The control and application of fluid power would be impossible without suitable means of transferring the fluid between the reservoir, the power source, and the points of application. Fluid lines are used to transfer the fluid, and fittings are used to connect the lines to the power source and the points of application. This chapter is devoted to fluid lines and fittings. After studying this chapter, you should have the knowledge to identify the monly used lines and fittings, and explain the procedure for fabricating, labeling the lines.

TYPES OF LINES

The three types of lines used in systems are pipe (rigid), tubing and hose (flexible). A number of considered when the type of line is most com-be able to testing, and fluid power (semirigid), factors are selected for a particular fluid system. These factors include the type of fluid, the required system pressure, and the location of the system. For example, heavy pipe might be used for a large stationary fluid power system, but comparatively lightweight tubing must be used in aircraft and missile systems because weight and space are critical factors. Flexible hose is required in installations where units must be free to move relative to each other.

There are three important dimensions of any tubular productoutside diameter (OD), inside diameter (ID), and wall thickness. Sizes of pipe are listed by the nominal (or approximate) ID and the wall thickness. Sizes of tubing are listed by the actual OD and the wall thickness.

The material, ID, and wall thickness are the three primary considerations in the selec-tion of lines for a particular fluid power system.

The ID of a line is important, since it determines how much fluid can pass through the line in a given time period (rate of flow) without loss of power due to excessive friction and heat. The velocity of a given flow is less through a large opening than through a small opening. If the ID of the line is too small for the amount of flow, excessive turbulence and friction heat cause unnecessary power loss and overheated fluid.

Pipes are available in three different weights: standard (STD), or Schedule 40; extra strong (XS), or Schedule 80; and double extra strong (XXS). The schedule numbers range from 10 to 160 and cover 10 distinct sets of wall thickness. (See table 5-1.) Schedule 160 wall thickness is slightly thinner than the double extra strong.

As mentioned earlier, the size of pipes is determined by the nominal (approximate) ID. For example, the ID for a 1/4-inch Schedule 40 pipe is 0.364 inch, and the ID for a 1/2-inch Schedule 40 pipe is 0.622 inch.

It is important to note that the IDs of all pipes of the same nominal size are not equal. This is because the OD remains constant and the wall thickness increases as the schedule number increases. For example, a nominal size 1-inch Schedule 40 pipe has a 1.049 ID. The same size Schedule 80 pipe has a 0.957 ID, while Schedule

160 pipe has a 0.815 ID. In each case the OD is 1.315 (table 5-1) and the wall thicknesses are 0.133 0.179 and 0.250 respectively. Note that the difference between the OD and ID includes two wall thicknesses and must be divided by 2 to obtain the wall thickness.

Tubing differs from pipe in its size classification. Tubing is designated by its actual OD. (See table 5-2.) Thus, 5/8-inch tubing has an OD of 5/8 inch. As indicated in the table, tubing is available in a variety of wall thicknesses. The diameter of tubing is often measured and indicated in 16ths. Thus, No. 6 tubing is 6/16 or 3/8 inch, No. 8 tubing is 8/16 or 1/2 inch, and so forth.

The wall thickness, material used, and ID determine the bursting pressure of a line or fitting. The greater the wall thickness in relation to the ID and the stronger the metal, the higher the bursting pressure. However, the greater the ID for a given wall thickness, the lower the bursting pressure, because force is the product of area and pressure.

The pipe and tubing used in fluid power systems are commonly made from steel, copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel. Each of these metals has its own distinct advantages or disadvantages in certain applications.

Steel pipe and tubing are relatively inexpensive and are used in many hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Steel is used because of its strength, suitability for bending and flanging, and adaptability to high pressures and temperatures. Its chief disadvantage is its comparatively low resistance to corrosion.

Copper pipe and tubing are sometimes used for fluid power lines. Copper has high resistance to corrosion and is easily drawn or bent. However, it is unsatisfactory for high temperatures and has a tendency to harden and break due to stress and vibration.

Aluminum has many of the characteristics and qualities required for fluid power lines. It has high resistance to corrosion and is easily drawn or bent. In addition, it has the outstanding characteristic of light weight. Since weight elimination is a vital factor in the design of aircraft, aluminum alloy tubing is used in the majority of aircraft fluid power systems.

Stainless-steel tubing is used in certain areas of many aircraft fluid power systems. As a general rule, exposed lines and lines subject to abrasion or intense heat are made of stainless steel. An improperly piped system can lead to serious power loss and possible harmful fluid

1. The lines must have the correct ID to provide the required volume and velocity of flow with the least amount of turbulence during all demands on the system.

2. The lines must be made of the proper material and have the wall thickness to provide sufficient strength to both contain the fluid at the required pressure and withstand the surges of pressure that may develop in the system. Fluid power systems are designed as compactly as possible, to keep the connecting lines short. Every section of line should be anchored securely in one or more places so that neither the weight of the line nor the effects of vibration are carried on the joints. The aim is to minimize stress throughout the system.

Lines should normally be kept as short and free of bends as possible. However, tubing should not be assembled in a straight line, because a bend tends to eliminate strain by absorbing vibration and also compensates for thermal expansion and contraction. Bends are preferred to elbows, because bends cause less of a power loss. A few of the correct and incorrect methods of installing tubing are illustrated in figure 5-1.

Bends are described by their radius measurements. The ideal bend radius is 2 1/2 to 3 times the ID, as shown in figure 5-2. For example, if the ID of a line is 2 inches, the radius of the bend should be between 5 and 6 inches.

While friction increases markedly for sharper curves than this, it also tends to increase up to a certain point for gentler curves. The increases in friction in a bend with a radius of more than 3 pipe diameters result from increased turbulence near the outside edges of the flow. Particles of fluid must travel a longer distance in making the change in direction. When the radius of the bend is less than 2 1/2 pipe diameters, the increased pressure loss is due to the abrupt change in the direction of flow, especially for particles near the inside edge of the flow.

During your career in the Navy, you may be required to fabricate new tubing to replace damaged or failed lines. Fabrication of tubing consists of four basic operations: cutting, deburring, bending, and joint preparation.