How to get high quality spacer rings and spade flanges?

What are Ring spacers?

Ring spacers are devices which are inserted between the flanges, when spades are removed (they can be considered as placeholders of blanks). Ring spacer handlers shall have a single through indicator hole located at the end of the handler. The hole diameter shall not be lower than 12 mm.

So as for the Spectacle Blind already described, maintenance on a pipesystem can be a reason to temporarily replace a Ring Spacer for a Spade. By loosening of all bolts, and half of the bolts temporarily remove, the Spade or Spacer can be placed. After replacing the gaskets (new gaskets are to recommend), the bolts can be re-assembled and tightened.

A small problem is that we basically can not see, or a Spade or a Spacer mounted between the flanges. Therefore the handles are often specially marked, or both have a different design; a customer often provides its own specification.

What should never lack is, that in the handle, the diameter and the Pressure Class of a Spade or Spacer is engraved; this applies also for the Spectacle Blind.

What are Spade Flanges?

Spade flanges are positive shut off steel rings used to blind a pipeline. They are also called “single blind” (to differentiate from spectable blinds, which are a combination of two discs, as seen above) or “blanks”. 

Spades and Ring Spacers are basically the same as Spectacle Blinds, except that both are not attached to each other.

Spades and Spacers be applied in systems where maintenance is often not necessary, or in applications with large pipe sizes. Depending on the flange size and the Pressure Class, Spades can weigh hundreds of pounds. To prevent unnecessary weight to a flange connections, usually will be chosen not for a Spectacle Blind, but for 2 separate parts.


Surfaces  Dimensions  Material

The sealing surfaces of a Spectacle Blind, Spade or Ring Spacer are usually conducted in accordance with the Face Finish from the flange. The diameter always is slightly larger than the Raised Face of a flange; by a correct assembly, the bolts are just not touched by the Blind or Spacer.

The diameter of them, is depending on the flange size, and the thickness from the Pressure Class of a flange.
Dimensions from Spectacle Blinds, Spades and Ring Spacers, you will find in the main Menu “Flanges”

ASME B16.48 covers pressure-temperature ratings, materials, dimensions, dimensional tolerances, marking, and testing for operating line blanks in sizes NPS 1/2 – NPS 24 for installation between ASME B16.5 flanges in the 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500, and 2500 Pressure Classes.

Spectacle Blinds, Spades and Ring Spacers should be made from a plate or forging specification, approved for use by ASME B31.3, of essentially the same chemical composition as the mating flanges and piping involved.

If a piece of equipment needs to be inspected or removed from service then the plate covers the ring to form an airtight seal which consequently isolates a section of line or the piece of equipment. It provides a permanent or long term isolation device.

Specifications:

Our spectacle flanges are designed to ensure that an item of equipment can be securely blanked off, with no possibility of leakage in the valve.
Because safety is so important to the function, we assure that they are tested rigorously to client’s specifications.

Our spectacle blinds, spades and spacers come in pressure ratings of 150lbs, 300lbs, 600lbs, 900lbs, 1500lbs and 2500lbs

Spectacle blinds, spades and spacers are available dimensionally in accordance with API 590 and ASTM 16.48 or any of our customer requirements.

Pressure Class 150

NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W
1/2 45 16 126 3 32
3/4 54 21 131 3 32
1 64 27 136 3 32
73 42 145 6.4 32
83 48 145 6.4 32
2 102 61 155 6.4 32
107 73 170 6.4 32
3 133 89 170 6.4 32
159 102 202 9.7 38
4 172 114 202 9.7 38
5 194 141 225 9.7 38
6 219 168 225 12.7 38
8 276 219 267 12.7 38
10 337 273 322 15.7 44
12 406 324 357 19.1 44
14 448 356 378 19.1 44
16 511 406 410 22.4 44
18 546 457 427 25.4 51
20 603 508 455 28.4 51
24 714 610 512 31.8 51
NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W

Pressure Class 300

NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W
1/2 51 16 129 6.4 32
3/4 64 21 136 6.4 32
1 70 27 139 6.4 32
79 42 150 6.4 32
92 48 150 6.4 32
2 108 61 158 9.7 32
127 73 177 9.7 32
3 146 89 177 9.7 32
162 102 205 12.7 38
4 178 114 205 12.7 38
5 213 141 240 15.7 38
6 248 168 240 15.7 38
8 305 219 281 22.4 38
10 359 273 333 25.4 44
12 419 324 363 28.4 44
14 483 356 395 31.8 44
16 536 406 422 38.1 44
18 594 457 450 41.1 51
20 651 508 480 44.5 51
24 772 610 540 50.8 51
NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W

Pressure Class 600

NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W
1/2 51 16 129 6.4 32
3/4 64 21 136 6.4 32
1 70 27 139 6.4 32
79 37 150 9.7 32
92 43 150 9.7 32
2 108 55 158 9.7 32
127 67 177 12.7 32
3 146 83 177 12.7 32
159 96 211 15.7 38
4 191 108 211 15.7 38
5 238 135 248 19.1 38
6 264 162 248 22.4 38
8 318 212 288 28.4 38
10 397 265 352 35.1 44
12 454 315 381 41.1 44
14 489 346 398 44.5 44
16 562 397 435 50.8 44
18 610 448 459 53.8 51
20 679 497 493 63.5 51
24 787 597 547 73.2 51
NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W

Pressure Class 900

NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W
1/2 60 16 134 6.4 32
3/4 67 21 137 6.4 32
1 76 27 142 6.4 32
86 37 151 9.7 32
95 43 151 9.7 32
2 140 55 174 12.7 32
162 67 186 12.7 32
3 165 83 186 15.7 32
4 203 108 217 19.1 38
5 244 135 259 22.4 38
6 286 162 259 25.4 38
8 356 212 307 35.1 38
10 432 265 370 41.1 44
12 495 315 401 47.8 44
14 518 346 412 53.8 44
16 572 397 440 60.5 44
18 635 448 471 66.5 51
20 696 497 501 73.2 51
24 835 597 571 88.9 51
NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W

Pressure Class 1500

NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W
1/2 61 16 135 6.4 32
3/4 67 21 137 9.7 32
1 76 27 142 9.7 32
86 35 151 9.7 32
95 41 151 12.7 32
2 140 53 174 12.7 32
162 63 190 15.7 32
3 172 78 190 19.1 32
4 206 102 219 22.4 38
5 251 128 256 28.4 38
6 279 154 256 35.1 38
8 349 203 303 41.1 38
10 432 255 370 50.8 44
12 518 303 412 60.5 44
14 575 333 442 66.5 44
16 638 381 472 76.2 44
18 702 429 504 85.9 51
20 752 478 530 95.3 51
24 899 575 603 111.3 51
NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W

Pressure Class 2500

NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W
1/2 67 16 137 9.7 32
3/4 73 21 140 9.7 32
1 83 27 145 9.7 32
102 35 161 12.7 32
114 41 161 15.7 32
2 143 53 175 15.7 32
165 63 201 19.1 32
3 194 78 201 22.4 32
4 232 102 232 28.4 38
5 276 128 273 35.1 38
6 314 154 273 41.1 38
8 384 198 321 53.8 38
10 473 248 390 66.5 44
12 546 289 427 79.2 44
NPS Outside
Dia
A
Inside
Dia
B
Center
to
End
C
Thick
ness
t
Handle
Width
W
General notes:
  • Dimensions are in millimeters unless otherwise indicated.
  • Spade Handles shall be solid with NO openings.
Further notes:
  • Ring Spacer Handles shall have a single through indicator hole located near the end of the handle. The hole diameter shall not be less than 12 mm.
  • Wt = Thickness of the handle should be 6 mm minimum, or equal to Thickness (t) if less than 6 mm.
  • Spades and Ring Spacers should be made from a plate or forging specification, approved for use by ASME B31.3, of essentially the same chemical composition as the mating flanges and piping involved.
  • Spades & Ring Spacers according to ASME B16.48 may be used for installation between ASME B16.5 flanges
  • Depending on a customer specification, some dimensions can be different from what on this page is defined.
They can be supplied in any grade such as
  • Carbon steel
  • Super Duplex
  • Nickel Alloy
  • Stainless Steel
Dimensions of spectacle blinds according to ASME B16.48

1. Spectacle blind 2.Flanges 3.Gaskets 4.Stud bolts

A spectacle flange is a specialty flange made of two metal discs attached in the middle by a small section of steel. Spectable flanges get their name because they look like a pair of reading glasses, or spectacles. Spectacle flanges, also known as spectacle blind flanges, are most commonly used on piping systems that need to be separated regularly or where the flow through the systems is regularly stopped. One end of the spectacle flange is solid, while the other end has a hole in the center. The spectacle flange can be rotated to place either the solid or hollow end within the pipe system, thereby opening or closing the flow.

Keywrods: Spectacle Blind Flanges, Spectacle Blind Flange, Spectacle Flanges, Spectacle Blind Flanges manufactory

Advantages of Spectacle Flanges
  • Spectacle flanges require no welding for installation
  • Spectacle flanges from Yaang Flange have a wide range of pressure tolerances
  • Yaang will manufacture spectacle flanges to your specifications

Source: China Spade Flanges Manufacturer – Yaang Pipe Industry (www.steeljrv.com)

If you want to have more information about the article or you want to share your opinion with us, contact us at sales@steeljrv.com

Please notice that you might be interested in the other technical articles we’ve published:

  • What are reducing flanges
  • When to use slip on flanges
  • HOW TO GET HIGH QUALITY BLIND FLANGES
  • What are Spectacle Flanges
  • How to test pipe fitting
  • HOW TO GET HIGH QUALITY STAINLESS STEEL PIPES
  • Development trend of high pressure pipe fittings
  • How to get high quality flanges
  • How to get high quality pipe fittings
  • What are Specialty Flanges
  • How to get high quality alloy steel pipes
  • HOW TO GET HIGH QUALITY STEEL PIPES
  • What are socket weld flanges
  • When to use slip on flanges
  • What are slip on flanges
  • WHEN TO USE A SPECTACLE BLIND FLANGE
  • HOW TO GET HIGH QUALITY BOILER TUBES
  • When to use lap joint flange
  • How to get high quality plate flanges
  • The difference between pipe nipple and pipe coupling
  • How to get high quality lap joint flanges
  • The Differences between socket welding flanges and butt welding flanges
  • When to use a spectacle blind flange

  • HOW TO GET HIGH QUALITY ORIFICE FLANGES

  • HOW TO GET HIGH QUALITY SOCKET WELDING FLANGES

References:

  • https://www.yaang.com
  • http://www.wermac.org/flanges/dimensions_spades_ring-spacer_paddle-blind_paddle-spacer.html
  • http://www.wermac.org/flanges/flanges_special_spectacle-blinds_spades_ring-spacers_paddle-spacers.html

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