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Pipe fittings join two or more pipes and can be rigid or flexible, permanently attached or removable. They can be stepped, reduced, T-shaped, cross-shaped, or angled. Permanent joints use welding or adhesives, while removable joints are threaded or bolted. Couplings facilitate changes in direction, obstacle traversal, and wall penetration. Joints may also include inspection openings, flow meters, and valves.
A pipe fitting is any fitting or device used to join two or more pipes in such a way as to maintain continuity between them. The body of a pipe joint is typically made of the same or similar materials as those used to construct the pipes it joins. They can be rigid or flexible depending on the amount of movement the hose is subjected to, and can be permanently attached or removable. A pipe fitting can be stepped or reduced in inside diameter to accept pipes of different sizes, T-shaped or cross-shaped to join more than two pipes, or angled to form bends. Pipe joints may also include peripheral features or equipment such as inspection openings, flow meters or valves.
Most pipe installations require several lengths of pipe to be joined or cut to facilitate changes of direction and crossing obstacles. This requires a fairly quick method of connecting sections while maintaining the integrity of the pipes in the process. These joints may be of a permanent nature or, if disassembly is desirable, of the removable type. Permanent pipe joints generally use welding or brazing in the case of steel or copper pipes or adhesives in the case of PVC pipes. These permanent joints, when properly installed, offer excellent stiffness and sealing characteristics where no future modifications to the piping are anticipated.
Removable pipe couplings are most often of a threaded design which allows them to be screwed onto the pipes to be joined. The simplest of these is a basic section of pipe slightly larger than the pipes to be joined and cut with an internal thread. The ends of the pipes are also threaded and the joint is simply sealed with hemp or sealing tape and screwed onto both pipes. The more complex removable pipe joints have a two-part design where one part is attached to each pipe and then bolted together to complete the joint. These types of joints are often used on high pressure copper gas pipes and hydraulic or pneumatic hoses.
A pipe coupling is also often used to facilitate pipe routing changes, obstacle traversing, and wall penetration. These joints are typically elbow or U-shaped, but can include several variations with different angles of deflection. Step-down or reducing type pipe couplings with different end diameters are used for joining pipes of different sizes. The transition fitting can also be used to join pipes of different materials and has separate end fittings suitable for both materials. Where more than two pipes are to be joined, Y-joints, T-joints or cross joints are common methods of making the joints.
Pipe joints may also include other features such as inspection or maintenance access points. These are typically screw caps that allow for visual inspections or the insertion of rods used to remove blockages. Flowmeters and other analytical accessories are often integrated into a pipe fitting for ease of installation. Pipe joints may also include mechanisms such as shutoff and pressure relief valves.
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