Cam and groove couplings are very commonly used in applications where fluids and bulk material needs to be transferred or moved from one location to another. In ma
Cam and groove couplings are very commonly used in applications where fluids and bulk material needs to be transferred or moved from one location to another. In many cases the transfer takes place between a stationary holding tank and a vehicle such as a tanker or bulk material transfer trailer. The transfer can be made quickly, efficiently and safely when the hoses are fitted with cam and groove couplings.
These couplings are available in a number of different materials and the selection is based on the material being transferred. The most common material is aluminum which is ideal for general transfer but these types of couplings are also available in stainless steel, brass and polypropylene.
Cam and groove couplings are quite simple in their concept. Of course, as a coupling there are two halves, a male and a female. In many cases these halves have threads but not so in the case of a cam and groove device. On the male side of these devices is a stem which has an accurate groove machined around the perimeter. This is inserted into the female side which has a clever arrangement of two levers, which when moved from the full open to the full closed position, lock together with cams which fit into the groove. To insure that the mating is leak free, there is a gasket or seal inserted in the female side.
This device has a couple of important benefits over a conventional screwed coupling joint.
- Speed: The coupling does not require any mating of a male and female screw, simply insert the one half into the other and squeeze the clamps.
- Integrity: A screw joint relies on the individual to make sure that it is tight enough to squeeze the gasket to eliminate the potential of a leak, not so with a cam and groove device, the locking is accomplished by cam arms which are engineered to seal the moment the connection is made.
- Safety: The cam goes over-center when locked, making unintentional disassembly difficult and rare. In the event there is concern, these couplings have lock rings which can be used to insure the cam arms are not inadvertently lifted.
Although the cam and groove coupling is only one way to join hoses and pipes, it is definably the method which is the favorite of those in the bulk transfer industry.
ny cases the transfer takes place between a stationary holding tank and a vehicle such as a tanker or bulk material transfer trailer. The transfer can be made quickly, efficiently and safely when the hoses are fitted with cam and groove couplings.
These couplings are available in a number of different materials and the selection is based on the material being transferred. The most common material is aluminum which is ideal for general transfer but these types of couplings are also available in stainless steel, brass and polypropylene.
Cam and groove couplings are quite simple in their concept. Of course, as a coupling there are two halves, a male and a female. In many cases these halves have threads but not so in the case of a cam and groove device. On the male side of these devices is a stem which has an accurate groove machined around the perimeter. This is inserted into the female side which has a clever arrangement of two levers, which when moved from the full open to the full closed position, lock together with cams which fit into the groove. To insure that the mating is leak free, there is a gasket or seal inserted in the female side.
This device has a couple of important benefits over a conventional screwed coupling joint.
- Speed: The coupling does not require any mating of a male and female screw, simply insert the one half into the other and squeeze the clamps.
- Integrity: A screw joint relies on the individual to make sure that it is tight enough to squeeze the gasket to eliminate the potential of a leak, not so with a cam and groove device, the locking is accomplished by cam arms which are engineered to seal the moment the connection is made.
- Safety: The cam goes over-center when locked, making unintentional disassembly difficult and rare. In the event there is concern, these couplings have lock rings which can be used to insure the cam arms are not inadvertently lifted.
Although the cam and groove coupling is only one way to join hoses and pipes, it is definably the method which is the favorite of those in the bulk transfer industry.
