Mould coolant quick release couplings

How are mould coolant quick release couplings constructed?

As standard, mould coolant quick release couplings are made from brass and have a viton seal (FKM). This design makes them insensitive to high temperatures (up to 200 degrees Celsius) and good chemical resistance. In addition, they are robust - suitable for operating pressures of up to several bars.

Depending on the type of design, there are several varieties of mould coolant quick release couplings. You can choose from the following versions:

• single shut-off (the coupling socket has a valve);
• double shut-off (both the coupling socket and the coupling plug have valves);
• free-flow (the coupling socket and plug have no valve).

Varieties with valves automatically cut off the flow of the medium when you disconnect the hose from the mould.

Before continuing, it is worth mentioning that mould coolant quick release couplings also have other applications due to their design and characteristics. The small dimensions and chemical insensitivity of the seals also make the couplings suitable for compressed air systems, machine cleaning systems or technical gas cylinders.

They are also used in many other areas of industry (e.g. for transporting media such as oils, lubricants, fuels or steam).

What standards can mould coolant quick release couplings have?

Mould coolant quick release couplings have at least a few different standards. This is because many different companies produce them - that's where the various sizes and types of connections come from. On the other hand, it is worth noting that the profiles of the quick release couplings are largely interchangeable, i.e. you will connect them together despite the different standards.

Either way, however, we advise you to use couplings from the same manufacturer for safety and security.

As for the profiles themselves, the mould coolant quick release coupling is available in:

• European (further subdivided into German and French),
• American.

How does the installation of mould coolant quick release couplings proceed?

There are at least two ways of installing mould coolant quick release couplings. The first is to use a hose clamp that locks the connector into the inlet hose. The second option, on the other hand, is to clamp a suitable fitting onto the hose, which you then tighten onto the quick coupling.

The third option is to press the connector onto a low-pressure compression sleeve (not to be confused with the hydraulic one). The process of crimping the steel sleeve takes place on a hand press, which, thanks to its small dimensions and ease of use, will fulfill its role in every workshop. A huge advantage of installing couplings on a hand press is the absolute lack of leaks at the connection between the coupling and the hose. Moreover, this sleeve can always be cut with scissors and thus the quick connector can be recovered if it is still functional. PUSH-LOCK and PUSH-ON quick connectors are also quite popular and available options. These are special connectors that, when mounted to the hose, seal themselves, without the need to use twisted clamps or compression sleeves. Generally, please note that this type of mold connector only supports dedicated rubber hoses and should not be used with standard EPDM rubber hoses.

The choice of method depends mainly on the type of hose. You will install EPDM or SBR rubber hoses in both ways, while specialised Teflon hoses are usually only installed using crimped fittings.

In contrast, simply connecting the coupling into a sealed installation is very simple. The product works on the basis of PUSH ON/PUSH OFF technology. Simply push the plug into the socket and you will create a tight connection. Push the plug in again and you will disconnect the hose.