Background

EPCO Products Inc. contracted the Fluid Power Institute® to evaluate the performance of eight different SAE fitting sizes with 3 samples of each size plugs under controlled fatigue, proof, and burst testing. The Fluid Power Institute® established the minimum torque values required to seal EPCO Products, Inc. aluminum Zero-Leak Gold® Plugs in SAE ORB J1926 ports at rated pressures. Testing was performed on plug sizes –02 through –12, testing (3) samples of each respective size. Once the minimum torque value had been established for each plug size a 2,000,000-cycle endurance test was performed on each selected plug size.

Project Scope

The objective was to determine the minimum torque values for the aluminum Zero-Leak Gold Plug fittings as supplied by EPCO Products, Inc. Three samples of plug fittings, sizes ranging from -2 to –12, were torqued to a percentage of prior test results. With the plug fittings at their minimum torque values they must complete a 1,000,000-cycle pressure fatigue test in accordance to NFPA fatigue standard T2.6.1R2-2000, a proof test in accordance to the SAE J343 4.2 MAR 1999, and a burst test in accordance to the SAE J343 4.4 MAR 1999.