Tri Clover Unions or otherwise known as a Tri Clamp Union, are a sanitary union typically used in food and beverage applications where hygienic lines are needed.
Tri clover unions are popular due to ease of use and the ability to quickly connect or disconnect a process line.
A Tri Clover Union consists of four parts; the ferrules, the seal and the clamp. The two ferrules have a grooved face to seat the seal in between, which are then held together by a clamp.
The seal fills the crevice between the ferrules creating a hygienic joint so product or bacteria can’t build up and create any issues.
The Metal Company supplies butt-welded Tri Clover Ferrules And Tri Clover Expansion Ferrules. Butt weld ferrules are typically purge welded for hygienic applications, while Tri Clover Expansion Ferrules features a ridged inside that slips over the tube and require just one weld to create a hygienic join. The Short Ferrule has been developed to suit pumps and valves or process lines which are operating in confined areas. The Metal Company also has a variety of adaptors and fittings pre welded with Tri Clovers available to make your install easier. We also have valves & sight glasses available with Tri Clover ends.
There are two types of clamps to complete the union, our standard tri clover clamp and our heavy-duty clamp. The standard clamp is held together by a single pin and a twist-to-tighten handle. The heavy-duty tri-clover clamp allows a bolt secured on both sides of the clamp to reduce the ease of releasing the ferrules.
Tri Clover ferrules are available as short, medium or long ferrules. This relates to the length of the buttweld piece, meaning you can use a short for tight spaces and a long where you would like a bit more room for welding.