45° Branch Y-Connection - Glass

The glass 45° branch connection lets the flow at the branch point be watched by eye. Dimensional accuracy and stress relief (annealing) are essential in glass parts; unannealed glass cracks under installation stress.

Especially on lines conveying highly abrasive materials (e.g. glass fiber reinforced plastics), the use of a glass Y-connection and/or a closed glass T-piece is recommended — thanks to its transparency, the material flow can be watched as well.

The 45° Branch Y-Connection is used to add a side line to the main line at a narrow 45° angle; it provides a smoother transition than a right-angled T-piece. There is a copper strip on the outer surface — it provides electrical conductivity (static discharge) when glass and stainless steel tubes are connected with special couplings.

The two advantages of glass

Glass fittings are preferred for two reasons. The first is wear resistance: a glass surface lasts longer than steel against abrasive granulate. The second is visibility: the flow at the branch point can be watched directly. A blockage, build-up or unexpected flow behavior is noticed without dismantling the line.

Why being able to see the branch point is valuable

A significant share of line problems start at branch points. The material slows down here, builds up and a blockage forms over time. A transparent branch part shows this process at its very beginning; one can intervene before the problem turns into a blockage. At color changes too, it can be verified by eye whether the line has really been cleaned.

Stress relief is essential

Two technical requirements stand out with glass parts: dimensional accuracy and the glass being sufficiently stress relieved (annealed). Unannealed glass cracks unexpectedly under temperature change or installation stress. That is why glass fittings require a production process different from standard glass tube.

The limit of use

Glass is fragile; it must not be used in places with a risk of impact, on forklift routes or at points of high vibration. In these areas wear-resistant steel fittings are safer.