Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

Province of Laguna

ME ELECTIVE 2

Prepared by: Mark David B. Opelinia, ME

Part Time Instructor LSPU-SCC
Mechanical Engineering Department
• II. PIPE FITTINGS
– Fittings are fabricated pieces of pipe that are used to make
changes of direction (elbow), branch from a main pipe (tee), or
make a reduction in line size (reducer)
• 90º ELBOWS
– Of all the fittings, the elbow is the one most often used. Simply
put, the elbow, or ell, is used when a pipe changes direction.
Elbows can turn up, turn down, turn left, right, or any angle in
between Ninety degree ells can be classified as one of the
following:
• long-radius ell • short-radius ell
• reducing ell • mitered ell
– When determining the length of an elbow, one must establish
the center-to-end dimension. The center-to-end dimension is
the measurement from the centerline of the fitting to the end of
the fitting.

The length of the fitting is equal to 1½ times the nominal

pipe size or:

Nominal pipe size × 1½ = fitting’s length.

Example: 8” × 1½ = 12”
 Welded Fittings-Flanges Chart

Long-radius and short radius elbows

– Drafting Symbols

90º long-radius elbow

short-radius elbow symbol

 14” - 90º elbow. Manual drafting solutions.

Step 1. Mark off the distance from the center of the fitting to the end of the fitting. This is the A dimension from the
Welded Fittings-Flanges Chart.
Step 2. Determine the nominal size of pipe and mark off one-half of its size on each side of the fitting’s centerline.
Step 3. Extend the ends of the fitting down and across respectively until they intersect. This will be the centerpoint
for drawing the arcs that will form the ell. Use a circle template or compass to draw the arcs.
Step 4. Remember, for fittings 12 and below, only the arc representing the elbow’s centerline is drawn when
creating single-line symbols.
– Mitered Elbows
• The last 90° elbow we will
mention is the mitered elbow.
The mitered elbow is not an
actual fitting, but instead is a
manufactured turn in the piping
system. This elbow is made by
The mitered ell may be classified as one, two, three, or
making angular cuts in a four weld miters. The number of welds used depends on
the smoothness of flow required through the turn. A two-
straight run of pipe and then weld miter will create more turbulence within the pipe than
welding the cuts together after will a four-weld miter.

they have been rolled to a

different angle
– Drafting Symbols for Mitered Elbows

Figure shows the double-line drafting symbols for two-weld and three-weld mitered elbows.
Unlike the previous ells, the weld lines in the adjacent views of the mitered elbow are
represented by ellipses. Ellipses are used because the welds are not perpendicular to your line
of sight. Therefore, when projecting from the front view to any of the four adjoining views, the
welds must be drawn elliptical in shape.
• 45º ELBOWS
– Another important fitting is the 45º
elbow. This elbow is also used to
make changes in direction within
the piping system. The obvious
difference between the 90º and 45º
elbows is the angle formed by the
turn. Because the 45º elbow is one-
half of a 90º elbow.
It is logical, therefore, to assume a design using two 45º ells to make a directional change instead of two 90º
elbows would result in considerable savings. These savings are not only related to the cost of the fittings but
also to savings in the physical space needed to route the pipe. Figure above shows that two 14” 90º elbows
require 42” to alter the course of a piping run. This is considerably more than the 17½” needed by two 45º
elbows.
– Drafting Symbols for the 45º Elbow
 45º elbow. Manual drafting solutions.

Step 1. Using construction lines, duplicate the procedure used to draw the 90º long-radius elbow.
Step 2. From the centerpoint used to construct the arcs, draw a 45º angle line that will cut the elbow in half.
Step 3. Erase the half of the 90º elbow that is not needed.
Step 4. Draw and darken the ends of the elbow. Darken the arcs.
• 90º Elbows Rolled at 45º
– Many times to avoid using two 90º elbows in succession,
designers will use one 90º ell and a 45º ell welded together

90º and 45º elbows welded together

In some orthographic views, these elbows will appear at Figure above illustrates the use of 45º ellipses to draw
an angle to our line of sight. In those views where the the 90º elbow rolled at a 45º angle. If the 90º elbow is
open end of the elbow appears at an angle to our line of rolled at 30º or 60º, simply use that degree ellipse to
sight, ellipses must be used to represent the end of the layout and construct the elbows.
fittings. Figure above shows the orthographic views of
90° ells rolled at a 45° angle.
• WELD TEE
– The name of this fitting comes from its resemblance to the letter
T. It is a three-way fitting used to make perpendicular
connections to a pipe. Lines that connect to the main run of
pipe are known as branches. The main run of pipe is often
called the header.
– Drafting Symbols for the Weld Tee
• Notice that the weld tee requires three welds be made to install the
fitting. Two types of tees are used in the piping industry:
• Straight—all three outlets are the same pipe size.
• Reducing—branch outlet is a smaller pipe size.

Figure shows the drawing symbols for straight

and reducing tees. A callout is required on the
reducing tee to identify the header and
branch sizes. The header size is shown first.
 – Drawing the Weld Tee

14” butt-welded straight tee. Manual Drafting Solution

Step 1. Using the 11” C dimension found on the chart, draw a centerline 22” long (11” × 2 = 22”).
Step 2. Measure 7” (one-half the header pipe size) on either side of the centerline to draw the sides of the tee.
Step 3. From the center of the tee, draw a perpendicular line, either up or down, depending on the direction of
the branch, the length of C.
Step 4. Measure 7” (one-half the branch pipe size) on either side of the perpendicular line to draw the branch of
the tee. Draw and darken the sides and weld lines of the tee.
• THE STUB-IN
– Another method of making a branch connection is called a
stub-in. The stub-in is most commonly used as an alternative to
the reducing tee. The stub-in is not an actual fitting but rather a
description of how the branch connection is created. A hole is
bored into the header pipe, either the size of the OD or ID of
the branch, and the branch is then stubbed into it. The two
pipes are fitted together and then welded. Although the branch
connection can be the same pipe size or smaller as the header,
it cannot be larger.
Stub-in connections

Stub-in symbols
How close stub-ins are made is an important consideration. A general rule is to
allow a minimum of 3” between welds. This means a minimum of 3” should be
allowed between the outsides of branches made from a common header, and a
header should be attached no closer than 3” to a fitting. Figure provides the
minimum measurements allowed between branches and fittings on an 18” header.
– Stub-in Reinforcements
• Even though the use of the stub-in is limited by the pressure,
temperature, and commodity within a pipe, its use is becoming
increasingly more popular. Its chief advantage over the tee is cost. Not
only can the cost of purchasing a fitting be avoided, but the stub-in
requires only one weld; whereas, the tee requires three. When internal
conditions such as pressure or temperature of the commodity or
external forces such as vibrations or pulsations are placed on a stub-in,
special reinforcement may be necessary to prevent the branch from
separating from the header.
– Three reinforcing alternatives are listed below.
• Reinforcing pad. Resembling a metal washer that has been bent to
conform to the curvature of the pipe, the reinforcing pad is a ring cut
from steel plate that has a hole in the center equal to the diameter of
the branch connection. It is slipped onto the branch pipe then welded to
both branch and header.
• Welding saddle. A purchased reinforcing pad, the welding saddle has
a short neck designed to give additional support to the branch.
• O-lets. Purchased fittings, o-lets have one end shaped to the contour
of the header and the other end manufactured to accept the type of end
connections being used on the branch. Weldolets are manufactured for
butt-weld fittings. Sockolets are made for socket-weld fittings. And
threadolets are available for screwed fittings.
• Other o-lets are manufactured to be used to make connections at
angles other than 90º.
• COUPLING
– Another type of fitting used to make branch connections is the
coupling. Used primarily for connecting small-bore screwed and
socket-weld pipe to large-bore pipe headers, the coupling is also
used extensively where instrument connections are required.
There are two common methods used to make branch
connections with couplings:
• 1. The coupling rests on the external surface of the pipe header and is
welded from the outside.
• 2. A hole is bored into the pipe header large enough to accept the OD of
the coupling. The coupling is inserted into the hole and is then welded.
• REDUCERS
– When the piping designer wants
to reduce the diameter of a
straight run of pipe, a reducing
fitting must be used.
Appropriately named, the
reducer is available in two
styles.
• Concentric—having a common
centerline.
• Eccentric—having offset
centerlines.
– Drafting Symbols for the Concentric and Eccentric
Reducer
 16”×14” concentric reducer. Manual drafting solutions.

Step 1. Using the H dimension found on the chart, draw a centerline 14” long.
Step 2. Measure 8” (one-half the large end size) on either side of the centerline on one end and 7” on either
side of the centerline on the opposite end.
Step 3. Connect the opposite ends of the fitting by drawing lines from endpoint to endpoint.
Step 4. Darken the sides and weld lines of the reducer.
• WELD CAP
– It is used to seal an open end of pipe. When dimensioning the
positional location of a weld cap on a drawing, indicate only the
length of the run of pipe. The cap will be welded to the end and
need not be included in the length dimension of the run of pipe.

When representing the cap on a drawing,

use an ellipse to construct the round end of
the fitting. Figure shows the single-line and
double-line drawing symbols for a weld cap.
Notice the weld dot on the single line symbol
is drawn as a half circle only.
• USE OF FITTINGS
– Depending on the given situation, fittings will either be welded
to each other or separated by lengths of pipe. Welding one
fitting directly to another is called fitting make-up.

Fitting make-up
Most situations involving the erection of the piping system require the designer to use pipe
of various lengths between the fittings. In these cases, pipe is cut to the required length
and the ends are beveled in preparation for welding to the fittings. When fittings are not
assembled as fitting make-up and are separated by a piece of pipe, most companies
stipulate the pipe must be at least one pipe diameter (nominal size) in length with a 3”
minimum spacing for pipe 6” and smaller. By maintaining this minimum spacing between
welds, a pipe can conveniently be cut, beveled, and welded without interference
– Dimensioning of Fitting Make-
up
• The next step in the drawing of pipe
is the calculation and placement of
dimensions. At the present time, we
are only concerned with butt-weld
fittings. The general rules-of-thumb
for placing dimensions on a drawing
are as follows:
– Pipe should be dimensioned from center
of fitting to center of fitting, or
– Pipe should be dimensioned from center
of fitting to the end of pipe.
• SCREWED AND SOCKET-WELD FITTINGS
– Screwed and socket-weld fittings perform the same basic
functions as butt-weld fittings. There are, however, a few
differences that must be examined. Screwed and socket-weld
fittings are normally reserved for installations using fittings 3”
and smaller. Screwed and socket-weld fittings are also
available in cast iron, malleable iron, or forged steel. Cast iron
and malleable iron fittings are typically used on low pressure
and temperature lines such as air, water, or condensate.
Screwed Fittings dimensioning chart Socket- weld Fittings dimensioning chart

Lines containing high pressure and temperature commodities, which are subject to
movement and vibration, require fittings made of forged steel. Forged steel screwed and
socket-weld fittings are manufactured in two pressure classes—3000# and 6000#.
Most screwed fittings are manufactured with internal, female threads per
American Standard and API thread guidelines. Some fittings, such as
plugs and swages, however, are manufactured with external threads.
The socket-weld fitting is replacing the screwed fitting as the choice of many fabricators
because it offers greater strength. Even though screwed fittings can be seal welded if
necessary, strength of the fitting is decreased when the threads are cut during the
manufacturing process. Socket-weld fittings can be easily fitted and welded without the
need of special clamps or tack-welds, which are often required to hold a butt-weld fitting
in place before the final weld is made
– Fittings
• Like butt-weld fittings, screwed and
socket-weld fittings are used to make
similar configurations in a piping
system. Screwed and socket-weld
fittings differ in size and shape, but
they achieve the same purpose as
the butt-weld fittings.

Screwed and socket-weld fittings are drawn

with square corners using short hash marks
to represent the ends of the fitting.

Screwed and Socket-weld Fittings

– Unions
• The union is a fitting placed Manufactured for screwed
within a piping configuration and socket-weld applications,
the union is represented on
that will allow the assembly drawings as shown in figure.
to be disassembled for
inspection, repair, or
replacement.

Unions should be positioned

in locations that will facilitate
the easy removal of critical
pieces of equipment. figure
shows how unions are placed
in a configuration to allow
easy removal of the valves.
– Plug
• The plug, like a cap, is designed to close off the end of a run of pipe.
Plugs are manufactured for screwed fittings with male threads and are
screwed into the end of a pipe to create a seal.

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– Coupling
• Although this fitting is used in butt-welding applications as a branch
connection, its primary use is to connect lengths of screwed and
socket-weld pipe together.
• Some clients may stipulate, however, that all socket-weld pipe must be
connected with a butt weld, rather than a coupling.
• PIPE NIPPLES
– By design, screwed and socket-weld
fittings cannot be assembled by placing
one fitting directly in contact with
another fitting. Screwed fittings are
manufactured with threads on the
inside of the fitting, and socket-weld
fittings have an internal socket that
prevents fitting makeup assembly. To
facilitate the assembly of screwed and
socket-weld fittings, small lengths of
pipe called pipe nipples are used https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/04181970

between fittings.
• Pipe nipples can vary in length depending upon the distance
required to fabricate the pipe configuration. A close nipple is
one that provides the minimum length of pipe between fittings.
Remember, screwed and socket-weld fittings have a certain
amount of lost pipe due to thread engagement and socket
depth. Therefore, each size pipe has a different minimum
length for the dimension of a close nipple.
– Many companies will use 3 as the standard minimum for pipe
nipples. This length will accommodate the amount of pipe lost
inside the fitting on each end as well as provide sufficient
wrench clearance during assembly for the larger screwed and
socket-weld pipe sizes.
– Swage
• One exception to the standard 3
minimum rule is the swage nipple.
Swages are functionally similar to
reducers, but are specifically designed
for screwed and socket-weld pipe.
Screwed swages have male (external)
threads and can be connected to other
screwed fittings without the use of a
pipe nipple. They are used to make
Pipe and swage nipples
reductions in the line size on a straight
run of pipe. Swages, like reducers, are
available in either a concentric or
eccentric shape.
• Swages are unique in that they can be
used in screwed, socket-weld, or butt-weld
configurations. When used in these
configurations, swages will have different
end preparations. Screwed swages will
have thread ends (TE), socket-weld
swages plain ends (PE), and butt-weld
swages have beveled ends (BE). Swages
are also manufactured with different
preparations on the two ends. When
specifying a swage, use the following
abbreviations:
– BBE—bevel both ends
Swage drawing symbols
– TBE—thread both ends
– PBE—plain both ends
– BLE/TSE—bevel large end/thread small end
– PLE/TSE—plain large end/thread small end
• FLANGED FITTINGS
– Flanged fittings perform functions
similar to other fittings of the same
type. The major difference is their
method of connection.
– The connection joint for flanged
fittings is made by bolting two
specially designed metal surfaces
together. https://www.softdraft.com/3DPipeSymbols/3ddiflgftgs.htm

– A gasket to prevent leaks is

sandwiched between the two
surfaces.
• CAST IRON FITTINGS
– Cast iron fittings are typically designed for use
in gravity-flow installations using low-pressure
water services.
– The physical appearance of pipe routing
configurations made of cast iron fittings is
quite different from pipe routed with forged
steel fittings because of the large assortment
of fittings available and the method in which
these configurations are assembled.
– Because molten cast iron can be easily
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manufactured into many unique shapes that

cannot be attained with steel, manufacturers
use it to produce fittings with many varying
turns, bends, and branches.
• PLASTIC FITTINGS
– Plastic fittings can also be manufactured
in many diverse and unique shapes.
– All the standard fitting shapes are
available: elbows, tees, reducers,
couplings, unions, etc.
– Plastic fittings are manufactured for
either screwed, socket, or butted
assembly.
– Plastic screwed and socket fittings are
available in sizes through 4” in diameter. https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/default.aspx?catid=690

– Butt fittings are manufactured for sizes

6”–10”.