American inner outer. Detachable connections in plumbing

An American, whose correct name is a union nut, is a connection of pipes using a fitting. She received such an unusual definition in everyday life from plumbers. This is a fitting that is designed and manufactured in the USA and is designed for quick installation and disconnection of structures in water and gas pipeline systems without rotating the pipe.

Such a connection has found wide application in plumbing, because only one union nut is needed to join pipes. They make parts from cast iron, stainless steel, brass with chromium and nickel content, as well as some types of propylene parts and stainless steel.

Ways to install an American

The method of joining pipes, during installation, using a union nut is universal. Such a unit is suitable for polypropylene and steel, cast iron, copper and metal-plastic products. It is used in hard-to-reach, inconvenient places where welding is not possible. The simplest form of this element consists of the following details:

Threaded fitting;
Pad;
Cap nut.

Thanks to the conical surfaces of the parts, as well as the rubber gasket, the fitting has a tight fit.

The union nut has two types of installation:

conical;
Threaded.

The conical connection makes it possible to quickly carry out the installation of parts in hard-to-reach places without the use of special tools. In this case, the docking will be tight and reliable.

A threaded connection is used when instant installation or dismantling of pipes is necessary.

Threaded connection is of the following types:

Detachable with external thread (with its help, polypropylene and steel pipes are installed);
Detachable with internal thread (also suitable for polypropylene and steel pipes);
Detachable with union nut.

The detachable connection ensures the straightness of the connected pipe sections. The quick connector is necessary for the fast connector of the pipes. The speed of work lies in the fact that undocking occurs with just a union nut. An important advantage of the American is that the fitting can be disassembled many times during the operation of the pipeline, only the replacement of the seal is needed. This makes it possible to save time and money.

In what cases is it used

With the use of a quick-release nut, American plumbing becomes much stronger and more reliable. When carrying out plumbing work, it is impossible to do without such an installation. With the help of this part, installation and repair work of heating radiators, meters, filters, plumbing, all types of pipes are carried out. It is especially noteworthy that the above work is carried out with just a union nut, which is controlled by a simple open-end or adjustable wrench.

Today, a ball valve has become an indispensable part in plumbing, because it has a very successful design. It is a modern and progressive type of pipeline crane, in which the working element has a spherical (spherical) shape. Such an element is used to pass water, gas, steam.

It is made from steel, cast iron, brass, copper.

An American connection can be:

Direct;
Angular.

There are different sizes of crane, depending on the nature of the work. The most popular sizes are 12 and 34.

When installing plumbing equipment, the faucet replaces the previously used conventional shackle, which consists of a long thread, a coupling, a lock nut and a counter thread.

Plumbers had to make a lot of work during the work. Now it is only necessary with a few turns of the key to pull off two self-centering parts - a crane and an American.

The ball valve is widely used in the installation of the heating system. The radiator, mounted through a faucet, is easy and simple to remove, plus the water supply can be adjusted manually. It has two types of handles:

Butterfly;
Lever arm.

The butterfly is mounted on nodes of small section, and the lever on nodes of large section.

Today, plumbing offers customers a wide range of exquisite products - from retro to stylish avant-garde. Global manufacturers put all their skills to meet customer needs at an affordable price. In order for such plumbing to serve for many years and please the eye, it is necessary to use such a detail as an American for faucets and sinks.

The American connection is the best, most reliable and versatile way, which is indispensable when carrying out plumbing work.

Menu:

An American with an internal or external thread is used by all experienced pipeliners. With this prefabricated quick-release pipe fitting, two risers can be securely connected.

The design is a collapsible combined coupling, the structure of which provides for the presence of 2 and a union nut.

American women types

The versatility of the device lies in the fact that the device is connected to the pipeline system with just one union nut.

Classification by purpose

According to the functional purpose and design, an American-type threaded connection can be:

flat. This option is quite compact. The tightness of the connecting part is provided by a gasket. Over time, it is necessary to regularly tighten the nut, if necessary, change the used gasket. Given this fact, it is desirable to mount this type of connection in places with good access to it;
conical. It is not equipped with a gasket, since the conical structures are highly polished, and when mounted they fit very tightly to each other.

Important! It is necessary to ensure that the deviation of the pipes along the axes does not exceed 5⁰. Otherwise, the bond may not be airtight.

Since the reinforcement part is used at very important joints of pipeline elements, it must be carefully checked for possible hidden defects.

Important! The conical type of product is considered more reliable. Therefore, with its help, they connect parts that must function flawlessly in conditions of sharp temperature changes.

Fastening using the design is increasingly being used in the laying of pipelines, pushing into the background the squeegee-coupling device with a lock nut.

Types of threads respectively

If we classify products by thread, then we can distinguish 3 types of connecting structures:

"mom-folder";
"mother-mother";
"folder-folder".

Advantages

The fastening structure is different:

reliability;
fast, easy assembly and dismantling. By turning only the union nut, in a matter of seconds, the joint can be mounted without any rotation of the risers. This fastening cannot be compared with a squeegee-coupling type connection, for the implementation of which many different parts, tools, materials are required;
the ability to create straight and angular joints;
compactness;
reusability, since the assembly-disassembly process can be carried out more than once, which does not affect the quality of subsequent fastenings.

The last two conditions entail significant cost savings, which is of great importance to most citizens.

In addition, due to the ease of installation, most manufacturers of plumbing equipment began to design branded faucets, meters, filters in combination with a fastening structure.

The versatility of the device lies in the fact that with different combinations of fitting connections, American straight and angular types are assembled to each other, designed for fastening pipes of various diameters. More often than others in such cases, GOST 8959-75 is used.

The use of cone-type devices makes it possible to ensure high tightness of metal-to-metal joints without using gaskets. This know-how helps to increase the service life of the parts.

disadvantages

Probably the only "minus" of this is its high price. It is this factor that can cause the choice of a different type of fastening of the risers to each other. Although, it is also characterized by a high cost. So the choice is yours.

About connector assembly

Those who have not dealt with this connecting structure are often asked how to twist an American. Let's say right away that there is nothing complicated, you just need to have some information about the structure of the fastening unit and have elementary skills in working with keys.

So, to tighten the union nut, you can use an adjustable or regular open-end wrench.

Important! When installing the connection, do not use a gas (pipe) wrench, as the chrome or nickel coating may be damaged.

Important! When using union nuts with a decorative coating, plywood or plastic turnkey gaskets must be used. Otherwise, you run the risk of being left without decoration on the union nut.

If you need to fasten the metal-layer using the device, you need to use the internal key. Its cross section is a hexagon, it can also be in the form of a cylinder with two notches (engages). Used for mounting press fittings.

Internal key

When this device is not available, they use pliers, other improvised parts or tools. But the key still needs to be purchased if you are going to mount not one connection, but the whole system ().

Anyone with metal on “you” can make a key for a cone of the required size. The cone-shaped end of the tool is necessary in order to accurately get into the recessed hooks. The key is L-shaped with a handle length of about 150-160 mm. For its manufacture, profile fittings (trimmings) are used.

Mounting algorithm

Using an element of pipe fittings, it is quite easy to connect.

In order for the joint to be of high quality and last for many years, it is recommended to adhere to the following algorithm:

Make a drawing of the future pipeline, on which mark the locations of the connections, apply the distances between them.
Prepare pipes. That is, you need to cut them into the necessary pieces, chamfer.
Carry out calibration (editing) of the ends of the risers. This technological process is necessary in order to ensure high-quality pipe joints.
Install a fitting on the end of the pipe, tighten the fitting not very much, correct the correct installation of the part, and eliminate possible problems. If there are no distortions, and it is visually visible that the device is placed correctly, tighten the union nut.

Important! Try to tighten the union nut as tightly as possible to ensure that there are no leaks.

Those who work with the structure for the first time, and before that, for example, dealt with threaded galvanized fittings, may have doubts about the tightness of the fastening. To be sure, they wind the FUM tape under the thread or, although this is not necessary. The connection reliably seals the joints. Whoever connects the pipes at least once with the help of an American will use it all the time.

About Applications

The American fitting, like the polypropylene pipe itself, is used for the installation of various kinds of main pipelines.

It is used when laying:

heating systems;
plumbing for hot and cold water;
gas pipelines;
sewer systems, including magnaplast plastic sewerage, other pipelines.

American - the most common, convenient, reliable, in some cases an indispensable fastener.

When mounting a water meter at home, one cannot do without such a reliable part, since the “entrance” and “exit” can be perfectly done only with the help of this fitting.

Important! The ease of use of the connection can be seen when dismantling the water meter for inspection or repair, since the fixture can be easily unscrewed.

When installing heating radiators, this fastening device cannot be dispensed with. In some situations, the fixture is the main node of the heat or water supply system.

When repairing radiators of a heating system, the use of a fitting significantly reduces repair time and simplifies system assembly.

The device is able to function efficiently in conditions of high pressures, sudden changes in temperature.

Due to the presence of various modifications of connecting devices, it is possible to quickly and easily fasten plastic and metal-plastic structures, metal and plastic products, plastic risers.

Using an American, you can mount almost any connection of pipeline elements.

In many cases, even those with a flange connection are successfully mounted. To do this, a thread is welded to the flange, after which they continue to connect the elements of the system with the help of an American. This is also what makes this truly versatile piece of pipe fittings unique.

The design fits perfectly with steel welded tees, steel bends, spurs, couplings, taps, steel pipes, and other parts of pipelines.

These and other elements of pipelines are used for laying risers in bathrooms, kitchens, country houses, and other buildings. The reliability of the connection with the help of an American makes it possible to install special bathroom furniture in the bathroom, since the possibility of direct contact with water is excluded.

A novice plumber or a simple layman can mount the fastening of risers using an American. It's all about the simplicity, and at the same time, the versatility of the connecting structure.

Plumbing assembly is considered to be of high quality if all connections are sufficiently tight. In practice, this is achieved through the use of various fittings, nuts, gaskets and other connecting elements used in plumbing work. Such elements are quite suitable for effective use, but at the same time, there is a much better solution in the form of a universal nut, known as the "American".

Let's figure out what "American" is and why it has gained such great popularity.

The American plug connection is a kind of nut that finds its application when it becomes necessary to connect two pipes. Previously, spurs were used for this, which are still found today, since their cost is significantly lower compared to the connection of the type in question.

The use of "American women" in plumbing makes it possible to simplify the process of connecting two fixed pipes as much as possible. For example, you need to connect a faucet and soldered wiring. Both in the first and in the second case, the pipes cannot be twisted, and, possibly, the thread is located close to the wall, which excludes the use of the same corner. It is in such situations that the "American" comes to the rescue, providing a connection due to the rotation of the nut, which is part of its design:

two fittings;
pad;
hex nut.

Pipe connection options

The connection of the "American" type is provided due to a certain variability of the connection to the pipe, which involves the use of:

Types of threaded connections

The thread of the "American" can be conical or cylindrical. A similar variability is present in the case of fittings, the connecting surfaces of which differ in the mentioned shapes.

As for the conical seal, it has a certain set of advantages:

ensuring the tightness of the connection without any gaskets, FUM tape, flax fiber, etc.;
resistance to various kinds of influences, for example, temperature extremes, which is achieved due to the homogeneity of the material in terms of its chemical composition and physical characteristics;
preservation of tightness with deviations of the axes of the connected parts up to 5 degrees.

The mentioned advantages in relation to the conical elements of the "American" are achieved due to the high precision of their manufacture, which can be neglected to a certain extent when it comes to flat seals. Here, the use of a gasket in the form of a ring is sufficient to achieve the required tightness even when the surface of the connecting elements is not distinguished by high-precision processing.

In the production of "American women" steel of various grades is used. Although AISI steel under the numerical designations 304, 316 and 321 is more popular. Steel marking also includes an indication of nominal pressure (PSI) and size in inches.

Gusset

For the convenience of organizing turns, an "American" is produced, providing a corner connection. Usually this is in demand when there is no possibility of arranging piping. At the same time, it is possible to save money, since in this case one less connection is established.

Coupling

A coupling is a fitting that provides a connection between pipes or makes it possible to organize a transition from a pipe of one diameter to a pipe of another diameter. The “American” is identical in functionality to a standard coupling, one part of which is screwed, soldered or welded to the pipe, and the other provides for the installation of a collapsible connection.

Crane "American"

Ball valves are the most popular elements of shut-off valves, of course, provided that they are manufactured in accordance with the required level of quality. There is a huge mass of these products, among which there are taps oriented, for example, to some special use or performing decorative functions. At the same time, there is also an “American”, supplemented by a ball valve.

Many people know that this type of crane exists, but only a few have used it in practice. This state of affairs is due to simple ignorance of all the advantages of this product. Meanwhile, with its help, you can replace such an element of plumbing as a squeegee - a part for connecting two pipes, where a long thread is applied on one side, and a short one on the other, which is complemented by a coupling and a lock nut. In the proposed version, everything is much simpler, since it provides for the contraction of the crane and the element in the form of the “American” itself due to the slight use of the wrench. These two parts are self-centering, which facilitates the process of their installation.

Often, the "American" faucet is used when installing heating radiators, which leads to some positive aspects. The connection of these connecting elements makes it easy to dismantle the radiator, and the presence of a tap makes it possible to regulate the water supply, which allows you to influence the temperature in the room.

Like all types of ball valves, the "American" is equipped with two types of handles, where one should be understood as a butterfly, and under the other - a lever. In the first case, these are cranes with a small section, characterized by the absence of the need to apply too much force to turn, and in the second case, cranes with a large section, the operation of which is associated with the application of a greater force.

Assembly

The “Americana” union nut is tightened with a standard open-end wrench or a union version of this type of tool is used. Some try to use a gas wrench, which is not recommended as it may damage the nickel plating. If there is a decorative coating on the nut, rubber or plastic gaskets should be used, and plywood can also be used.

The installation of "American women" on metal-plastic pipes involves the use of a special tool in the form of an internal key. It is necessary for tightening the press fitting during installation. Typically, such a key is in the form of a cylinder, complemented by two recesses that are necessary for the hooks, but a hexagonal version is also available.

Instead of an internal key, an improvised tool, such as pliers, is often used, which increases the likelihood of damaging the product in question. When one-time work of this plan is supposed, that is, it is necessary to install only one connection of the “American” type, then this approach is justified to a certain extent, but in the case of installing several pipes, you should still take care of buying a special tool.

If you have the skills to work with metal, then you can easily make your own cone wrench of the required size. Tapering is necessary to ensure that it enters the existing recesses. Profile fittings can be used as a material for making a key.

For the "American", the diameters of the internal and external threads of which are defined as 1/2, a key is required in accordance with such dimensions as 12 by 12 mm and 10 by 10 mm. The shape of the key should resemble the letter "G", having a handle length of 150 mm.

Materials for the manufacture of "American"

The production process of "American women" is based on the following types of materials:

cast iron;
nickel;
chromium;
brass, chosen due to the fact that this material is able to withstand high temperatures of the coolant, reaching 120 ° C;
stainless steel (ISI304, AISI316, AISI321) ;
combined, including propylene.

Of the above materials, stainless steel is worth mentioning again, as it provides the ability to produce the most durable "American". Although consumers of these products often prefer copies made of chrome, as this material combines quality and practicality. It also does not require the installation of a gasket for "American" chrome to ensure the tightness of the connection.

If pure steel is used for the production of the type of product in question without special treatment, then after a few years such a product will begin to collapse. Galvanized can withstand about 10 years, and stainless - about 20 years.

Conical or flat?

Conical "American", supplemented with a rubber seal, provide tightness due to internal pressure, in this case, the union nut can even be tightened by hand. As for flat sealing options, it will be necessary to provide the necessary contact pressure.

Mandatory tightness of the connection can be provided by both a conical "American" and a flat one. At the same time, flat ones make it easy to change gaskets, which are not in short supply. And for conical ones, special gaskets are needed, which differ in a non-standard size. In turn, conical ones without gaskets should not be chosen, since in order to create a tight connection, it is necessary to tighten the nut very tightly, which is unacceptable if the pipes, for example, are plastic.

Conclusion

As you can see, an American in plumbing is already an indispensable part. That is why it is so widespread.

American plumbers call a ready-made quick-release element for connecting 2 pipes.

For these purposes, a clutch with a drive was previously widely used.

A coupling is a piece of pipe with an internal thread or a wide nut. The coupling is used both for connecting pipes of the same diameter, and two pipes of different sizes. In the first case, it is called a coupling, in the second - a transitional one.

When mounting and adjusting the connection, it is often necessary to supplement the coupling with a drive. Squeegee is a piece of pipe with external threads at both ends.

Device

By its design, an American is a combined coupling, a collapsible part, consisting of 2 threaded fittings and a union nut.

The American is flat, in this case the tightness of the connection is achieved by a gasket. It is the cheapest and most compact.

During operation, it may be necessary to tighten the nut and replace the used gasket. For these reasons, it is better not to make connections with a gasket hidden.

Another option is a cone American.

Here, a gasket is not required, since the polished parts of the fittings, made like a cone, are tightly pressed against each other when the nut is tightened.

The deviation along the axis of the mounted pipes should not exceed 5 degrees. They should be carefully checked for hidden defects, as they are usually used in the most important connections.

Expert advice: for critical connections operating in conditions of temperature differences: water heaters, heated towel rails, use an American cone, it is more expensive, but more reliable.

American is a universal and convenient device on a single nut.

To connect pipes, simply tighten the union nut. Quick and convenient installation with the help of an American has replaced traditional couplings and shackles.

With the help of American women, the transition to a pipe of a different diameter or from a different material is decided. With an American, you can create a corner connection.

The convenience of an American type connection has led some manufacturers of plumbing equipment to use it as a mounting element in the design of branded faucets, metering devices, filters, etc.

The American is produced from the following materials:

The last option is a combination of polypropylene with stainless steel, it is often used when installing plastic risers.

Depending on the thread, external or internal, there are three types of American women:

coupling-thread;
coupling-coupling;
carving-carving.

There are also options without thread, for welding connection.

Choosing the right part allows you to get by with one connecting node without additional elements during installation.

Detachable connection type American is available for all running sizes of pipes.

In practice, most often you have to deal with the sizes 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch.

Advantages

Connecting assembly

To tighten the union nut of American women, a conventional open-end or adjustable wrench is used.

A wrench should not be used as it may damage the nickel plating.

If the nut has a decorative finish, use washers. Suitable pieces of plywood, plastic or rubber can act in this role.

When installing metal-plastic pipes, you will have to use a special tool - an internal key. With it, the press fitting is twisted during installation. The most common form is a cylinder with two notches for hooks, sometimes a hexagon.

Often, pliers or other handy tools are used instead of a key. However, there is a risk of damaging the product. If you plan to install several pipes, it is better to purchase an internal key for American women.

Those who know how to work with metal can make a homemade cone key to the required size.

The taper is necessary for an accurate hit in the recesses.

For an American 1/2, the corresponding key sizes are 12x12 mm and 10x10 mm. The shape of the key is L-shaped, the length of the handle is approximately 150 mm.

They make similar homemade products from unnecessary pieces of profile reinforcement.

Watch the video, which explains in detail the device and features of the use of an American woman in plumbing:

When carrying out any plumbing work, we are often faced with the need to connect various pipelines to each other. To perform such operations, many connecting elements have been invented, the most famous of which is the drive. However, this type of connection is far from ideal, and working with it is very laborious. It is much more convenient and faster to work with such a type of connection as an American, because it provides for almost everything to ensure the reliability and tightness of products. Therefore, let's talk about an American tap: what it is, what parts it consists of, where it is used, how it is used correctly.

Let's find out what an American in plumbing is, and on what principle it works.

An American is a connecting element designed for quick and convenient joining of pipelines from various materials with an internal or external thread. The product is structurally composed of the following components:

quick-release hex nut with thread;
2 fittings, also threaded;
rubber, polyurethane or paronite gasket (in some models, in particular, in conical ones, it may not be).

In fact, this is a coupling that has a shoulder and a union nut that abuts against this shoulder. Coupling connection of pipes American allows you to connect two pipe sections by turning just one nut. Similarly, a connection can be disassembled.

Connectors are available in stainless steel, brass alloys, cast iron, combinations of stainless steel and polypropylene. Products are able to withstand temperatures of the working environment up to +120 degrees. The allowable pressure is usually indicated on the body of the product.

The outer surface of the American has a decorative nickel coating that protects the product from corrosion and mechanical damage, and also carries an aesthetic appeal. If you use too coarse tools to work with an American, then scratches may appear on the surface of the product.

Advantages

The installation of the connection is very fast. To do this, simply tighten the union nut;
A detachable connection with an American union nut makes it possible to dismantle it and reuse it for other sections of pipelines. In this case, it is only necessary to replace the gasket, if any;
During installation, it is not necessary to rotate the connected pipes;
High quality connection is provided;
In the event of a clogged pipeline with an American connecting nut, it can be disassembled and the blockage can be eliminated in a very short time.

Application of the American

Detachable connection American is used for many types of installation work. With its help, heating systems, water supply pipelines, flow systems are mounted. The connection is actively used to connect pipes through which non-aggressive liquid substances are transported. Plumbing "American" is installed on steel, and. Recently, combination fittings with union nuts have become very popular, for the manufacture of which a combination of metal and polypropylene is used.

Speaking about the American connection - what it is, it should be noted that this type of connection is not limited to a threaded coupling. The quick-release nut may also have various faucets or air vents. And what is an American crane - what is it and where is it used? It can be any valve, for example, a ball valve. On one side it has a thread for joining with the pipeline, and on the other side there is a union nut. Such a crane can be easily embedded, and just as easily dismantled from the system.

In practice, we constantly deal with mixers that use the American principle. are connected into a single structure precisely with the help of union nuts.

What types are

There are many modifications of the product, differing in the material of manufacture, size, type of thread, type of fastening. For different options for pipelines, a specific type of American is selected.

An American type quick coupling uses 2 types of fasteners:

1. cone mount. The joints of the threaded fittings are made in the form of a cone, so their maximum tightness is ensured even in the absence of a gasket. Such joints are resistant to temperature fluctuations. They are able to provide tightness even in cases where there are small deviations of the axes of the connected pipes (no more than 5 degrees). If it is necessary to install a thermostat for a radiator, then it is advisable to give preference to the conical version. The absence of gaskets allows the product to withstand significant temperature spikes without the threat of leaks.

Tip: Despite the fact that the gasket is not used for the conical connection, it is recommended to wrap the conical surface with several layers of FUM tape. This guarantees the tightness of the joint.

2. Cylindrical (flat) mount. This is a classic American version used for most pipelines. The sealing of the joint is provided by the gasket and screed of the union nut with the pipe.

Note: Some plumbing fixtures use flat washers. Such connections are less reliable, therefore, they may leak. It is not recommended to hide such places in the walls.

An American pipe threaded connection can be of two types:

Direct. Used for joining straight sections of pipes.
Angular. When 2 pipelines converging at right angles are joined, a corner connector is used. It allows you to connect perpendicular pipes.

The correct installation of the American

American plumbing is mounted using adjustable, open-end and universal wrenches. Also, sometimes you may need a special round key, with which American women are twisted from the inside. The use of gas wrenches is not allowed. Excessive force applied to the wrench handles may deform the union nut.

About that, you can learn from a separate article on our website.

When carrying out installation work, it will help you choose the right dimensions of the pipeline.

Other types of connection of plastic and metal pipes.

Consider how the American is installed on the pipe.

An American with an internal thread is installed on two sections of the existing pipeline. If there is no thread on the pipe, then it is cut by means of a die. A sealant is wound on the thread of one section. It can be FUM tape, flax fibers or other materials. After that, one part of the American is wound onto the pipe using a key. Then a sealant is applied to the second threaded section, after which the second American fitting with a nut is screwed onto it. After that, the two sections of the pipeline will be connected to each other by tightening the union nut of the fitting.

Tip: If tow or linen is used as a sealant, then a special sealant paste is applied over the fibers. In extreme cases, you can use engine oil.

The installation of an American with an external thread is carried out in almost the same way. The difference is that the sealant is screwed onto the thread of the American woman herself.

As you can see, the use of American type connecting elements can significantly speed up and simplify the process of installation and possible dismantling of pipelines and other plumbing fixtures.