Cam and groove quick couplings for hose and pipe, in types A to F. The adapter is pushed into the coupler and two cam arms are closed by hand onto the groove. Supplied in aluminium, brass, AISI 316 stainless and polypropylene.
Prices on request. Contact us for availability and quotations.
Cam and groove - camlock - couplings join hose and pipe by hand in one movement. The adapter is pushed into the coupler and the two cam arms are closed over the adapter groove, compressing the seal held in the coupler. There are six configurations: types A, E and F are adapters with the male cam end, and types B, C and D are couplers with the female cam end and the arms. An adapter mates only with a coupler - two adapters or two couplers will never join. Dust caps (DC) fit adapters and dust plugs (DP) fit couplers, and neither is a pressure part.
Bodies are made in aluminium, brass, AISI 316 stainless steel and glass-fibre reinforced polypropylene, in 1/2 to 8 inch depending on material. Working pressures published by Tubes International for European stock are 9 bar at 1/2 inch, 10 bar from 3/4 to 4 inch and 5 bar at 5 and 6 inch in brass and aluminium, with AISI 316L holding 10 bar to 4 inch and 9 bar at 5 and 6 inch. Couplings built to the US specification A-A-59326 are rated higher - Dixon publishes 250 psi for 3/4 to 2 inch - so the same nominal size can carry two very different ratings. Where the origin of the coupling is not documented, work to the lower figure.
Threads differ with the pattern as well. US couplings are threaded NPT; European couplings to EN 14420-7 have BSPT male ends and BSP parallel female ends sealed on a flat thread gasket. The cam ends mate across the two patterns but the pipe-side threads do not, which is the most common ordering mistake with this product. Seals are NBR as standard, -40 to +93 degrees C, with EPDM to +150, FKM to +200, neoprene to +107 and PTFE-enveloped options available. Polypropylene couplings are limited to +70 degrees C and lose 40 per cent of their working pressure at that temperature.
Dixon states plainly that under no circumstances should cam and groove couplings be used for compressed air or steam service. Note also that no standard covers the 1/2 inch and 8 inch sizes, so those generally do not interchange between makers and must be bought as matched pairs. When ordering, state the size, the type letter, the body material, the thread form, and the seal compound.
| Standard | A-A-59326 (formerly MIL-C-27487) for the US pattern; EN 14420-7 for the European pattern |
|---|---|
| Types | A and F adapters (male cam end) with female and male thread; E adapter with hose shank; B coupler with male thread; C coupler with hose shank; D coupler with female thread; DC dust cap for adapters; DP dust plug for couplers. An adapter mates only with a coupler. |
| Body Material | Aluminium, brass (bronze), AISI 316 stainless steel, glass-fibre reinforced polypropylene. Handles are AISI 304 stainless as standard, brass on aluminium couplings 1 1/4 - 4 inch. |
| Size Range | 1/2 to 8 inch in aluminium, 1/2 to 6 inch in AISI 316 stainless steel and in brass, 1/2 to 4 inch in polypropylene. Ranges differ between makers - some brass ranges stop at 4 inch. |
| Working Pressure | European stock (Tubes International): brass and aluminium 9 bar at 1/2 inch, 10 bar 3/4 - 4 inch, 5 bar at 5 - 6 inch; AISI 316L 10 bar to 4 inch and 9 bar at 5 - 6 inch; polypropylene 5 bar at 1/2 inch, 7 bar 3/4 - 2 inch, 4 bar at 3 - 4 inch. US stock to A-A-59326D (Dixon, 21 C, Buna-N): 150 psi at 1/2 inch, 250 psi 3/4 - 2 inch, 150 psi at 2 1/2 inch, 125 psi at 3 inch, 100 psi at 4 inch, 75 psi at 5 - 6 inch, 50 psi at 8 inch. Quote the lower figure where the origin is not documented. |
| Seal Material and Temperature | NBR standard -40 to +93 C; EPDM -30 to +150 C; FKM (Viton) -40 to +200 C; neoprene -50 to +107 C; PTFE/NBR -40 to +93 C; PTFE/Viton -40 to +200 C; FEP/silicone -60 to +205 C. Higher temperatures and PTFE seals reduce the pressure rating. |
| Thread Form | US pattern to A-A-59326: NPT male and female. European pattern to EN 14420-7: BSPT taper male thread (EN 10226-1) and BSP female thread, to which EN 14420-7 added a flat thread seal on the female threaded parts. Tubes International states its threaded couplings seal on the thread (BSPT male, BSP female) and offers NPT as well. Cam ends mate across both patterns; the pipe-side threads do not. |
| Service Restrictions | Not to be used for compressed air or steam service. Polypropylene is limited to +70 C, at which the working pressure must be reduced by 40 per cent. Dust caps and plugs are not pressure parts. No standard covers the 1/2 inch and 8 inch sizes, which generally do not interchange between makers. |
