Quick Acting Couplings Aid Productivity

Quick acting hose couplings are playing a valuable part in the productivity of the Shell-Mex and B.P. Group's road tanker fleet.

Designed by the company's engineers in conjunction with the manufacturers, George Hatch Ltd., the new equipment, known as the Hatch Snap-Tight Coupling, is now a standard fitting on all the Group's new road tankers and on their 4-inch delivery hoses and on some 3-inch hoses.

A simple toggle action enables the coupling of delivery hoses, to both the vehicle outlets and the customers' fill pipe, to take place in less time than with the old type of screw action coupling.

Exacting specifications were laid down for the design of the quick acting coupling. They had to be light and strong, yet aluminium could not be used throughout because of the danger of sparking. In addition, the coupling's seal had to be perfect at a pressure of 100 p.s.i. without screwing or the use of tools and, at the same time, be completely secure when subjected to vibration and to cantilever loads.

A high strength die cast bronze alloy was selected as the most suitable material for the couplings, with the exception of the tail piece for which aluminium was adopted.

Long reach elbows with toggle action coupling, incorporating an air vent and a flow sight glass, are used for connecting the delivery hose to underground tanks with 4-inch fill pipes.

The quick acting couplings are also being fitted to the company's filter housings used for aviation fuels.

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Delivering motor spirit through a long reach elbow with toggle action coupling, showing the flow sight glass and air vent