TPi May 2014

products & developments

Mechanically attached connector system Tube-Mac Piping Technologies is the manufacturer of Pyplok ® connectors and swaging tools. Chris Peitchinis, the company’s vice president global sales, outlined the benefits of using Pyplok mechanically attached connectors, which reduce new installation or maintenance repair costs. Pyplok connectors are attached cold, in seconds, by swaging the connector on the pipe or tube with a hydraulic handheld tool. All the labour and associated costs of a conventional welded connection are eliminated. No special skilled labour is required. Actual swaging time is measured in seconds rather than hours for a welded joint. No special hot work permits or fire watch personnel are required. There are no leaks as a result of stress fatigue cracks as seen in welds, no cost to X-ray welds, and no cost to re-work welds. The Pyplok system has been successfully used in a wide variety of industries such as marine and offshore, steel industry, oil and gas, and refinery. Applications range from hydraulic oil, lubrication, fuel lines, steam trace, and other fluids and gases. Pyplok is a solution for OD tube from ¼" to 2", metric tube from 6 to 90mm, and NPS pipe from ¼" to 3". Due to the nature of the design, the connector is dependent on outside diameter and the wall can be virtually any thickness. Pyplok connectors are suitable for pressures up to 10,000 PSI (690 bar) depending on the size and safety factor. The three-step installation process is fast and simple after cutting and de-burring the pipe or tube. Firstly, mark the insertion depth on the pipe using the inspection/marking gauge. Secondly, insert the pipe in the Pyplok connector, position the tool over the connector and pressurise the tool to swage the connector on to the pipe. Finally, quality-assure the swage with the inspection/marking gauge. The actual swage cycle time varies by size, but is typically from 10 to 30 seconds. Pyplok connectors have two elastomeric O-ring seals at each end. The inner O-ring seal closes off all the potential leak paths and the outer O-ring seal on the end of the fitting acts as a back-up and an ‘environmental’ seal to prevent sea water or other contaminants from entering between the connector and the pipe. The connectors are supplied in carbon steel with Cr (VI)-free plating, 316 stainless steel, and copper nickel (CuNi) 70/30. Other materials are available upon request, such as Duplex and Super Duplex stainless steel. Pyplok conforms to standard end connections, SAE, NPT, DIN and flange patterns in accordance with SAE Code 61/ISO 6162-1, SAE Code 62/ISO 6162-2, ISO 6164 and ANSI Class. In addition to standard shapes such as tees, 45º and 90º elbows and reducers, custom connectors are available.

Stainless Steel Tube Specialist Seamless Hydraulic/Instrumentation Tubing from Stock & Production From STock: EN10216-5/ASTm A269/ASTm A213 304/304L/316/316L/1.4301/1.4307/ 1.4401/1.4404 Bright Annealed From ProducTIoN: All materials Grades & Specifications

T | +44 (0) 1827 305351 F | +44 (0) 1827 63686 E | sales@spi-mail.com

www. spimater ial s .co.uk

Tube-Mac Piping Technologies Ltd – Canada info@tube-mac.com www.tube-mac.com

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Tube Products International March 2014

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