Air fittings and industrial or automotive hoses go hand in hand, and they are used in various applications. All type of machines from vehicles, aircraft, ships and other forms of locomotive engines use them. They are also critical in industrial applications especially in chemical and petroleum industries, fire engine suctions, in couplings, water jetting and almost in all manufacturing and industrial systems. In any mechanical operation in which compressed air is involved, air fittings play a significant role by guiding and redirecting the hoses or pipes through which the air flow. Apart from that, the pressure from the air can be used to deliver a variety of substances from one point to the other through the pipes, or they assist in providing air wherever it is needed. Air fittings provide you with many alternatives that you can use for overhauling, designing or repairing any air system.
Different Type of Air Fittings and Their Uses
There quite many types of air fittings that cab be put to different purposes. Let us take brief look at the most common types of joints and the potential uses to which they can be applied. What mostly differentiates one type of fitting from the other is the size. The differences in sizes are the most obvious things you can visibly see. However, the functions which they perform also set them apart in many respects. The three most common fitting sizes are air fittings; push in fittings and pneumatic fittings. The standard that governs the configurations and sizes of air fittings is known as the National Pipe Taper or the NPT. All accessories are designed to fit into different tube sizes and ports, and many are measured in inches.
Special Air Fittings
In environments that require unique applications and systems, the type of design used is always classified as special air fitting. For instance, a joint can be made for use with polyurethane tubing, conventional nylon or soft nylon. On the other hand, it can be designed for use for high-speed operations using high pressure or a vacuum, and in other cases, it can be designed for applications that are copper-free. Alongside the special fittings, there are also one touch air fittings which provide proper sealing without reducing or limiting the flow of air. They are named for the technology that uses them for creating mechanical connections, and they come in various sizes, shapes and thread types.
Other Forms of Air Fittings
Apart from one touch air fittings and special air fittings, there are also rotary union fittings and elbow air fittings. The former is used to overcome the stress and limitations of an elbow joint so that the coupling or fitting can continuously move while it is in use. In operations that continually use swivel mechanisms, they play a significant role because they do not wear out fast for the duration that the tool is being used. Ball bearings allow the constant swivel effect produced by the fitting. Lastly, there are elbow air fittings that allow angular connection of fittings. Many of them come with a swivel device to permit the turning of the air link to a convenient direction. It can be adjusted just once.
