A Malleable Iron Pipe Fitting

Malleable iron pipe fittings hold two different pipe parts together and direct the gas and liquid movement. Some malleable pipe fittings are threaded, meaning that they have grooved ends that allow plumbers to screw the pipe fittings on the pipes, letting plumbers connect different pipes together.

Composition          

Malleable iron pipe fittings can come in black and galvanized finishes. The three forms of malleable cast iron include whiteheart, blackheart and pearlitic malleable cast iron. The surface zone of the whiteheart malleable cast iron has ferrite. The intermediate zone has temper carbon, ferrite and pearlite. Tempering refers to the hardening of metal. Blackheart malleable cast iron is mostly made of ferrite. The pearlitic malleable cast iron is made from pearlite and other austenite products. Pearlite is made from alternating layers of ferrite and cementite.     

Types          

Malleable pipe fittings come in a variety of shapes, depending on the applications that the plumber will use the fittings for. These shapes can include the elbow, a fitting that curves to send the pipe in certain direction. Another pipe fitting type, the side outlet elbow, is like the regular elbow, but has an added side outlet. The tee has three openings, with two on both ends of the pipe and one on one the side. The side outlet tees have four openings, one that is the side outlet. The cross has four openings, with each opening having a corresponding opening on the other side. These different fittings allow the plumber to send pipes in different directions and let pipes feed into each other.     

Malleable Iron          

Malleable cast iron is an alloy of iron carbon that engineers treat with heat. When first cast, the iron does not have any graphite. All the carbon content is in cementite form. Malleable iron typically has 2 to 3 percent carbon, 1 to 2 percent silicone, 0 to 1 percent manganese and small amounts of sulfur and phosphorus. Malleable iron has a high toughness due to its nodular graphite and the low-carbon content. Graphite forms in a way that makes the graphite not spherical but irregularly shaped.     

Machinability          

Engineers prefer malleable iron for parts that need to be coined, pierced or cold-formed. Cold forming refers to the process of rolling or pressing thin gauges of steel sheet into usable materials. Malleable iron works well for parts that need to have the most machinability, meaning the parts are easy to make using a machine. It also works well with pieces that need to resist impact under cold temperatures.

What Is a Foot Valve?

Various types of valves are required to maintain optimum function of water and air pumps, and among these valves are foot valves. Foot valves are used to prime up a centrifugal pump; they are known for their efficacy and affordability.

Description          

Foot valves are a type of check valve and are placed at the pump's wet well. Unlike other valves, a foot valve is created with a larger flow area than the actual pipe size to make sure that there is less head loss. Foot valves are either made of PVC plastic or stainless steel, and they are known for keeping the continuous presence of suction within the pump.     

Function          

Foot valves are used to maintain hydraulic pressure to keep the water flow in accordance with the given settings or configurations. There are instances where the pressure can actually pop the valve out and cause major leakage; thus, it is important to use the right kind of material in the tubing to be able to support the force within the valve.     

Features          

Being an important part of a centrifugal pump, foot valves come with easily manageable features. Most foot valves are designed with a self-tapping male and female threads to ensure easy installation; internal balls for quick sealing and valve reaction; and flexibility to fit various types of water pump uses, such as well development and volatile organic compounds sampling and purging. Although they are cheaper to use, as compared to other valves used to prime a pump, foot valves are usually made up of heavy duty cast iron and bronze, as well as PVC (depending on the type) so that they will last longer while submerged in the water.     

Types          

There are three types of foot valves. The micro-flow system valves are used in direct push technology micro wells and multi-level well installations. These are usually made of stainless steel and are either of fluorotherm (FEP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) tubing. The high-flow system valve is used on 2-inch wells or larger and can stand high pumping rates and very deep wells. On the other hand, low-flow system valves are used in small diameter piezometers, which lift up to 100 feet of water.     

Support          

Foot valves usually come with surge blocks. A surge block is a tool used to press the body of a valve to remove the residues that may block smooth flow of water within the pump during operation. It also helps the valve expand while being used, thus enabling the presence of increased pressure without causing damage to the valve itself.

How to Install Rigid Plastic Pipes?

Many homes use rigid plastic pipes for their plumbing systems. For the home handyman, installing these pipes is much easier than tackling galvanized or copper pipes. You can pick up all needed supplies at your local hardware store.

Preparation         

1、Measure the distance,or run, in plumber's terms, between the two fittings. You must measure from the face, or open end, of each fitting.         

2、Take measurements inside each fitting to determine how far the pipe goes inside. Measure from the shoulder, the point where the pipe stops inside, to the outside edge of the fitting.         

3、Add the measurements from the two fittings to your measurement from Step 1. Now you have the total length.         

4、Determine the inside diameter of plastic pipe needed. Sizes vary, and you want to match the pipe to the fittings.         

5、Buy rigid plastic pipes, cement and other equipment once you determine the pipe length. For cold-water use, you can purchase PVC pipe. For hot-water pipes, install CPVC pipe.     

Installation         

6、Cut the plastic pipe with a hacksaw, handsaw or power saw. If you're using a handsaw, put the pipe in a miter box to give you a square cut.         

7、Use a utility knife to cut off any burrs on the pipe and clean the end with a piece of cloth.         

8、Check the fit of the pipe and fitting. File down the pipe if it doesn't work. The fit must be snug.         

9、Remove the glossy exterior on the end of the pipe and inside the fitting. Use fine sandpaper for the job.         

10、Brush cement lightly inside the fitting and heavily on the pipe end.         

11、Join the pipe and fitting immediately. Spread the cement by giving the pipe a quarter turn. Wipe excess cement from the outside. Though this is rigid pipe, hold the pipe and fitting in place for one minute.         

12、Wait at least an hour before running water through the pipe. In temperatures below 20 degrees, wait four hours.