“A flange is a mechanical device used to connect pipes, valves, pumps and other equipment to form a piping system. It is connected to valves making it easier for removal and maintenance to the pipework. Flanges are usually welded or screwed. Flanges Provides easy access for Cleaning, inspection and Modification. Flanges joints are made by bolting together two flanges with a gasket between them to provide a seal”.
During the construction of newly project or industry say, petrochemical industry a huge amount of work revolves around Flanges in this industry for connecting the sections of pipe, valves and pumps. To complete this challenging task high quality tools and equipment’s are used by the person responsible for the particular task.
So, what tools and equipment are available and where can you get your hands on them? To help you out we’ve put together our list of 5 essential flange tools
Flange Facing Machines
New flanges can be damaged during transit to the construction site, or when welding the flange onto pipe when at site. Therefore, to Avoid Damage, scratches and dents to the sealing surface, Flange facing machines are used. This machine joints the flange to the sealing surface by creating a spiral serrated finish. Respective of the size of flange, you can be sure there’s a flange facer available to get the job done efficiently and safely.
As flanges are exposed to corrosion, this joint in the pipelines can lead to damage to the surface. When this happens, the flange needs to be re-machined or replaced.
Flange Spreader
When pipe flanges need to be separated this can require considerable force delivered in a manner that doesn’t damage either flange. To help with this you’ll need a flange spreader and there’s two different types available.
- ‘Spreading wedges’, which require an access gap between the flanges.
- Alternatively, where there’s a very small gap or no gap at all, use the ‘secure grip spreader’ type. These work by gripping inside the flange bolt holes.
Flange Alignment Tools
Flange Alignment Tools as the name says, are the tools used for flange joints during piping construction, oil & gas industry or for routine maintenance. This tool works by attaching the misalignment flange joint to the correct Flange alignment.
Flange Closing Tools
To move the Flange and bolting close to each other Flange closing tools is used. When flanges are aligned in advance of bolting, it may be necessary to use significant force to move the flanges closer together. Using a minimum of 2 tools per flange is recommended and more can be used to provide greater and more evenly distributed pulling force.
Bolting Tools
There are many different types of bolting tools available for tightening flange bolts. These include manually operated torque multipliers, bolt tensioners and torque wrenches which can be powered pneumatically, hydraulically, or electric.
Hydraulic torque wrenches can come with either a hex or square drive, and when standard torque wrenches aren’t suitable, customized components can be made for your bolting application.
An Overview of Tools used by Engineers is shown in this article
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