Ever have an air line or tool go shooting off accidentally when you disconnect it? Besides being dangerous, it could damage the connector as it whacks the ground. To prevent this uncontrolled reaction, safety couplers like this one from Milton Industries make connection and disconnection a two-stage process.
Several retailers of the safety coupler describe the operation as follows: “First click locks coupler and plug; second click engages air pressure. When disconnecting, first click will relieve air pressure; second click allows coupler and plug to be safely disengaged.” Not having laid our hands on one yet, this sounds a little vague. Has anyone used one that could provide a better explanation of how the coupler works?
This 1/4″ M-style safety coupler comes in either male and female 1/4″ NPT threads. Milton retails the safety couplers for $10.
Milton Industries [Corporate Site]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
4 Responses to Safety Couplers For Your Air Compressor
Leave a Reply
TM on Flickr
![RICH-CON No. 2 [shows Logo on side of plane]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7230831382_240f44f2f4_s.jpg)
Recent Comments
{ If you need an old vice, there are many on ebay! } – May 19, 6:08 PM
{ I have had little experience with Honda although people I know who own them swear by them. I have owned and used B&S powered lawn... } – May 19, 3:53 PM
{ Not having a starter on my Tiller is BS! I have one on my Snow blower and it works like a champ! No battery just... } – May 19, 2:37 PM
{ I have that same Sears vice and beat the crap out of it, and it just keeps coming back for more, for about 1/10th the... } – May 19, 9:32 AM
{ Where do I get these? } – May 18, 7:48 PM
I’m not usually concerned about damaging the coupler. It’s the newly installed flooring, walls, trim, whatever that I’m worried about damaging…
From what I can fathom it has two detents, the first to secure the tool to the coupler without pressure, and a second that pressurizes.
I think this is a good idea on the face of it, nothing I hate more than having a coupler come loose while using it. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s usually followed by a bunch of swearing because even if it didn’t smack into someone, or something, the noise is enough to startle the bejezus out of anybody!
We use these at work. with out the tool press the button to be sure it is open. when you connect the tool as you push it will click to lock on and then click again as it makes the connection. to unhook just push the button. it will come out a little, then push again to release the tool.
takes some time to get used to it. but if you have dropped an air ratchet or impact into a coolant pit under a tube mill it is worth the hassle. just drag it back up by the hose.
Admittedly I’m not the most experienced with using air couplers, but I must say I don’t see the need. I’ve never seen an air connection come apart with enough force to even make me drop the tool let alone fly off and damage a wall or co-worker. Perhaps a different industry than the one I’m familiar with (auto repair) might use higher pressure. I suspect these are rather more of use to the overly safety minded type.