Types Of Pipe Threads

Resource Description

It is significant to determine several specific pipe thread variations you require according to the equipment to operate perfectly. Air cylinders, valves, and air preparation units are pneumatic components that need specific types of pipe threads to be equipped with. For instance, pneumatic stuff is required to be equipped with NPT, PT, or G pipe threads. Selecting the proper pipe thread type will offer you the proper performance of your equipment.

At the first sight, pipe threads may seem to be similar. However, if you look closer, you will notice several differences between them. For instance, several pipe threads may have differences from each other by shape, type of angle, or thread pitches. The article includes several types of most common pipe threads, including NPT/NPTF, BSPP (or G), BSPT, PT, Metric (M), and SAE. You will need only two simple tools: a caliper and a pitch gauge.

Pipe Thread Determining Tools

Caliper

A caliper is a useful tool that determines the outside diameter of the male thread, and the inside diameter of the female thread. Applying the caliper will provide you with the most accurate measurements, however, if you don’t have one, you may use a straight steel ruler. Nevertheless, you may use the innovative digital caliper for easier work.

Pitch Gauge

A pitch gauge is a tool that helps to determine the pipe threads per inch. This tool determines the distance between the threads for the metric pipe threads.

Identifying Types Of Threads

Pipe threads can be male or female and this is an easy differentiation to understand. Male means that the thread is on the outside of the fitting, it looks like a bolt. The female thread looks like a nut, and it is on the inside of the fitting.

The other aspect you should know is the pitch. Thread pitch is the space among threads. To determine it, you should use a gauge pitch tool or caliper to identify the distance between the threads according to the length of the fitting. Metric threads are identified by the millimetric distance between them, while the other pitch of the thread is determined by the number of threads per inch. For instance, the distance between threads is 1 millimeter, so the pitch is 1 millimeter.

Apply the caliper to determine the outside diameter of the male thread and the inside diameter of the female thread. Please note that small differences between measurement and size charts are due to various thread manufacturers.

The design of each thread can be tapered or parallel. There are two major classifications of pipe threads: parallel and tapered. The parallel thread is the type where the diameter has the same length as the thread. The tapered thread has a bigger diameter length than the length of the tool.

A flank angle and tapered angle are the only types of angles, even screws with tapered designs are also created with a taper angle. The flank angle relates to the angle between the flank and the cross-cutting line to the axis of the thread. The tapered angle is the angle between the taper and the center axis of the pipe.

How To Identify The Pipe Thread?

Pick up the information you have found out recently and select the proper pipe thread according to the Nominal Dimensions of Standard Threads chart. For example, according to the chart ½-14 NPT determines the pipe thread with nominal inside the diameter of ½ inch and 14 threads to the inch.

• ODM = Outside Diameter of the male; • IDF = Inside Diameter of the female; • TPI = Threads Per Inch; • GHT (3/4") -- 1.0625 ODM, 11-1/2 TPI; • Female NPT (Tapered Pipe) thread is not available on hose swivel nuts.

Identify The Pipe Thread Compatibility

When you find out all the details you need to identify the proper pipe thread you should make sure the fitting provides a compatible connection. The best solution to identify male and female fittings is to use this chart.

Conclusion

Every worker knows it is to understand and be able to determine each type of thread. The most common types of threads are applied in the plumbing industry: UN/UNF.

Parallel Unified Thread Standard (UN) bolts are types of pipe threads applied in the plumbing systems in the US, Canada, and the UK. UN can be graded by the number of pipe threads per inch. For example, the pipe thread determined as UNF has the same length as UNC and the only difference is the higher amount of threads per inch. Moreover, UNEF is similar to UNF, but it also has a higher amount of threads per inch for each fitting size.

There are also 6 types of pipe thread that you should differentiate between them and their functions. When you have determined the type of device you need, you should fix it properly for the correct work.