Part 21 Report - 1998-642

- 10CFR PART 21 REPORT - DEFECTIVE SWAGELOK TUBE FITTING FRONT FERRULE -

SWAGELOK COMPANY REPORTED A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN A SWAGELOK STAINLESS STEEL FRONT FERRULE, PART NUMBER SS-503-1. THE PART IS MARKED WITH THE HEAT CODE "IVD" ON IT. THE FRONT FERRULE IS SHIPPED AS A COMPONENT IN A SWAGELOK TUBE FITTING, OR SOLD AS A REPLACEMENT PART.

THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE FERRULE WAS MACHINED WITH AN IMPROPER LENGTH, CAUSING A 45 DEGREE CHAMFER AT THE TRAILING EDGE TO BE MISSING. SWAGELOK LABORATORY TESTING OF THIS PART HAS SHOWN THAT IT WILL LEAK IMMEDIATELY ON GAS SERVICE AND WILL HOLD TO ABOUT 2.5 TIMES WORKING PRESSURE OF THE TUBING DURING A HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TEST. THE IMPROPER LENGTH WAS CAUSED BY INSUFFICIENT FEEDOUT OF THE BAR ON A MULTIPLE SPINDLE MACHINE. SWAGELOK ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THIS WOULD BE A FIRST PART ERROR AND THAT ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF FERRULES ARE AFFECTED. SWAGELOK AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY EQUIPMENT IS SET TO REJECT THIS CONDITION AND OF THE PARTS THAT WERE NOT SENT THROUGH AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY, ABOUT 1% OF THE LOT IS INCLUDED.

SWAGELOK CORRECTIVE ACTION INCLUDES INSPECTION EQUIPMENT THAT WILL IDENTIFY 100% OF THESE SHORT LENGTH ITEMS.

THE SWAGELOK REPORT INCLUDES A SALES DRAWING THAT SHOWS A PROPER FERRULE AND ONE WITH THE SHORT LENGTH.

SWAGELOK COMPANY OFFICIALS HAVE NOTIFIED ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE PURCHASED SWAGELOK FITTINGS WITH THESE FERRULES - ST LUCIE PLANT, WESTINGHOUSE, AND MITSUBISHI KOBE SHIPYARD & MACHINERY, JAPAN.