There are many different hose and pipe fittings. Perhaps the most commonly used and seen is the simple snap-on type for use on a garden hose. Others that are not seen as frequently are the extremely heavy duty, quarter-turn couplings that are used to connect a fire hose to either the hydrant or water carrier truck.
There is one family of products known as cam and groove fittings that, upon their development, revolutionized the transfer of fluids and bulk materials. These fittings and couplings provide a fast, convenient and safe way of coupling hoses and pipes from the very smallest up to six inches in diameter and larger.
Cam and groove fittings are very common in commercial agriculture where they are used to fill and refill tanks of liquid fertilizers, pesticides and fuel for the numerous vehicles used in agriculture. They are also in common use by fuel and fuel oil delivery, liquid waste extraction and removal and many more applications.
When assembled, cam and groove fittings provide a smooth bore. There are no increases or decreases in diameter which have an effect on the flow, either in volume, rate of delivery or turbulence at the joint. The seal, which is located in the female half of the fitting, is not in the flow path, and therefore the seal is not subject to undue wear and abrasion. Because the wear is marginal, if any, cam and groove fittings last considerably longer than any counterpart fitting.
The fittings and couplings are available in a host of different materials. The basic material is light weight, pressure-cast aluminum which is then accurately machined. Other materials are stainless steel, brass and polypropylene. The choice of the proper material means that just about any material, no matter how corrosive it may be, can be moved through pipes and hoses that use these fittings.
These fittings work on a very simple principle. As with all fittings, there is a male and female half. In the cam and groove design, rather than using any threads, the male half of the joint has a groove machined around the circumference. The female side is equipped with two cams mounted to swing arms. When the halves are mated, a simple squeeze of the arms locks the cams into the groove and the joint is made perfectly.
