DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO)

hoppyinca · 19th August 2007, 03:38

greetings,

I just got a source for welded VCO connections (you could choose 1/8 or 1/4 inch SS tube). Pressure tested to 150psi, no issues.

This was custom for the center section connection, they manufactured it for me...

anyone need one? couple bucks for time and trouble, nothing exprbitant...

hoppyinca

Hootis · 21st August 2007, 05:18

Hoppyinca,

Aren't they available from Swagelock? I thought I saw them in the catalog recently???

Just checked..."Call for availability." Sounds dubious.

So yeah...I'll take a few if youre having some made. How many do you have to spare?

Ryan

hoppyinca · 22nd August 2007, 02:29

I had them make me a one off, regardless of price... I was searching for interest...

unfortunately, the closest VCO bulkhead connection swagelok has now (PN: SS-4-VCO-61 Descrip: SS VCO O-Ring Face Seal Fitting, Bulkhead Union, 1/4 in. VCO Fittings) will require the opening of the center section penetration from 7.5mm to 11mm, accompanied by a reducing union to attach to the current ADV piping (inside the center section).

The "stock" exterior connection parts (i.e. VCO female) require too much space, if it is used right off the shelf the piping would impinge on the case and not allow using a cover (this was the whole reason I began this quest). Soo...

The solution:
I have them start with a blank, machine it to receive the 1/8 inch tubing, and then tig weld the tube in to the new constructed flange... add the nut and vola! the tubing can then be bent close enough to the connection that no impingement on the case occurs.

I would include a pic, but I am having issues getting it off my phone...

any questions please feel free to ask...

Hootis · 22nd August 2007, 05:36

Quote: (Originally Posted by hoppyinca)

any questions please feel free to ask...

Huh?

Not sure what you mean exactly...did you have the bulkhead made or the gland that goes on the end of the tube? Is this for the O2 & Dil from the manifold (right side of the center section) or the Dil for the ADV feed?

Thanks,
Ryan

PS Fortunately, I haven't needed whatever you're making...YET.

Actually, I was thinking about replumbing my whole rig in VCO's. I really like them much better than the 'standard' Swagelock fittings.

hoppyinca · 23rd August 2007, 04:03

Quote: (Originally Posted by Hootis)

...did you have the bulkhead made or the gland that goes on the end of the tube?

...O2 & Dil from the manifold (right side of the center section) or the Dil for the ADV feed?

...thinking about replumbing my whole rig in VCO's...

bulkhead piece is stock (see part number in previous post). What I had made was the "female" side of the VCO connection (the part without the o-ring).

ADV feed...

replumbing with all VCO's would be VERY expensive, not to mention difficult. I think you would run into space constraints in many locations.

hoppyinca

**Dave Sutton** · 23rd August 2007, 13:14

Quote: (Originally Posted by hoppyinca)

Iand then tig weld the tube in to the new constructed flange...

Silver soldered, actually........

These are brazed fittings, not welded. They are silver soldered and the solder is stronger than the tube.

Dave

hoppyinca · 23rd August 2007, 18:40

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Sutton)

Silver soldered, actually........

These are brazed fittings, not welded...

that was the problem... I had one that failed at the brazing... so the one have had made, and will have made in the future are actaully TIG welded... WAY more stronger-er than brazing.

hoppyinca

Hootis · 24th August 2007, 03:27

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Sutton)

Silver soldered, actually........

I've never seen any silver soldered joints on any of my MK15's. Maybe yours was repaired or something Dave???

Ryan

hoppyinca · 24th August 2007, 04:49

Quote: (Originally Posted by Hootis)

I've never seen any silver soldered joints...

there has to be some kind of soldering/ brazing/ welding on the female side of the VCO fittings. that is how the gland (part with the flat face that seals on the o-ring) is connected to the tubing.

hoppyinca

**Dave Sutton** · 24th August 2007, 10:06

Quote: (Originally Posted by hoppyinca)

there has to be some kind of soldering/ brazing/ welding on the female side of the VCO fittings.

It's silver solder. Trust me here.... we used hundreds of the VCO fittings to build the Viking Piper Sat complex (I did the soldering...). There is so little solder visible that you would swear the fittings were not brazed, but they are. Originally, there is a tiny ring of solder placed down the fitting, then the tube is installed, and then the thing is heated with a torch. Fluxing is critical. Just as good a job can be done by PROPERLY cleaning the tube and fitting, PROPERLY fluxing, assembling the parts, heating with a torch (oxy-acetelene- it needs to be HOT), and then flowing in REAL silver solder.

If one fails--- it was poorly done. I would *not* TIG weld the replacement. I would *properly silver solder* it. That's the MILSPEC and it works *just as well on the Mark-15 as it does in spaceflight hardware*.....

If it's done right, there will be very little evidence of solder. If you look at any of the factory VCO fittings you'll see a metal radius where the tube enters the fitting... that radius is the visible solder.

Dave

19th August 2007, 03:38	#1 (permalink)
hoppyinca New Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA USA Posts: 252	DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) greetings, I just got a source for welded VCO connections (you could choose 1/8 or 1/4 inch SS tube). Pressure tested to 150psi, no issues. This was custom for the center section connection, they manufactured it for me... anyone need one? couple bucks for time and trouble, nothing exprbitant... hoppyinca
(Offline)

21st August 2007, 05:18	#2 (permalink)
Hootis New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Megalodon MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 28	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) Hoppyinca, Aren't they available from Swagelock? I thought I saw them in the catalog recently??? Just checked..."Call for availability." Sounds dubious. So yeah...I'll take a few if youre having some made. How many do you have to spare? Ryan
(Offline)

22nd August 2007, 02:29	#3 (permalink)
hoppyinca New Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA USA Posts: 252	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) I had them make me a one off, regardless of price... I was searching for interest... unfortunately, the closest VCO bulkhead connection swagelok has now (PN: SS-4-VCO-61 Descrip: SS VCO O-Ring Face Seal Fitting, Bulkhead Union, 1/4 in. VCO Fittings) will require the opening of the center section penetration from 7.5mm to 11mm, accompanied by a reducing union to attach to the current ADV piping (inside the center section). The "stock" exterior connection parts (i.e. VCO female) require too much space, if it is used right off the shelf the piping would impinge on the case and not allow using a cover (this was the whole reason I began this quest). Soo... The solution: I have them start with a blank, machine it to receive the 1/8 inch tubing, and then tig weld the tube in to the new constructed flange... add the nut and vola! the tubing can then be bent close enough to the connection that no impingement on the case occurs. I would include a pic, but I am having issues getting it off my phone... any questions please feel free to ask...
(Offline)

22nd August 2007, 05:36	#4 (permalink)
Hootis New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Megalodon MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 28	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) Quote: (Originally Posted by hoppyinca) any questions please feel free to ask... Huh? Not sure what you mean exactly...did you have the bulkhead made or the gland that goes on the end of the tube? Is this for the O2 & Dil from the manifold (right side of the center section) or the Dil for the ADV feed? Thanks, Ryan PS Fortunately, I haven't needed whatever you're making...YET. Actually, I was thinking about replumbing my whole rig in VCO's. I really like them much better than the 'standard' Swagelock fittings. Last edited by Hootis : 22nd August 2007 at 05:39.
(Offline)

23rd August 2007, 04:03	#5 (permalink)
hoppyinca New Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA USA Posts: 252	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) Quote: (Originally Posted by Hootis) ...did you have the bulkhead made or the gland that goes on the end of the tube? ...O2 & Dil from the manifold (right side of the center section) or the Dil for the ADV feed? ...thinking about replumbing my whole rig in VCO's... bulkhead piece is stock (see part number in previous post). What I had made was the "female" side of the VCO connection (the part without the o-ring). ADV feed... replumbing with all VCO's would be VERY expensive, not to mention difficult. I think you would run into space constraints in many locations. hoppyinca
(Offline)

23rd August 2007, 13:14	#6 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Diveshop of Horrors Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island and Hackettstown, New Jersey Posts: 2,672	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) Quote: (Originally Posted by hoppyinca) Iand then tig weld the tube in to the new constructed flange... Silver soldered, actually........ These are brazed fittings, not welded. They are silver soldered and the solder is stronger than the tube. Dave __________________ "Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes, Nothing remains quite the same".... www.nobubblediving.com
(Offline)

23rd August 2007, 18:40	#7 (permalink)
hoppyinca New Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA USA Posts: 252	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Sutton) Silver soldered, actually........ These are brazed fittings, not welded... that was the problem... I had one that failed at the brazing... so the one have had made, and will have made in the future are actaully TIG welded... WAY more stronger-er than brazing. hoppyinca Last edited by hoppyinca : 23rd August 2007 at 18:41. Reason: clarification... proper english...
(Offline)

24th August 2007, 03:27	#8 (permalink)
Hootis New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Megalodon MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 28	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave Sutton) Silver soldered, actually........ I've never seen any silver soldered joints on any of my MK15's. Maybe yours was repaired or something Dave??? Ryan
(Offline)

24th August 2007, 04:49	#9 (permalink)
hoppyinca New Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA USA Posts: 252	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) Quote: (Originally Posted by Hootis) I've never seen any silver soldered joints... there has to be some kind of soldering/ brazing/ welding on the female side of the VCO fittings. that is how the gland (part with the flat face that seals on the o-ring) is connected to the tubing. hoppyinca
(Offline)

24th August 2007, 10:06	#10 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Diveshop of Horrors Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island and Hackettstown, New Jersey Posts: 2,672	Re: DIL and O2 center section connections (Swagelok VCO) Quote: (Originally Posted by hoppyinca) there has to be some kind of soldering/ brazing/ welding on the female side of the VCO fittings. It's silver solder. Trust me here.... we used hundreds of the VCO fittings to build the Viking Piper Sat complex (I did the soldering...). There is so little solder visible that you would swear the fittings were not brazed, but they are. Originally, there is a tiny ring of solder placed down the fitting, then the tube is installed, and then the thing is heated with a torch. Fluxing is critical. Just as good a job can be done by PROPERLY cleaning the tube and fitting, PROPERLY fluxing, assembling the parts, heating with a torch (oxy-acetelene- it needs to be HOT), and then flowing in REAL silver solder. If one fails--- it was poorly done. I would not TIG weld the replacement. I would properly silver solder it. That's the MILSPEC and it works just as well on the Mark-15 as it does in spaceflight hardware..... If it's done right, there will be very little evidence of solder. If you look at any of the factory VCO fittings you'll see a metal radius where the tube enters the fitting... that radius is the visible solder. Dave __________________ "Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes, Nothing remains quite the same".... www.nobubblediving.com
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode