Couplers and Adaptors

To run a safe and efficient loading system, every part, fitting, and accessory needs to be working together seamlessly. With years of experience engineering full loading systems, SafeRack can help keep your product flowing quickly and safely. Couplers (also referred to as couplings) help ease loading and unloading connections between railcars or trucks and the terminals in which they’re operating. And we have an extensive range of couplings ideally suited for hazardous materials, including API loading couplers, aviation fuel couplers and vapor couplers from brands such as OPW, TODO, and Emco Wheaton.

As a result of the continuous coupling and uncoupling during the loading and unloading process, the mating surface becomes worn. Ultimately, the consequence of this wear will lead to product leakage. The is where the adaptor wear inspection gauge is the most reliable way to ensure the mating surface between an adaptor and a loading coupler cam is appropriate for use and meets recommended settings.
Quick Connect Systems

You need your unloading applications to work efficiently no matter the conditions, so it’s critical to have a quick connect and disconnect (QC/DC) system that you can rely on. All of SafeRack’s QC/DC fittings help you maintain seamless connections swiftly and seamlessly, which means you can keep business moving forward.

SafeRack supplies a wide range of engineered systems, including OPW’s Kamlok, the world’s most popular cam and groove, and Emco Wheaton’s TODO Series. And because every product we offer is proven to work and built to last, you’ll have confidence in every connection, every time.

Plus, in addition to helping you select the right size and configuration, our expert team of engineers can recommend the best parts and accessories for your system, including adaptors, dust caps, dust plugs and more.
Cam and Groove Coupling Systems

In extreme applications, leaks can be particularly destructive. For those situations, cam and groove couplings can be used to eliminate spills during the connecting and disconnecting process.

High-performing, innovative disconnects, including OPW’s Kamvalok and Autolok series and Emco Wheaton’s TODO Dry Disconnect Couplings, have been proven to protect workers and the environment from hazardous materials. Designed to last, these disconnect systems provide customers with a wide range of benefits, including easy-to-use features and additional protection for liquid transfers.

No matter your industry, you can rely on SafeRack to help you select and install the right disconnects and parts for your specific application.

Drylok Couplings

Drylok couplings are the closest dry disconnect on the market. They feature low-pressure drops, along with very tight seals and fittings, allowing virtually no spillage. An interlocking handle averts accidental spills by preventing uncoupling while the valve is open. And, the unit’s flat face minimizes fluid loss, further reducing exposure to risk during operation. Because of their unique poppet action they virtually eliminate spillage of any residual liquid contained within the line after disconnection. There’s also super-pak adjustable packing with V-type material that provides a continuous compression, emission-free seal on the handle shaft.

The standard in the industry of dry-disconnect couplers are the OPW Drylok couplings. The couplings are designed to safely transfer hazardous corrosive, volatile liquids such as acids, solvents and petrochemicals and used at liquid transfer points where product loss could potentially occur. These couplers provide a reliable solution to prevent spillage during connection or disconnection. Wherever you have applications requiring transferring of product, whether in-house, on railcars, tank cars or trucks and trailers, the Drylok coupler will keep your workers safe by preventing spillage.

The most common applications for the use of dry-disconnect couplers include manufacturers of paint, lacquers, inks, adhesives, fatty acids, pharmaceuticals, liquid soaps, and many other liquid products. They are particularly well suited for handling petroleum products, solvents, agricultural chemicals, vegetable oils, detergents, and many acids and other caustics.

OPW Drylok provides automatic closure from both directions – the coupler and the adaptor. With its simple connection and disconnection design and lever-actuated internal poppet configuration, this has become the first choice for liquid transfer operations in all manufacturing environments.

The size of the couplings should be carefully selected and the temperature should be considered when selecting any coupling. The coupler must work at the required temperature and the correct pressure.

Kamvalok Couplers

Kamvalok couplers are a dry disconnect coupling which helps eliminate dripping before, during, and after loading.

The most popular cam-and-groove couplers in the industry are the Kamvalok couplers. They have a built-in valve and a spring-loaded poppet that automatically closes when disconnected. It will prevent dangerous and costly fluid loss from both regular and accidental disconnects even on the occasion that the valve is left in the open position. The simple connection and disconnection design and lever-actuated internal poppet configuration makes this the first choice for any and all liquid transfer operations.

You can count on these couplers to provide you with a reliable and dependable solution to the risk of disastrous spillage during both connection and the disconnection processes. Because of its unique poppet action this type of coupling further eliminates spillage of any residual liquid contained within the line after disconnection.

Our customers know to use these couplings at transfer points where product loss is unacceptable. The most common applications are during the manufacturing or transport of paint, adhesives, lacquers, inks, liquid soaps, fatty acids, pharmaceuticals, and a large range of other liquid products. The couplings are additionally appropriately suited for handling petroleum products, solvents, agricultural chemicals, vegetable oils, detergents and many acids and caustics. If your product is toxic, corrosive, caustic or otherwise harmful, these high-performance dry disconnect couplings will help reduce the hazards associated with the transfer of these products.

Benefits:

Spill Protection – Helps to reduce the hazards involved in the connection/disconnection process of transferring hazardous materials.

Provides For Total Closed-Loop Loading Capabilities – When used with the OPW 2173N Vapor Recovery Dry Disconnect coupling protects people and property from dangerous and potentially costly exposure by keeping hazardous liquids and vapors in-line and out of the environment.

Dual Protection – OPW Kamvaloks® provide automatic closure from both directions – the coupler and the adaptor.

Ease of Use – The simple connection and disconnection design and lever-actuated internal poppet configuration makes this the first choice for liquid transfer operations.

Sight Flow Indicators and Sight Glass

The remarkable versatility of sight flow indicators makes them extremely useful in a variety of industries to monitor and verify fluid flow through filtering, cooling, intake and output pumping, as well as other industrial processes. The use of sight flow indicators are the most efficient way to ascertain if and where problems exist at any point along an industrial process line.

Sight flow indicators are useful in both new and older power plants to monitor the flow of critical fluids, such as water in cooling lines or lubricants that are pumped to turbines in hydro-electric generators. Today’s newer flow indicators are more reliable and often replace aging models during system upgrades.

Other industries using sight flow indicators include wastewater treatment plants that use them to visually monitor the filtering process. The most common point to install them would be at the second stage aeration tank pumping lines in order to verify sludge removal and ensure efficient aeration.

The petroleum industry utilizes flow indicators to visually monitor drilling pump operations. Indicators provide the operator with a window to show if dirty fluids are being pumped from a down-hole hydraulic cleaning process.

In the manufacturing industry sight flow indicators are used in a variety of ways, for example, to monitor the draining of hydraulic oil, monitoring the proper flow of coolant, and ensuring the efficient filtration of process fluids.

The chemical industry uses flow indicators in a vast number of companies that primarily include the following:

• Paint and Varnish Processing Plants: Sight flow indicators are used to notify operators when filters become clogged.
• Distilling Operations: Sight flow indicators are used to gauge color and clarity of fluids.
• Refineries: Sight flow indicators are used to monitor the draining of water from the bottom of storage tanks. The visual presence of oil in the indicator is a signal that the water is completely drained.

Anywhere that fluids are used is an applicable location for the installation of sight flow indicators. Whether you’re using them to monitor quality, maintain efficiency or as a safety measure, we know you’ll be more than satisfied with the high quality of these maintenance-free sight flow indicators.

Loading Arms for Trucks, Railcars and Drums

At SafeRack we can help you meet all of your requirements for bulk chemical loading. You can count on us for swing arms for truck loading, railcar loading and custom bulk loading applications like drums and containers. Whether you’re using top or bottom loading applications, using supported or unsupported boom arms, fixed or variable reach arms, bypass and wash arms, they’re all common applications to us.

Our OPW loading arms are designed for ease of operation and handling so they create faster and safer loading operations for your employees. The rugged construction makes downtime and maintenance issues virtually non-existent.

Drum Loading Arms: ideal for loading all types of intermediate 55 lb. bulk drums and eliminates ground contamination caused by exposed hoses. Improved safety and productivity due to no lifting of hoses and easier operation.

Bottom Loading Arm for Tank Trucks: swings under trucks to bottom load bulk chemicals while the bottom loading arm for railcars is insulated and traced to keep product at the required temperature for loading and unloading.

Top Loading Arm for Trucks: includes an integrated gangway and safety cage for top loading tank trucks.

OPW Loading Arms for Top Loading Railcars: include integrated vapor recovery by-pass hoses and are retrofitted to existing loading racks.

When what you want is dependable service in high usage installations for your top loading tank trucks and iso-containers, you’ll need the supported OPW boom arm. The Supported Boom Arm for Railcars: has an integrated gangway and safety cage and provides dependable service with low maintenance.

With more than 200 years of combined experience with loading arms of various types, SafeRack can assist you with every step of the design process from swing arm style to dimensions and materials. You can rest assured that your loading arm will be designed and built to specifications and delivered on schedule, the first time.