The Original and still the best flexible pipe couplings…

Anode Engineering provides world-class products and engineering services to oil and gas, water, petrochemical, mining and marine engineers and contractors. Among this vast array of offerings are Dresser couplings – the original and best compression type pipe joining device.

Back in 1880, Solomon Robert Dresser patented a flexible pipe coupling using a compressed rubber gasket on either end of a central ring. More than 140 years later this same principal is still in use offering a durable, tight, flexible and long-lasting connection between two pipes.

They allow a small amount of misalignment, tolerate vibration, expansion and contraction with a very rapid assembly time. No end preparation is required so time consuming and costly threading, beveling and exact alignment are eliminated.

There have also been improvements to the product over the years with the addition of epoxy coating contributing to greater corrosion resistance with construction from a variety of materials including stainless steel, titanium, monel and other special alloys available as required.

The gaskets used in a Dresser coupling provide the flexibility and unique sealing abilities of the coupling. They are available in a number of materials to suit most pipeline mediums including fresh or salt water, natural gas, hydrocarbons, acids or alkaline and sugar solutions. There also high temperature gasket variants available for up to 650˚ Celsius.

The gaskets also come armoured or non-armoured, the difference being that the armoured gasket features a metallic spring which conducts electricity to allow cathodic protection current to flow between the pipes. The non-armoured gaskets will allow pipes of dissimilar metals to be joined or prevent CP current flow. Following is a list of gasket materials and their common uses:

• Buna N Grade 42- Nitrile- Max 100˚ Celsius. Mainly used for oil, hydrocarbons, condensates and gasolines.
• Buna S Grade 27- Max 100˚ Celsius. The most widely used gasket material for fresh and salt water, natural gas, air, alkaline solutions and some refrigerants.
• Viton/ Fluorocarbon Max 176˚ Celsius. Good for alcohols, organic acids, nitrogen compounds, vegetable oils and greases.
• Butyl- Max 250˚ Celsius resistant to hot air, steam, hot water, aqueous solutions.
• EPDM- Max 150˚ Celsius- resistant to ozone, oxygen, hot water, glycols, hydraulic fluids, ketones and alkaline.
• High temp- Max 650˚ Celsius- asbestos replacement for high temp and abrasive atmospheres.

The team at Anode Engineering can specify the correct coupling for your application and hold stock of many common spare parts such as replacement gaskets in our warehouse. Contact Anode’s friendly sales team for the right advice on Dresser couplings and our range of corrosion focused products and engineering services.