Hose fittings connect hoses to machinery or other hoses, often airtight and watertight. Different designs include Storz, Nakajima, Barcelona, Guillemen’s symmetrical clutch, and National hose attachment. Hose fittings can be stored on reels and adapters can be used to connect incompatible devices.
Hose fittings are a connecting fitting found on the end of a hose. The device allows you to connect the tube with another tube, or with some type of machinery or appliance. Usually constructed with brass or steel, a hose fitting can be designed in several basic designs. Choosing the right pipe fitting usually depends on the types of pipes involved and their intended use.
In many cases, hose fittings are designed to create a seal that is both airtight and watertight. This makes the devices particularly useful when pipes are used to transport liquids or gases of some kind. Some designs use male or female thread designs, while others are classified as genderless hose couplings.
One of the most common types of hose fittings is known as a Storz fitting. This design requires minimal effort to connect, requiring nothing more than aligning the coupling with the device and locks into place with a simple quarter turn. A Storz hose fitting is often the choice of many municipal firefighters, allowing you to quickly connect a fire hose to a hydrant when trying to put out a fire.
A variant of Storz coupling is known as Nakajima. This style of coupling also connects with a simple quarter turn. The difference is that hose fittings of this type are also equipped with a locking device on the outside. The block can be especially useful when connecting the hose to machinery that will move liquids or other agents through the hose at high pressures.
In Spain, the Barcelona hose fitting is common for use with fire trucks and for connection to local water systems when needed. This design also uses a combination of male and female threads and must be screwed into place.
French firefighters tend to use a hose coupling configuration known as Guillemen’s symmetrical clutch. As with the Storz and Nakajima models, this type of coupling connected with a simple quarter turn. On the outside of the clutch are two nubs, which allow the device to fit the hook of each tube as the ring rotates during use.
The National hose attachment, also known as the NST, is also commonly used with fire hoses. Requiring more than just a twist and lock process, the NST requires several full turns to complete the connection. The simple combination of male and female threads allows you to quickly screw the joint into place. A gasket helps seal the connection. This type of coupling works well as nozzle holders and many other pipe fittings.
Most types of hose fittings are compact enough that hose reels can be used to retract and store hoses when not in use. Hose fittings or adapters can also allow you to connect a fitting to a device that would otherwise not be compatible. Many factories, as well as fire departments, will include some of these adapters in the standard equipment they keep on hand.
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