Types of Forged Flanges – Part 2

This is a continued article about the standard types of forged flanges Western of Texas Forge and Flange produces beyond our custom forging capabilities. All forged flanges can be manufactured in a variety of materials like stainless steel and nickel while meeting all ASME and MSS industry and statutory standards.

Socket Weld Flanges. Socket Weld Flanges are frequently utilized for smaller diameter pipes in high-pressure requirements. Achieving a smoother bore for improved fluid and gas flow involves inserting the pipe into the socket end and fillet-welding the top. The flange boasts a recessed area in the bore that serves as a guide, dictating the insertion depth into the flange.

Lap Joint Flange. A Lap Joint Flange is employed with a welded stub end, onto which it is subsequently slid and secured with bolts. The Lap Joint Flange is commonly utilized in piping systems that require periodic dismantling for maintenance or cleaning purposes.

Blind Flange. A Blind Flange is a disk utilized to obstruct the flow of a pipeline or to create a cessation. Its design is akin to a conventional flange, with mounting apertures encircling the border and gasket sealing rings being machined into the contact surface. However, it differs in that it has no access point for fluid to traverse, but rather fits between two open flanges to impede the current inside the pipe. This obstruction method is frequently used when introducing a new line to an existing pipeline or affixing a fresh valve.

Threaded Flange. A Threaded Flange features both interior and exterior threads which facilitate its attachment to the pipeline by screwing on. It is most suitable for low-pressure and low-temperature operations, and is commonly applied across an array of industries such as plumbing, HVAC, and water treatment. Additionally, it is frequently leveraged in low-pressure scenarios within chemical plants and refineries.

Orifice Flange. Orifice Flanges are typically equipped with Raised Faces or RTJ (Ring Type Joint) facings. Essentially, they are similar to weld neck and slip-on flanges, but with additional machining. These flanges are employed in combination with orifice meters to gauge the flow rate of either fluids or gases within the pipeline.

Reducing Flange. A Reducing Flange is specifically constructed to link pipes of varying sizes. It is characterized by a larger diameter on one end and a smaller diameter on the other end, making it an ideal connector between two pipes of differing diameters. The bigger end of this flange is affixed to a larger-diameter pipe while the smaller end connects to a smaller-diameter pipe. Reducing flanges are widely applied in the chemical processing, oil and gas, and water treatment industries, where it is oftentimes imperative to connect pipes of distinct sizes.

For quality pipe flanges and other custom forgings, contact our support sales team at 409-246-2427or request a quote with our online form here – Request a Quote.