Air Quick Couplers

Air Quick Couplers

Air couplings can slide or twist into place; some styles have locking mechanisms to ensure a tight and lasting connection. Quick couplers are used in hydraulic or pneumatic systems to quickly connect lines without losing fluid or fluid pressure. They facilitate an easy and immediate connection or separation of lines by eliminating the need to stop ongoing processes in order to change tools, for example. Couplings can usually be attached or removed with one hand, though sometimes a tool such as a wrench is necessary to loosen or unscrew them. Typically made of stainless steel, brass or aluminum, air couplers range from 1/8 to ten inches in diameter and can manage very high pressures. Air couplers are widely used with air compressors and pneumatic tools that rely on air for power, like nail guns and jackhammers.

Quick connectors and quick release fittings are similar to couplings except that they only serve to join hoses together. They are typically threaded and are an effective way to elongate a line, yet they do not have any seal or valve mechanisms that could close it off. Though helpful, fittings can also be dangerous if they become disconnected. To prevent the air hose from whipping around and causing injury, many models of air quick couplers have a two-step process for disconnecting the coupler that releases some pressure before allowing the part to be removed. Because of the wide variety in sizes of air hoses and lines, air couplers are available in many different sizes, shapes and styles. Air couplers are identified by diameter, letter and sex. If a coupling follows the U.S. standard for tapered threads for pipes and fittings, it may also have the letters NPT identifying it as a National Pipe Thread whose dimensions are up to ANSI (American National Standards Institute) requirements. NPTF, or National Pipe Thread Fuel, couplings are used in critical situations with high pressure or heat because they are less likely to leak. Couplings are usually die cast because the process produces small to medium size metal parts with good detail, an attractive surface quality and consistent thickness throughout the entire part. Extruded and forged couplings are also available.