Van Stone Flanges
At TCG Duct we recently fabricated another order with Van Stone Flange joints.
What is a Van Stone Flange?
What benefits does a Van Stone flange bring to the table, compared to other standards like welded neck flanges, slip on flanges, and threaded flanges?
Van Stone refers to a two-piece flange with a rotating ring. It’s a type of lap joint flange where the bolt ring on the flange rotates separately from the hub, making bolt alignment easy during installation.
Van Stone flanges are used to join lengths of piping and valves and can be used to join HVAC spiral duct as well.
The Van Stone system is sometimes also referred to as a “Conrac” flange. The Conrac Corporation of California originally developed the Van Stone system as a way to make the manufacturing of pipework more labor and cost efficient, as well as providing a superior technical joint.
According to SMACNA, the major advantage of the Van Stone connection is labor savings. First, it eliminates the need for welding. Second, because the backing flanges rotate for alignment, manhandling of piping to achieve a good fit is also eliminated. Van Stone flanges can be fitted to piping and ductwork during fabrication, offering industrial precision and cost savings, or in the field when necessary.
Benefits and Limitations of Van Stone Flanges
Benefits
- Labor savings during installation.
- Connections line up perfectly, and welding can be eliminated (depending up static pressure requirements).
- Disassembly for inspection is easy and practical.
- Save costs by using different materials for flange parts that interact with piped substances and parts that do not (i.e. the backing flange and stub end).
Limitations
- While superior to slip on flanges, Van Stone flanges (non-welded) are not designed for high pressure applications.
- When selecting gaskets and sealants for airtight joints, operating temperature and piped materials must be carefully considered.
- The clamping pressure produced by the connecting bolts may not prevent distortion or leakage in large diameter ducts under negative pressure or large loads.
Van Stone flanges are an excellent option for safe, reliable joints with optimal cost-effectiveness. How do you know if they are right for your specific project or application? Call The Cincinnatus Group at 878-295-8009, or visit our Contact Us page today.
Duct Fabrication is TCG’s Business
At TCG Duct, we can provide all or part of your HVAC fabrication needs. Your project is priced from a Material List or via a take off from prints you provide. Our team of engineers, fabricators and technicians are trained on the latest equipment and methods that enable us to meet your exacting standards.
Let TCG Duct be your partner in the HVAC Industry as an experienced, high-quality manufacturer of HVAC duct of all types. Our goal is to partner with our customers in ways that make the entire workflow from order to installation a seamless exercise in time and cost savings.
The Cincinnatus Group supplies traditional Rectangular Ductwork as well as Spiral Ductwork, Double Wall Spiral Duct , PCD Ductwork, and Industrial Welded Ductwork.
Why Choose The Cincinnatus Group?
As your partner, The Cincinnatus Group helps your organization stand out in its marketplace, win more bids, save substantial costs, and build the knowledge and skills your team needs to continually meet new challenges effectively and profitably.
Our strong work ethic, accountability, and pursuit of excellence sets us apart from other contracted sales and marketing services, and our unique expertise and proprietary ductwork systems make us unique amongst our competitors.
At The Cincinnatus Group, our fabrication partners gain access to our unique experience and expertise in contracted sales and marketing.
Our assets help you navigate the ever-changing markets of the 21st century.
To learn more about our Contracted Sales services or other services we provide: Contracted Estimating and Take Offs, CAD/BIM/Coordination Drawings, and Project Management Assistance, please call The Cincinnatus Group at 878-295-8009, or visit our Contact Us page today. We are looking forward to the opportunity to help grow your business.
