Grooved couplings are detachable pipe connections. For its manufacture, special sealing rings and couplings are taken. It does not require welding and can be used to install a wide variety of pipe types. The advantages of such connections include their disassembly, as well as exceptionally high reliability, sometimes exceeding similar indicators for welded and glued joints.
Groove joints were invented a long time ago. In the First World War, they were used to install pipes with a flammable mixture, which was used in flamethrowers. Since then, they have been used in a wide variety of peaceful applications where reliable and high-quality connections are required.
When installing a pipeline, special attention is paid to connections. The durability and reliability of the system, the ability to withstand peak loads, and the ease of subsequent maintenance depend on them. For a long time, threaded connections and welding were used as the main installation methods. Today, grooved couplings - detachable clamps with a sealing collar – are gaining popularity. The body of such a clamp is made of ductile iron or carbon steel, and the insert is made of heat-resistant rubber-based material.
Depending on the loads, couplings are made of cast iron, carbon steel and other similar materials. The coupling consists of a pair of halves and an elastic polymer O-ring (cuff). Pipes with grooves (grooves) are connected in series, joint to joint, and the switching point is covered with an o-ring seal.
In the original version, the grooves for groove couplings were cut with milling cutters. It was a rather complicated and inconvenient method. Nowadays, a special tool is used to make grooves – roller groovers. They differ in the method of drive (manual or hydraulic) and in the diameter of the pipes with which they are capable of working. In industrial settings, stationary grooving machines are used, which are too expensive for domestic use. But for small volumes of work or for routine repair work, the performance of a hand-powered tool is sufficient.
The only drawback of groove joints is their high cost, higher than other types. This is what hinders their widespread use. Tools for pipe processing are also expensive; portable groovers cost several tens of thousands of rubles. But for small volumes of work, you can rent a tool; fortunately, mastering the work with a groover is not particularly difficult.
Types of groove fittings
The principle of grooved fittings is used to implement a wide range of tasks during pipeline installation. There are several types of such fittings:
• coupling – a classic version designed to connect two sections of pipes of the same diameter;
• elbow – a rotating element for a pipeline with a specially shaped edge that allows easy installation of the clamp;
• plugs – components that allow you to temporarily or permanently close a pipeline branch or ensure the connection of a groovelock with a thread;
• concentric adapters – allow you to connect a pipe of a smaller diameter with threaded fixation;
• slip-on flange – ensures the transition of the groove system to a flange system;
• other fittings – most models are designed to create compact bends directly at the joint.
There are rigid and flexible grooved couplings. The former have increased strength comparable to a weld. Flexible options allow you to compensate for small angular deviations and withstand linear compression and tension. Grooved fittings are used for pipes with a diameter of 25-300 mm, so it is easy to select clamps for pipelines for a wide variety of purposes. When purchasing fittings, it is necessary to clarify the range of working diameters for which the product is intended. This will help determine if a particular option is right for you.
Post time: May-30-2024