Stainless steel hose nipples: characteristics and uses

When we talk about hydraulic fittings, we always tend to think of nipples, bends and reductions for the connection of steel pipes that connect systems and which must satisfy certain thermal, pressure and resistance characteristics.
In the world of fittings, however, there are also components that allow the connection between pipes of different materials, such as steel and polymeric materials: among these there are stainless steel hose nipples.

Why use rubber in plumbing systems?

The term rubber generally refers to a polymeric material that has notable elasticity characteristics that allow its deformation without ever entering the plastic field and, therefore, without permanently changing shape. In fact, pipes made of this material have the following characteristics:
- good resistance: considerably lower than that of steel, but still suitable in certain application areas where significant stresses are not present;
- elasticity: fundamental characteristic that allows the deformation of the tubes, avoiding permanent and unwanted breakages or elongations;
- versatility: the possibility of being used in narrow spaces or in significantly different situations makes this type of pipe fundamental in the world of hydraulics.
In any case, we must not overlook the importance of the correct choice of rubber and the associated production method to obtain a product that complies with legal regulations and the required application specifications.


What is a hose nipple?

A stainless steel hose nipple is a connecting component between a threaded tube, typically made of steel, and a rubber hose. The connection of the rubber hose is achieved by fitting it onto the stem, also thanks to the presence of gripping teeth which allow the connection to be held and maintained even in the event of considerable tensile stress. The most important dimensional characteristics are:
- the connection thread: of the GAS type and whose diameter is in close correlation with the type of nut;
- the length of the threaded section: which must be proportionate to the type of thread;
- the type of nut: which can be hexagonal, octagonal or decagonal;
- length of the attachment area of the rubber hose;
- diameter of this section;
- inlet internal diameter and outlet internal diameter.
Understanding the needs of each individual project and making coherent choices represents the fundamental point to avoid leaks or malfunctions even for periods of application significantly shorter than the useful life of the stainless steel hose nipples.
In this context, Intertubi produces hose nipples according to the ISO-4144 standard and, thanks to experience in the field, creates products of notable quality, meeting the customer's needs.