Processing, April 2019

APRIL 2019 www processingmagazine com 39 Unions The challenges faced with the handling and installation of flanges led to the emergence of unions as alternatives e main bene t of unions is that they are easy to connect because they do not require nuts and bolts Instead they are threaded for the initial connection then using a mallet are hammered to ensure the seal is activated hence their hammer union nickname e force applied by the mallet to the union must be distributed as uniformly as possible Because most unions feature a at gasket method of construction if the force is applied nonuniformly the gasket can be crushed is compromises its sealing capabilities and could lead to dangerous and costly leaks or emissions Because of the risk of gasket damage the operator will also need to have a ready supply of replacement gaskets on hand These drawbacks make the use of some unions risky expensive and unreliable Cam and groove e invention of cam and groove coupler technology was a true step forward Designed for uid transfer operations that require repeated connection and disconnection of the coupler from hoses or piping the cam and groove technology truly ushered in the era of the quick disconnect coupler Cam and groove couplers feature an autolocking twin arm design that locks one hose or fitting into place with another The female side of the connector has two cams that lock into place in the grooves on the male connector Like most technologies there have been improvements made to the original camand groove design since its inception e most noteworthy has been the development of auto locking arms that minimize the risk of accidental product release when the arms fall out of the locked position While cam and groove couplers are used across all industries they are generally limited to applications where the transfer pressure is 250 psi 17 bar or less and they should not be used in any compressed gas service including steam or air All cam and groove connections should also be dimensioned to meet U S Military speci cation A A59326 Dry disconnects While cam and groove couplers were undeniably a step forward in design and operation they have a clear disadvantage in their operation when they are disconnected any residual product that remains in the hose piping or coupler itself will spill ese open connections which are often under pressure could at the least result in a slip and fall incident incurred cleanup costs or depending on the uid being handled the release of toxic or hazardous materials resulting in increased risk for the operator To minimize this risk people began combining cam and groove couplings with shuto valves ese Other Valves Still Fight Friction We Designed It Out Unlike other valves that seal with friction Posi flates unique butterfly valve uses an inflatable seat to seal with air pressure Thus it requires less torque and a smaller actuator resulting in lower cost Plus the seat automatically compensates for wear providing longer life Some users have reported over 6 million cycles and the valves are still going strong Less Friction Low Torque Low Maintenance Longer Valve Life Phone 651 484 5800 www posiflate com Union Cam and groove Flange