Quick couplings offer a fast, practical and safe solution for the connection and disconnection of multiple parts of hydraulic circuits. Coupling is carried out without the need for tools and stays sound, preventing leakage while the fluid is handled under pressure. Quick couplings are used in a variety of sectors that require frequent procedures to be carried out on circuits (such as attachment replacements) including Earth moving, oil & gas, HGVs, agriculture and many others.
There are situations, however, where it is not possible to carry out coupling of male and female connections because one of the two ends has the presence of residual pressure opposes resistance. What could cause this?
Causes of Quick Connect Problems Under Pressure
In a closed circuit subjected to a change in heat, there is an increase in the internal pressure of the fluid, even if the machinery or the attachment is not in active use. When an attempt is made to couple male and female connections, this will be made impossible by the resistance of residual pressure formed inside the circuit.
It is not unusual for this phenomenon to occur during a working day in machinery or attachments exposed to solar heat hour after hour. An increase in pressure may be created that is sufficient to prevent the quick coupling from being connected. Under these conditions, operators are forced to initiate specific procedures to eliminate the pressure in the circuit. More often than not, these methods lose precious time and are not particularly safe for the operator.
Such a situation undermines one of the greatest advantages of quick couplings, i.e. the ease and speed of coupling and decoupling of the line which allows instantaneous changeover of tools.
The Stucchi Solution for Pressurized Connections
Stucchi provides a solution that keeps productivity high by solving the problem of connecting a circuit with residual internal pressure. Our 60 years of experience has allowed us to continually improve the quality of our quick couplings to manage hydraulic circuits in all conditions, quickly and safely.
Threaded, flat face quick couplings provide a simple but extremely effective solution to the problem of residual pressure. A patented system equipped with an internal valve makes fast male/female coupling possible without the need for tools, even in these conditions of resistance.
Stucchi flat face valves provide a number of additional advantages to a design that is used as a reference for the ISO 16028 standard:
- ease of cleaning
- prevention of leakage at time decoupling
- no contamination
- optimization of hydraulic flow owing to the design of the internal components
In addition, the thread provides an even more secure coupling and prevents accelerated coupling wear caused by high mechanical stress which causes the brinelling phenomenon. Stucchi designs and engineers our products with these features in mind, to positively impact the operation of hydraulic circuits across many sectors.
Stucchi provides quick connect and quick release solutions that may be carried out quickly and safely even under conditions of high residual pressure. Our hydraulic solutions provide significant improvements in productivity by speeding up quick connect operations that are carried out many times a day. Contact us for customized assistance and to discover all Stucchi solutions.
This post first appeared here: https://www.stucchigroup.com/en/how-to-solve-the-pressure-connection-problem/
