:: DESIGN ::

Features of the Taper-Lok© design include:

• Design Integrity   
  Taper-Lok© pressure-energized connectors are engineered to provide the safest seal of any bolted connection.  Available in nominal pipe sizes from 1/2" to 72", pressures to 40,000 psi, and temperatures and cryogenic services ranging from –350  to 1600º F.  Taper-Lok© connectors provide unequaled design flexibility.  Since the seal ring is generally made of the same material as the mating flanges, thermal expansion/contraction concerns are practically eliminated as well as dissimilar metal concerns.

• Metal Seal Rings
  Many of the performance advantages of Taper-Lok© connectors are derived from the design of its seal ring.  The tapered ring configuration and the principle of an area-type seal allow these seal rings to withstand repeated installation, while experiencing only slight plastic deformation.  Taper-Lok© seal rings are engineered for use with most pressure classes of a given pipe size, regardless of pipe schedule.  Conventional flanges and clamp-type connectors necessitate stocking different seals for both the pipe schedule and pressure rating of the connector within a given pipe size.
  
  Taper-Lok© Seal rings are normally manufactured of the same material as the flange.  This compatibility provides for uniform expansion and contraction throughout the bolted connection, further enhancing the integrity and life of the seal.  As with flanges, a wide array of material is available.  All Taper-Lok© seal rings receive a factory-applied plating/coating that provides the required lubricity to promote an effective seal and preclude galling.  A variety of coatings are available to ensure process and temperature compatibility.

• Wide Area Type Seal
  The driving premise behind the design of Taper-Lok© connectors is the tapered
  seal ring geometry.  This unique design insures a significant length of the seal surfaces contacts both the male and female components, constituting an area-type seal.  Area-type seals provide considerably greater sealing contact than the line-or-point contact seals characteristic of conventional ANSI, API (RTJ) and clamp-type designs.
  
  The tapered seal ring employed in Taper-Lok© components provides additional benefit due to internal pressure; it is self-energizing.  As the system is pressurized, the fully confined seal ring is further wedged into the annulus formed by the mating male and female components, forming an ever-tighter seal.  This pressure energizing effect does not impart additional loads on the retaining bolting set.  The tapered design and area-type seal are clearly illustrated in the flange cross-section.
  
  Taper-Lok© seal rings have a small lip on the top of them.  In the unbolted state the seal ring lip will stand off of the face of the flange.  While the flange is bolted up, the seal ring is forced into the female pocket until the lip rests against the flange face.  This lip resting against the face is visual proof that the seal is seated correctly.

• High Integrity Seal
  Taper-Lok©'s area-type seal generally allows the length of the sealing surface to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the pipe.  Unlike line-or-point contacting seals, the area-type seal requires any potential “leak path” to be extremely long.
  When the components are in the bolted condition, the distance between the flange faces is far shorter than the length of the seal ring, resulting in a “blow-out” proof seal ring.  These features are critical to applications involving lethal services, fugitive emission control, benzene and other critical fluids under high temperatures and/or pressures.
  
  
• Smaller Size, Lighter Weight
  Surfaces of the Taper-Lok© seal ring are nearly parallel to their axial centerline. This converging design provides reduced end loads, thereby allowing the use of smaller bolting, bolt loads and bolt circles.  The seal's pressure-energized characteristics, coupled with its lighter bolt-load requirements, result in a more compact design permitting significant space and weight savings.  Taper-Lok©'s design differs markedly from the radial type seals and gaskets commonly used in conventional components, making Taper-Lok© connectors 60-70% lighter that their conventional flange counterparts.
  
  The ability to impart a full seal with substantially smaller bolt loads allows most Taper-Lok© components to be installed with conventional hand tools and impact wrenches.  The elimination of special bolt-tensioning equipment means time and cost savings during installation.

• Alignment
  The tapered design of the sealing surfaces offers several other practical advantages.  Taper-Lok© connectors are engineered to accept up to 2-degrees axial pipe misalignment and still deliver a full high integrity seal.  The frequent warpage of heavy wall pipe, a result of high heat generated during welding, makes this an important advantage of Taper-Lok©.  Another installation benefit is the self-aligning nature of the components.  The tapered male and female geometry of the mating components promotes a self-aligning action during assembly.  
  
  The Taper-Lok© design has virtually eliminated seal ring positioning problems associated with other metal seal design.  The male Taper-Lok© component holds the tapered sealing in place for easier and quicker bolt up.  In addition, the seal ring is always visible, even when assembled, allowing inspection for proper installation.