Product category:
Tanks, pipework, nozzles, tube fittings
News Release from: Staubli UK (Connectors) | Subject: RBE range
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 13 August 2004
Choose your quick release connectors
with care
Connections for fluids and/or gases are required on most industrial equipment, but the connectors are often given a low priority, resulting in last minute decisions and non-optimal solutions
Connections for fluids and/or gases are required on most industrial equipment, but the connectors are often given a low priority in the project planning, resulting in last minute decisions and non-optimal solutions Staubli, the specialists in connection solutions, take a different approach; encouraging customers to involve them at the design stage to jointly develop the best connection solution
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 13 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Many factors need to be considered in selecting the most suitable quick release coupling for an application.
Firstly, what is the circuit containing, gases such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, nitrogen, helium, or steam, hydraulic fluids, electric signals, solvents, oils, acids, chemicals, occasionally a vacuum.
What pressures and temperatures are involved? In what circumstances will the connection be made and broken and how frequently? What are the safety concerns and environmental factors? Where is the connector to be located beneath a railway carriage is very different to a laboratory.
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Flow rates, acceptable pressure drops, operating temperatures, space available etc all need to be considered and each parameter can lead to a different optimal solution.
This variety of end use application is reflected in the Staubli range.
For example, even on the all fluids RBE range of connectors there is possibly 40,000 product variants and that's just one product range.
Staubli have many different ranges covering all types of applications, resulting in a model base well into 6 figures.
All Staubli connectors are assembled to order, giving the ability to adapt to any testing requirements making each one a special.
Staubli technical support team is trained to gather all relevant application data during the initial contact with the customer and forward this onto the R and D teams as the first step in the evolution of a connection solution for a specific application.
This mechanism is applied even if it results in a standard product being the most suitable for the application.
R and D will frequently supplement these with additional questions of their own.
It is this rigorous questioning and analytical approach that marks Staubli apart from other suppliers of connectors.
A new range of couplings often starts out as the unique solution to a specific customer's problem.
Staubli's motorsport connectors, now used by most teams from Formula 1 and Le Mans to amateur racing, illustrate this.
Five years ago, a new design of connector solved a specific connection problem being experienced by one team; now that design forms the basis of a comprehensive motorsport product range.
New applications are researched and analysed to determine if the development of a product range is applicable.
If so, the Staubli design team will take over and manage the project, designing the new connector, optimising flow rates, minimising pressure drops, running computer simulation software to predict performance, evaluating any temperature effects, considering all the connection alternatives.
New design features introduced range from the mundane simple knurling on the sleeve to make it easier to connect with gloved hands, colour coding of plugs; to the complex highly secure locking arrangements, valve mechanisms to ensure a leak free clean break.
Multi-couplings provide a major advantage when more than one service (e.g hydraulic fluid, cooling water, electrics etc) is required to be connected simultaneously.
Staubli will design and manufacture a specific multi-coupling using the experience gained from the development of their extensive range of connectors.
This can include modular quick release couplings and electrical connectors from the range, modified for the specific application if necessary, as well as guiding and centring components and locking mechanisms making the connection automatic and failsafe.
The use of multi-couplings dramatically improves safety.
Connection can only be made in one position, eliminating any risk of circuit inversion and mis-connection.
Connection of the plates can be either manual or automatic as required and seals will be selected to suit the fluids involved.
Hydroforming, where steel tubes and hollow sections are formed under very high pressure into complex shapes e.g engine sub frames and vehicle body sections, is a example of a relatively new production technique that calls for high integrity fluid connectors.
Staubli were able to modify an existing model to produce a new range, the HPX, particularly suitable for hydroforming applications and having none of the tendency to leak that is experienced with many other connectors.
Many end users still select the type of quick release connector required for an application from a product catalogue at the last moment.
The experience of St?ubli points to the major benefits that can be realised through the detailed consideration of each specific application.
An optimum connection solution can be provided that complements the performance of the complete system and will operate safely, securely and reliably.
Staubli is an international family owned group founded over 100 years ago in Switzerland employing 3500 world-wide.
The Couplings Division manufacturing facilities are headquartered in France with additional manufacturing in Italy and Germany.
Offices are located across Europe, North and South America and the Far East; the UK base is in Telford. Request a free brochure from Staubli UK (Connectors) ...
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