Have you ever forgotten to secure the lid on top of a blender before making a smoothie or milkshake? Or maybe you're lucky enough to have only seen this mistake in a TV show or movie. While the situation is frustrating and time-consuming to clean up, a blender eruption is nowhere near as serious as a blowout on an oil or gas drilling rig. That's why drilling rigs need more than just a lid. They also require a blowout prevention system.

If you are like 74% of Americans, coffee is an essential part of every day. But imagine pouring a cup of ambition only to be met with gritty coffee grounds floating in your cup. This undesirable situation is prevented with the use of one simple element: a coffee filter. A coffee filter helps purify the liquid to ensure the end product does not contain any unwanted particles. The same concept can be applied to the purification process in industrial and sanitary liquid filtration systems.

In a previous blog post, we took a look into Dixon® cam & groove couplings. Now that we have an understanding of cam & groove functionality, materials, applications, configurations, and sizes, it is time to compare the different types of cam & groove couplings Dixon offers.

In previous Dixon® blog posts, we have discussed pipe flanges, swivel joints, dry disconnects, cam & groove couplings, and more. Now it is time to look at a different type of connection: compression fittings.

What’s the first treat that comes to mind when you hear the word dessert? From cake and cookies to brownies and ice cream, the options for sweet indulgences are endless. Although desserts share some characteristics, they are also very different and can be further broken down into more subcategories. For example, if cookies were the dessert of choice, the next thing to consider is the type of cookie. Chocolate chip? Peanut butter? Sugar? You get the point. 

But what do cookies have to do with stainless steel? Great question. Just like dessert can be categorized into groups and then divided by the type, the same can be done with stainless steel. It’s called families and grades.

Admit it, at some point in your life you have used a garden hose to spray someone. This means you know that using your finger to cover part of the hose end makes the water spray farther and faster. But what makes this phenomenon occur? It has to do with pressure and force, two important aspects of hose assembly dynamics.

While we obviously don’t recommend spraying someone with a hose in industrial applications, and you shouldn’t let your hand interfere with the media being transferred, understanding the dynamics of a hose assembly is essential for any application.

We know what products are made from a barrel of crude oil and the general overview of crude oil, refined, but the different fluid transfer components required in oil refineries are  often overlooked.

Imagine trying to insert a screw with a hammer or cutting a steak with a saw. While these tools would technically get the job done, using the correct tool is safer and more efficient. This same principle can be applied to fire hose nozzles.

Everyone knows a hose with a nozzle is needed to put out a fire, but did you know there are different types of fire nozzles? Fire hose nozzles vary by type, spray patterns, threads, and the materials they can disperse.

History
The onset of the industrial revolution increased the need for the standardization of screw threads. As new manufacturing processes emerged it became obvious just how many different types of threads existed. This caused compatibility issues between different manufacturers and users.

In 1841, Sir Joseph Whitworth, an English engineer and inventor created a uniform threading system to address the issue. His thread form was based on a 55-degree thread angle with rounded roots and crests. This became a widely accepted standard for connecting thread for pipes and became known as the British Standard Pipe thread (BSP).

BSP threads were often used in the United States and Canada through the 1860s, but they were never universally accepted, so the lack of compatibility and need for standardization remained. In 1864, William Sellers, an American engineer, proposed a new set of standards for bolts, screws, and nuts. His design featured a 60-degree angle with flattened peaks and valleys that was easier to manufacture and produce. Sellers’ design, known as National Pipe Tapered (NPT) threads, gained widespread acceptance and played a vital role in the American industrial revolution. NPT threads were eventually adopted as the national standard in the U.S.  

When you purchase a car, you do so with confidence knowing all of the components were tested and met the required safety and technical standards. While we may not think about the importance of testing hoses and fittings before use, the same principle applies.