A unique wire-free device for locking the nuts of two-ferrule compression fittings on instrumentation tubing is now available from the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin – a leader in motion and control technologies, with operations in North and South America. Dubbed WireFree, the patented safety device is constructed almost entirely from 6Mo austenitic stainless steel for enhanced corrosion resistance. It has been developed at the request of a major supplier of instrumentation to the offshore oil and gas industry, which sought a better alternative to wire locking compression tube fittings on deepwater ‘Christmas tree’ fluid flow assemblies.
The WireFree locking device is fabricated entirely from corrosion resistant materials to ensure a long, maintenance-free service life and is based on an open form of construction that minimizes crevices. It essentially comprises one or more flexible clamp arms with rigid load spreading support plates, depending on configuration, and is supplied pre-assembled as a single-piece part to simplify installation. The support plates incorporate self-retaining M4 socket head cap screws and use Spiralock self-locking thread technology to prevent them working loose under vibration. Both the flexible and rigid components are made from 6Mo stainless steel, while the securing screws are 316 stainless steel.
Parker’s new WireFree locking device is designed as a ‘fit-and-forget’ solution that overcomes all the disadvantages of wire locking.