Air-line fitting
This article is a compendium of hand-operable air-line fittings, typically of quick-disconnect type, used for pneumatics and other compressed air purposes including breathable air (a subset of breathing gases).
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Breathable air applications
For breathable air applications such as SCBA, these may found on both sides of the first-stage and second-stage pressure regulators (very similar to SCUBA diving regulators) to allow for rapid and tool-free return-to-service. For breathable air applications such as supplied-air and mixed supplied-air with SCBA backup, the quick-disconnect fittings allow movement of a worker from one supplied-air station to another.
Other applications
These fittings or special-service variants may also be found in hydraulic applications and alternative compressed gas applications (Oxy-acetylene welding and cutting, fuel gases, NSF C-2 food-contact, etc...), though perhaps not as frequently.
Summary tables of fittings, alpha-sorted by common fitting name
Table 1
In many instances the name is the manufacturer who originated or popularized a particular design.
Fitting Name | Alternate Names and Notes | Male Plug Fitting | Female Socket (coupler) |
---|---|---|---|
CEJN | |||
Duff-Norton | |||
Foster | |||
Hansen 2-HKIG | White acetal identifier ring on body of fitting | ||
Hansen 2-HKIL | Black acetal identifier ring on body of fitting | ||
Milton | |||
Parker | |||
Schrader Twist-Lock | Found on older MSA SCBA gear | Tapered cone | Pair of semi-circular jaws |
Snap-Tite | |||
Tomco |
(see also: ARO, Automotive, Broomwade InstantAir, Camel, Coilhose, Tru-Flate, Walther, etc...)
Table 2
Summary table of cross-compatible "meta" fitting designs, specifications, or profiles, alpha-sorted by common fitting name.
Fitting Name | Male Plug Fitting | Female Socket (coupler) | Connection Design |
---|---|---|---|
ARO Interchange Profile (Green) | Longer nose | One thick stripe on body of fitting | |
Automotive Interchange Profile (Blue) | Shortest nose | One thin stripe on body of fitting | |
Industrial Interchange Profile (Red, ISO 6150-B, US-MIL-SPEC-C-4109) | Shorter nose | Two thin stripes on body of fitting | |
Lincoln Interchange Profile (Lincoln Industrial Corporation→ Content 2.2 The Lincoln 815 Air Coupler) also called Flex-O-Matic, Long Nose, Lincoln Series, and Type L or Style L | Longest nose | One thick stripe and one thin stripe on body of fitting | Semi-Automatic |
Semi-Universal Interchange Profile (ARO, Automotive, Industrial) | not applicable | Three thin stripes on body of fitting |
(see also: British Profile, English Industrial profile, Italian Profile, Japanese Profile, 7.2 - 7.4 European Profile, ISO 6150-C)
Table 3
Table 3 should be incorporated into the other tables above
Type | Alternate name | Use |
---|---|---|
300 | ARO 210 | Benelux, North America, Switzerland |
310 | A-A 59439 (former U.S Standard MIL C 4109 1/4”), ISO 6150 B | Benelux, France, North America, Norway, Switzerland |
315 | Asian standard, Italy, South America | |
320 | CEJN | European standard 7.6 (7.4), Global standard |
410 | CEJN | an standard 10.4, Global standard |
430 | ISO 6150 B, A-A 59439 8.2 mm | France, North America, Norway |
550 | ISO 6150 B, A-A-59439 11 mm | France, North America, Norway |
References
- Mine Safety Appliances Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania MSA North America catalog, Air Line Respirators section undated (last fetched 2009-03-08)