Air Hose Connectors
The Common Use of Air Hose Connectors
Air hose connectors, as the name implies, are small gadgets or devices that allow a flexible tube or pipe to be linked with compressors on one end of the tube, as well as with other devices that facilitate the delivery of compressed gas on its opposite end. This end could be any pneumatic tool such as a nail gun, paint spray gun, or tire inflation.
These devices are cylindrical in design and extend only about a couple of inches long. One end, about half its entire length, is usually of lesser diameter than the other as this is designed to be inserted into a flexible tube. It has one or more ridges to facilitate insertion and to help seal the joint. Sometimes a circular clamp is fastened around the tube in the area of the joint to further tighten the connection.
The other end of the air hose connectors are threaded. This can either be a male pipe thread (MPT) or female pipe thread (FPT). It is this that is screwed into the compressor or the pneumatic tool. Sizes vary but the most common are ΒΌ and 3/8 of an inch.
A variation of the straight cylinder design is the ball swivel type. In order to reduce kinking and twisting of the tube, the plug inserted into the tube connects with the threaded portion via a ball swivel. This allows the tube to swivel freely around the connection with the compressor or pneumatic tool.