air inside the hose rushes to escape when a sudden opening appears. This rapid discharge is accompanied by a hissing noise and a risk of hose whipping out of control.
Noise levels can be tolerated, but the whipping hoses can put workers at risk of serious injury. Furthermore, it can damage nearby equipment and other products.
Safety quick acting couplings have a two steps disconnection process: first, a valve in the coupling closes and then the air vents out at a controlled rate. The metal nipple is released manually by the operator in the second stage.
Which design should you opt for?
Safety couplings reduce both noise levels and risk of injury. These couplings should be used in place of regular designs where hose whipping is a potential risk.
Furthermore, opt for safety couplings if an assembly has other extensions attached to them. Hose whip may occur any time you disconnect a hose.
It is more cost-effective to use regular couplings if there’s no danger of hose whip. A light weight design is required to reduce operator fatigue. Cost is an important factor, and you need to quickly connect and disconnect.
What to consider when opting for a coupling?
Here are a few questions you must ask before deciding on a quick connect coupling:
- Will the flow rate meet you application requirements?
- Is the coupling design easy to operate? Both regular and safety couplings may have complicated connections, and may put your employees at risk.
- Is the seal reliable? Leaks can be costly for your system.
- Are the couplings durable enough? If the design is susceptible to damage or not tolerant to aggressive environment, they will risk failure and contamination.
You can browse a number of our designs, made in accordance with various industry specifications. As pneumatic fitting suppliers, we produce designs that meet industrial standards. Opt for our pneumatic quick exhaust valves and quick connect couplings for high performance systems.
