Swing Fittings

wsdave · January 2006

Thanks
That what I thought - just wanted to be sure.
Never too old to learn!

wsdave · January 2006

Swing Fittings

I come to the wall quite often and learn many things from all the Pros that spend time here.
I simply admire the way help is given and information is shared.
I need to replace the near boiler piping on my one pipe system because of the way the "knuclehead(s)" insytalled the system.
Thanks to Dan's books I now know what is "wrong" with my system.
I've seen some beautiful uses of dropped headers from pros like clammy, mad dog and boiler pro which I will employ.
My question is this:
(please be gentle)
What is a swing fitting?????
I've been in maintenace for over 30 years and have never heard of the term.
Is it simply the use of threaded fittings over welded pipe?
The only dumb question is the one that is not asked (this is mine) and this has bugged me for about a month.
Thanks for all the information guys.
Dave

Jim Bennett · January 2006

Swing joint

A swing fitting is simply using the mulitple 90s on the drop header to turn or swing apart when connecting with a union.

If you have two risers comeing out of the top of your boiler that that 90 towards each other getting a union in between would be extremely difficult with out createing strain on your boiler sections.

With a drop header you can turn the joints away from each other to make the final connection.

I think i got that right

Jim

Blackoakbob · January 2006

swing joints.....

are a method of piping practice to avoid damage to or excessive presure on piping due to shifting and expanding of pipe. By using two elbows at 90 degrees to each other the joint will swing like a hinge if either side is "pushed or pulled". An example would be coming out of a gas meter parallel to the ground,then, still parallel turn an elbow up, add a nipple and another elbow at 90 degrees then into the building. This would allow a "hinge" if the ground would heave up or down and not place any pressure on the piping going into the building. Another would be the pipe arrangement in the drop header allowing for expansion or contraction as the boiler and near boiler piping expand at different rates due to the type of metal.
Hope this reads better than it types. Best Regards
And of course Jim explains how it helps to get fittings together without getting out the prybar.

Weezbo · January 2006

\"Swing Joint\" is a name for an expansion joint running

90 by 90 or 90 X 90 X 90 ,. swing fittings are for a relife of pipe wrench dialing:) and it usually refers to the X 90 fitting that enables one to swing the connection Into the run.

Unknown · January 2006

Everyone explained it well

Here's a few pics that might help to show why swing joints are beneficial . The first pic shows how we used to pipe 2 boiler risers together . To connect them in the middle you need the exact size nipple , often requiring you to tighten one in then back one out if it's wrong . And there is 0 play between the risers for expansion .

Noel Murdough was the 1st person to post a picture of a drop header on this website , and the idea took off like a rocket . I started using them soon after ( to the dismay of my coworkers and management ) , but time and time again it's proven to be a timesaver , produces drier steam , and gives the header extra " swing " in the joints . The 2nd pic is how we pipe them today .

wsdave · January 2006

Thanks

Thanks for all the replies.
I will be posting some before and after pics of my project starting in the spring.
Dave

Swing Fittings

Comments

Categories