SOCKET WELD / COUNTER BORE FLANGES
Socket weld flanges, though less prevalent, offer a comparably efficient option for flange connections that demand a reduced spatial footprint compared to the traditional weld neck flanges. They feature a counterbore at the center, facilitating a neat pipe-to-socket weld.
Typically supplied for smaller nominal pipe sizes, these flanges provide a valuable substitute for weld necks and slip-ons when the situation demands it. Socket welds are particularly suited for scenarios with limited available space, given that the pressure class remains relatively low and the conveyed fluid is neither corrosive nor intended for extremely high-temperature service.
→ SOCKET WELD / COUNTER BORE FEATURES
Socket flanges establish a connection with square-ended pipe through a fillet weld at the inner diameter of the socket’s hub. This arrangement is designed so that the pipe aligns nearly flush against the counterbore of the flange.
The slight expansion gap between the pipe’s end and the counterbore provides the welder with adequate room to fine-tune the pipe’s positioning within the connection. It’s noteworthy that opting for a butt weld pipe connection is discouraged in cases where a socket counterbore connection with a square-ended pipe is feasible.