月: 2022年12月

What Is a Hose Band?

Hose bands are used for securely connecting and fastening hoses and pipes, and their applications range from garden hoses to industrial pipelines. These bands can be easily installed by wrapping the band around the hose and tightening it, effectively preventing leaks. Adjustable tightening force further ensures a snug fit, enhancing the durability and reliability of the connection.

However, selecting a hose band that properly fits the diameter of the hose or pipe is crucial for ensuring adequate securing force. Additionally, applying the correct torque is important, as over-tightening can cause damage to the hose.

Uses of Hose Bands

Hose bands are versatile and essential in various applications, from horticulture and automotive to manufacturing and household uses.

1. Horticulture

In horticulture, hose bands are pivotal in connecting garden hoses to water faucets, ensuring a leak-free connection and effective water pressure management.

2. Automotive

In automotive cooling systems, hose bands secure radiator hoses to engines, crucial for maintaining optimal engine temperature and preventing coolant leaks.

3. Manufacturing Industry

Used to attach cooling fluid supply hoses to industrial machinery, ensuring efficient cooling and operation of metalworking machinery and other equipment.

4. General Household

Essential for gas piping in kitchens and water line connections in laundry areas, preventing leaks and ensuring safety and efficiency.

Principle of Hose Bands

Hose bands consist of a band and a clamping mechanism, usually made of durable materials like stainless steel or aluminum for metal bands, or plastic for other varieties. They are designed to encircle the hose or pipe, with a clamp or buckle to tighten and secure the band, distributing clamping force evenly and ensuring a tight seal.

Types of Hose Bands

Diverse types of hose bands cater to specific needs and applications:

• Threaded – Featuring a threaded buckle for tightening, ideal for applications requiring strong clamping force, such as in automotive and industrial settings.
• Wire-Type – Made of metal wire, suitable for small hoses and high-temperature environments, offering even tightening and resistance to vibration.
• Clip-on – Utilizes a simple clip mechanism for quick and tool-free installation, perfect for gardening and pool hoses.

What Is a Ring Gauge?

A ring gauge is a measuring instrument used to measure the inside diameter of holes or to control the diameter of shafts and cylinders through threaded inspection. It is also used as a master gauge for calibrating other inside diameter measuring instruments.

Uses of Ring Gauges

Ring gauges are used for multiple purposes, including:

• Setting zero points for bore measuring instruments like cylinder gauges and micrometers.
• Dimensional inspection of shafts and cylindrical parts in manufacturing.
• Quick inspection of thread geometry with thread ring gauges.

Principle of Ring Gauges

Ring gauges operate on the principle of ensuring measurement accuracy and making pass/fail decisions for inspected products by maintaining precise dimensions. They must resist wear and dimensional changes over time. Common materials include tool steel and cemented carbide for their durability and resistance to wear. Finishing processes like grinding and lapping are applied to prolong the lifespan of the gauges.

Other Information on Ring Gauges

1. Precautions for Using Ring Gauges

Care must be taken when handling ring gauges as they are susceptible to dimensional changes due to thermal expansion. Both the gauges and the workpieces being measured should be at a stable temperature during inspection to ensure accurate readings.

2. Calibration of Ring Gauges

Regular calibration of both master and limit ring gauges is necessary to maintain accuracy. Calibration should be conducted by the manufacturer or a specialized measurement company. This is especially crucial for threaded gauges in thread ring gauges, which can wear out and change dimensions over time, affecting the inspection process.

What Is a Step Drill?  

A step drill (bamboo shoot drill) is a drill used to drill holes of different sizes in metals and other materials.

While general drills are straight and the hole diameter is uniform, the conical shape allows the hole diameter to be varied as desired.

:Because of its unique shape, it is also called a bamboo shoot drill.

It is often used in conjunction with electric drills, etc., and can easily perform drilling and deburring.

With a step drill having a spiral-shaped cutting groove, chips are discharged outward so that holes can be drilled without clogging the inside of the drill.

Uses of Step Drills

Step drills are suitable for drilling holes in plastic materials and metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, and brass.

On the other hand, they are not recommended for soft materials such as wood and carbon-based materials, as the high frictional heat can cause scorching.

When a hole is drilled, the edge of the hole is usually sharp, so it is deburred to round off the corners.

In this case, the step drills can easily deburr the hole by pressing one of the outer steps.

Principle of Step Drills

Step drills are equipped with several drill blades of different diameters, each of which has a specific diameter.

The number of steps and diameters vary by manufacturer, but typical examples are:

• 9 steps (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12mmφ)
• 10 steps (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22)
• 15 steps (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 33)
  and other step drills are available.

Many of them have titanium-coated surfaces for excellent sharpness and durability.

As with regular drills, the durability of the drill itself is further improved by the use of cutting oil, which reduces metal-to-metal friction.

However, because of its stepped structure, it cannot drill holes in thick materials and is limited to a thickness of a few mm at most. Step drills are suitable for drilling thin materials.

There are two types of step drills: spiral and straight. The spiral type allows efficient drilling due to its good chip evacuation.

Many of them have a thinning process at the tip, which allows the drill to bite into the material without a punch.

What Are Ear Protectors?

Ear protectors, commonly known as earmuffs, are designed to safeguard hearing by reducing exposure to loud sounds. They play a crucial role in preventing hearing loss and impairment in noisy work environments, such as construction sites and mines. Ear protectors are essential for workers exposed to high noise levels, helping to minimize distractions, communication difficulties, and the risk of occupational diseases related to hearing loss.

Uses of Ear Protectors

Ear protectors serve various purposes across different industries, offering protection against cold weather and industrial noise. They are indispensable in the manufacturing sector, aviation, mining operations, and shooting activities, providing comfort and hearing protection against machinery noise, aircraft engines, blasting operations, and gunfire.

Principle of Ear Protectors

Ear protectors work by physically blocking external sound through their cupped design, which absorbs or reflects sound waves. They consist of multiple layers of sound-insulating materials like foam, rubber, or polyurethane, ensuring a tight seal over the ears to effectively reduce noise penetration. Adjustable headbands allow for a snug fit, enhancing the protector’s noise isolation capabilities.

How to Select Ear Protectors

When choosing ear protectors, consider their design, noise reduction rating (NRR) value, and headband size to ensure they meet the specific needs of the work environment and provide optimal comfort and protection.

What Is a Hand-Operated Winch?

A hand-operated winch is a mechanical device used to lift heavy objects by manually winding a wire that is attached to them. Its primary advantage is its ability to be installed and used anywhere, independent of electric power, unlike an electric winch. To enhance their utility in various environments, some models are designed with improved durability features like salt resistance and rust resistance. There are even specialized large hand-operated winches capable of lifting objects weighing up to 10 tons.

Uses of Hand-Operated Winches

Hand-operated winches find use in numerous work sites and facilities. For instance, they are employed in sports fields and driving ranges to stretch ball nets onto poles, significantly reducing the labor intensity of this task. These winches are also utilized in maritime applications, such as for raising and lowering shipboarding ramps, adjusting the height of work steps and piers, and other scenarios where heavy objects need to be safely raised, lowered, and secured in a specific position.

Principle of Hand-Operated Winches

Hand-operated winches consist of a frame, a drum for winding the wire, and a handle to rotate the drum. The handle’s shaft is fitted with a pinion gear that engages with a drum gear on the drum’s circumference. Turning the handle causes the drum gear to rotate via the pinion gear, thereby winding up the wire. The larger size of the drum gear relative to the pinion gear allows for greater torque generation, albeit with a higher force requirement to turn the handle.

The reduction ratio, which is the ratio of the number of teeth on the pinion gear to the drum gear, is approximately 1/4 for smaller winches. However, for winches designed to lift objects as heavy as 10 tons, the reduction ratio can be about 1/300, meaning it takes 300 handle rotations to complete one drum rotation. Most hand-operated winches are equipped with an automatic brake to prevent the load from falling in case of an issue.

What Is a Rivet Nut?

A rivet nut, also known as a blind nut, is a fastener that creates a screw hole in thin materials like steel plates. It is designed for situations where it’s not feasible to cut a screw hole directly due to the thinness of the material. Rivet nuts, resembling screws with internal threads, are inserted into pre-drilled holes in the thin steel plates, creating a secure point for fastening screws.

To use a rivet nut, a special tool called a hand nutter is required for the riveting process.

Uses of Rivet Nuts

Rivet nuts are primarily used for attaching objects to thin plates using screws. They offer a practical solution in situations where accessing the back of the plate to fasten a nut is difficult, or when simplicity and ease of installation are preferred. This makes them particularly useful in applications like appliance covers and automotive manufacturing, where thin plates are commonly used.

Principle of Rivet Nuts

Rivet nuts are typically made of stainless steel. However, due to the hardness of stainless steel, aluminum rivet nuts are often preferred for hand nutter applications. For stainless steel rivet nuts, or those larger than M6, pneumatic or hydraulic riveting equipment is usually necessary due to the increased difficulty of manual installation.

During installation, the rivet nut is first attached to the mandrel of the hand nutter. The hand nutter then inserts the rivet nut into the pre-drilled hole in the thin plate. By pulling the handle of the hand nutter, the rivet nut is tightened, causing it to flatten against the inside of the plate, thereby securing both the plate and the rivet nut’s brim. This process requires considerable force and may, in extreme cases, lead to the breaking of the mandrel.

What Is an Electric Screwdriver?

An electric screwdriver is a power tool where the motor handles the rotating action necessary for tightening screws. This tool significantly saves time and labor in screw-tightening tasks compared to manual methods. Electric screwdrivers can be broadly categorized into drill screwdrivers and impact screwdrivers.

Drill drivers are adept at high-speed fastening and offer adjustable rotation speeds for precision work. They can double as drills when fitted with the appropriate bit and often feature a clutch mechanism to prevent over-tightening. On the other hand, impact drivers, known for their striking power, combine rotational force with impact to achieve greater torque, allowing for efficient fastening without pre-drilling.

Uses of Electric Screwdrivers

Electric screwdrivers are widely used for fastening a large number of screws, particularly in industrial assembly plants. While many factories use air-powered screwdrivers, electric ones are also common, especially on construction sites. Impact drivers are particularly useful in construction, capable of driving screws into thick wood without pre-drilling, making them handy for various DIY projects.

Principle of Electric Screwdrivers

Electric screwdrivers operate by using electricity to power a motor that rotates the bit for screw driving. They can be either corded, connected to an outlet, or cordless, powered by batteries. Cordless models offer portability and convenience, especially on construction sites where mobility is essential.

1. Drill Driver

Drill drivers feature adjustable rotation speeds controlled by a trigger. The depth to which the trigger is pulled determines the speed, allowing for both slow and fast rotations. They also often include a clutch mechanism to regulate the tightening torque, preventing over-tightening by slipping at a predetermined torque.

2. Impact Driver

Impact drivers incorporate a hammer mechanism that delivers rotational momentum as an impact force, enabling high torque generation. However, unlike drill drivers, they cannot adjust rotation speed or limit tightening torque.

Additional Information on Electric Screwdrivers

1. Bits for Electric Screwdrivers

Electric screwdrivers are versatile, with the ability to fasten various screw types by attaching different bits. Drill screwdrivers can also be used for drilling when fitted with the appropriate drill bit. The selection of bits should align with the specific use of the electric screwdriver.

2. Bit Hardness

Bits are categorized into hardness levels (S, E, G, H, X), with X being the hardest. The bit’s hardness should match the screw’s hardness to avoid damage during fastening.

3. Length of Bit Insert

Bit inserts vary in length, typically classified as A-type (used in domestic screwdrivers) and B-type. The selection of the bit insert length should be compatible with the specific electric screwdriver model.

What Is a Protective Cap?

A protective cap is a cover designed to be placed over or inserted into objects with sharp edges or potentially hazardous parts, such as wires, round bars, pipes, bolts, nuts, threads, connectors, and cables. These caps are used to prevent contamination from foreign matter and dust, protect against rust, cover cut surfaces, and prevent injuries.

Protective caps come in various materials, including silicon, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. They are available in different colors, hole sizes, and thicknesses, with options like luminescent, square, and hexagonal shapes. The caps are also available in specific types, such as round tip, square, and screw head types for hexagonal bolts, allowing for selection based on specific applications.

Uses of Protective Caps

Protective caps are utilized in various industries, including automotive, industrial, and construction sectors. They serve to protect the ends of wires, cables, steel pipes, and connectors, as well as to safeguard protruding parts to prevent injuries. Examples of their use include:

• Covering the ends of wires and thin pipes
• Protecting the tips of control buttons
• Providing tip protection and vibration isolation for bon pins
• Protecting banana connectors
• Insulating screw caps for current-carrying terminals
• Capping single pipe bolts
• Using as Mekura caps for vacant piping terminals in automobiles
• Masking applications in painting processes

Principle of Protective Caps

When selecting protective caps, it is important to choose a material that suits the application, considering factors such as durability, heat resistance, chemical resistance, electrical insulation, and oil resistance. Materials commonly used for protective caps include:

• Soft PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Frequently used for screw caps due to its ease of fitting and removal, tear resistance, electrical insulation, oil and chemical resistance, cold and abrasion resistance, aging resistance, and flexibility.
• Silicone: Known for its high heat resistance of up to 220 °C and stability under ultraviolet exposure and outdoor conditions. Silicone caps are available in various colors.
• EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber): Offers excellent weather, ozone, aging, and solvent resistance, but is not suitable for oil-rich environments due to its lower oil resistance.
• Polyethylene: Resistant to alkalis but susceptible to strong acids, usable from -60 °C to 90 °C, often used for pipe and thread caps.

When choosing a size, it is advisable to select a cap slightly smaller (about 1mm) than the diameter of the part to ensure a secure fit and prevent the cap from falling out.

What Is a Test Pump?

A test pump is a device used to measure the durability of water piping to determine if it has any leaks or can withstand a certain amount of pressure.

Since a test pump is a pump, it pumps water, and there are manual test pump that pump water manually and electric test pump that pump water electrically. The volume of piping that can be tested is determined by the pump’s pumping capacity, and the water pressure that can be applied to the piping is also determined.

A small, portable test pump is sufficient for the scale of an ordinary household, but a larger test pump is required for large-scale water piping tests.

Uses of Test Pumps

After installing water piping, it is necessary to test it for leaks and other defects to determine if the installation is acceptable for use.

Cracks or poor joints in the piping will cause water leakage. Continued use of leaking pipes will corrode surrounding building materials and lead to mold growth and other problems. Also, you may have to pay an unintended water bill, so test pumps are used to perform this type of testing.

Test pumps are also used to test water pressure after replacing a valve on a water line or after creating a branch in a water line and installing a faucet in a different location.

Principle of Test Pumps

After connecting the piping connected to the test pumps to the piping to be tested, the test pumps water into the piping while removing air to fill the inside of the piping with water.

At this time, water pressure is applied to the water filling the pipes. The water pressure in the pipes is monitored by a pressure gauge, and if there are cracks in the pipes and water leaks, the water in the pipes will gradually drain out and the pressure gauge value will gradually decrease. The reason for applying water pressure is that without water pressure, there is no pressure change even if water is leaking, so it is impossible to tell if water is leaking.

In addition, since water piping can be subjected to impacts such as water hammer, we also check that the piping is not damaged by applying a certain amount of pressure.

The manual type increases water pressure by operating a lever, which enables fine adjustment of water pressure and does not require a power source. A small manual test pumps are easy to use for testing small-scale water piping.

On the other hand, the electric type requires a power supply, but the pump operates electrically, so the water is automatically pumped. Electric test pumps are better suited for testing large volume plumbing lines.

What Is a Urethane Sheet?

Urethane sheets are versatile resin products utilized in various applications, including soundproofing construction and as cushioning material. These sheets are made from urethane rubber and processed into uniform thicknesses, offering different hardness levels based on their foam structure.

They find widespread use, including in office supplies like mats to kitchen sponges, and even in soundproofing walls for music studios and clubs. Urethane sheets are also employed in safety measures, serving as a base for measuring force in experimental setups.

Uses of Urethane Sheets

Urethane sheets serve multiple functions, including heat insulation in homes, sound insulation in music studios, and as shock-absorbing boards in industrial settings. Their low rebound properties make them ideal for mattresses, sports mats, and fitness equipment. Due to their excellent resistance to oils and greases, these sheets also provide stable underlays for commercial machinery and soundproofing solutions in residential settings.

Principle of Urethane Sheets

These sheets are categorized as soft or hard based on their foaming process and bubble size. Soft urethane sheets, which are non-conductive and suitable for electrical insulation, offer versatility in packaging and transportation. Hard urethane sheets, known for their gripping functions, are used in construction and as alternative marking materials for roads and pathways.

Types of Urethane Sheets

• Urethane Foam Sheet: Lightweight with excellent cushioning and insulation properties, used in various applications from packing materials to seat cushions.
• High-Density Urethane Sheet: Known for its durability and soundproofing capabilities, ideal for acoustic rooms and machinery vibration control.
• Cured Urethane Sheet: Offers high hardness and durability, effective in construction for soundproof walls and anti-vibration pads.
• Adhesive Urethane Sheet: Features adhesive on one side for easy application, suitable for DIY and repair tasks that require vibration absorption.
• Heat-Resistant Urethane Sheet: Designed to withstand high temperatures, used as heat insulators or pads in environments prone to heat exposure.