Parker Hannifin has launched a new range of miniature stainless steel needle valves and manifolds for fluid instrumentation applications. The range operates at up to 414 bar (6000PSI), and offers bubble-tight seating and sealing with life cycles of over 6000 operations, yet typically reduce weight and space requirements by 50% compared with conventional products. The High Performance Miniature range includes two- and three-way manifolds for pressure and flow measurement applications, and a needle valve range which can be specified in globe or angled flow patterns. The needle valves are available with a user-specified choice of female or male interfaces, and may additionally be provided with integral single- or double-ferrule CPI or A-LOK compression tube connections. These latter options halve potential leak paths and assembly labour requirements compared with conventional pipe threaded connections. Valves are fitted with Viton “O” ring seals, supporting an operating temperature range up to 204º C. This sealing system is designed for high integrity, and features an anti-extrusion back-up ring, plus an anti-blowout design with back seating which minimises atmospheric leakage in the event of a stem seal failure. The products are designed for gas or liquid applications. The space savings are likely to be of interest to panel builders, and any other application where space or weight is at a premium, such as on offshore platforms and in portable equipment.
