

While spectacle blinds offer convenience over standalone slip and spacer blinds, there is one major drawback - weight.

Simply loosen the bolts around the flange leaving the bolt running through the spectacle blind in place, rotate the desired face into the space between the pipes, and tighten the flange bolts again, some piping applications will require new gaskets to be installed. They’re also an excellent option to ensure positive shutoff in the event of valve degradation and failure or operator error.Īdjusting spectacle blinds is straightforward. Spectacle blinds provide added flexibility during maintenance and system operations. At inlets and outlets of storage and processing vessels.At inlets and outlets of rotary or static equipment.Spectacle blinds are available in multiple face types to suit virtually any planned implementation, including:īe sure to consider how this will impact gasket and flange requirements prior to installation.Ĭommon locations for spectacle blind installation include: The additional space between pipe flanges will also require extended stud bolts to ensure a reliable, long-lasting fit. This makes it critical to consider spectacle blind implementation in the design stage of your piping processes. The connection is then further reinforced by using gaskets between the flanges and spectacle blind.
#Spectacle flange install#
Instead of bolting the blind in place around the full circumference of the pipe like you would a pipe flange, you instead install it by inserting one of the flange bolts through the hole on the central tie bar. Spectacle blinds install between two horizontal pipe runs. Their simple operation and durable design ensure a long service life with minimal maintenance. In most cases, spectacle blinds are installed for long-term use. This design allows for complete closure or full operation of a piping system by rotating the spectacle blind as needed. The final result looks like a figure eight or similar to the component’s namesake - a pair of spectacles. Instead of using a handle, web, or tie bar on each round, they are connected using a small nose piece or tie bar. One surface provides total closure for the piping systems while the other includes a ring that matches the inside diameter of the connected piping. They are a combination of a paddle blank (also known as a spade or slip blind) and a paddle spacer (also known as a spacer ring). To understand the benefits of spectacle blinds - and some of their limitations - it’s important to look at how they are designed. The following considerations offer a solid foundation for determining the best option for your needs. Like with other piping components, choosing the proper spectacle blind is essential to reliable, long-term performance.

Spectacle Blinds combine these two popular components to create a single solution for your routing and flow control needs - particularly where positive shutoff is required. Blinds and spacers offer an effective way to block flow to piping systems to prevent contamination, ease maintenance, or control flows.
