Connectors rethink the sealing principle

A radical new design of tube connector can deliver huge cost savings to builders of industrial equipment involving fluids.

A radical new design of tube connector can deliver huge cost savings to builders of industrial equipment involving fluids.

Assembled by means of a simple push-fit operation, the new connectors from Parker Instrumentation provide permanent connections for fluid systems operating at up to 1379bar.

For permanent connections, and these elevated pressures, system builders would typically use either welded or "cone and thread" style fittings, which are time consuming and expensive to install.

Compared with these products, Parker Instrumentation estimates that its new Phastite connectors could reduce installation costs by a factor of 90% or more.

"There has been little significant change in industrial tube fitting design for 50 years", notes Parker Instrumentation's Steve Mullen.

"By starting with a blank sheet, and rethinking the sealing principle, we have devised a connector that radically changes the economics of fluid system building - providing the prospect of major cost savings for millions of industrial companies worldwide".

Phastite employs a compression assembly principle using a novel form of toothed profile, which makes the seal.

The connectors are supplied as one-piece components.

To make a joint, all that's required is to insert the tube, and then push the collar along the connector body until it reaches a dead stop.

This operation is performed by a simple handheld hydraulic tool, and takes a few seconds.

The tool requires no skill to use, and assures users of right-first-time connections.

This assembly approach contrasts with the requirement to perform a 360-degree weld around the circumference of a tube, an operation requiring skill, consumables, expensive equipment, and up to 10 minutes of time.

Or, the coning and threading of a tube end to prepare it for use in a special screw-together fitting, operations that again require skill, and time - in this case up to 30 minutes or more.

For many applications, the quality of the weld is also tested by means of dye penetration, or X-ray inspection, adding further substantial costs to the installation process.

Inside Phastite connectors is a unique sealing system, based on a collar which slides along a tapered body, in the process compressing a number of circular profiles into the tubing.

At the end of the short travel is a vertical face which provides 'dead stop' confirmation of correct assembly.

Phastite is much faster to assemble than welded and cone and thread fittings, and also deskills the process, removing a major element of industrial system building cost.

The very high degree control over make up that the tooling automatically imposes also assures users of right-first-time assembly.

This is not the case with welded and cone and thread fittings, where many users expect that there will a certain degree of rework.

When used to replace a welded fitting, the Phastite connector also eliminates any need for a 'hot work permit', another major equipment building expense faced by many organisations.

The 1379bar pressure rating of Phastite opens up an extremely large potential marketplace.

Welded, and cone-and-thread, style tube fittings are used in industrial applications where there are pressures above those that can be handled by ferrule types - which is broadly speaking above 413bar.

Applications include high pressure hydraulics, deepwater oil and gas drilling, ROVs and subsea equipment, laboratory testing, and high pressure machinery such as waterjet cutters.

Welded fittings are additionally used in lower pressure applications if there is a need for the "peace of mind" that comes from a permanent connection, or where a leak could have serious consequences.

Examples include subsea applications, aerospace, boat building and military equipment, and plants that are remote or unmanned, or have safety implications.

The Phastite range includes straight union, union elbow, T and union cross connector shapes in imperial and metric sizes from 0.25 to 0.5in or 6 to 12mm.

There is also a range of termination connectors that provide a link between the equipment's fixed, permanent tubing, and any element that needs to be disconnected or maintained.

The assembly tool is an important part of the package, and Parker Instrumentation has developed a novel hydraulic tool that is similar in size to a soft drinks can, and which features a flat working edge that can install tubing in confined spaces such as against a panel.

The cost of the tool is similar or less than the equipment required for welding, or coning and threading.

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