Brass Vibra-Lok Run Tee

A Brass Vibra-Lok Run Tee features its male pipe thread located on the continuous inline run of the fitting, with the opposing inline port and perpendicular 90-degree branch port both being Vibra-Lok tube compression connections. In contrast, a Branch Tee has two inline tube connections with the male pipe thread located on the 90-degree branch. The Run Tee is used when the fitting must thread directly into an equipment port while continuing a straight tube line and sending a 90-degree branch elsewhere.

In conventional rigid compression run tees, dynamic engine and pump vibration focuses cyclical stress directly at the rigid metallic bite edge or flare neck, causing premature tube shearing. The Vibra-Lok Run Tee completely suspends each tube end within an elastomeric matrix (Buna-N or Viton), absorbing up to 90% of dynamic vibration and allowing the tube to flex safely without metal-to-metal gouging.

Pioneer Industries offers two primary elastomeric formulations: Standard Buna-N (Nitrile) for petroleum fuels, hydraulic oils, compressed air, and water from -35°C to +100°C (-30°F to +212°F); and High-Temperature Fluorocarbon (Viton / FKM) for synthetic fluids, chemical media, and elevated temperatures from -26°C to +204°C (-15°F to +400°F).

Working pressures reach up to 2,000 PSI (138 bar) in 1/8″ to 1/4″ tube OD sizes, 1,500 PSI (103 bar) in 5/16″ and 3/8″ OD, and up to 1,000 PSI (70 bar) in 1/2″ OD sizes, with a certified 4:1 hydrostatic burst safety margin per ASME B31.3. For vacuum service, the continuous 360-degree radial elastomeric seal holds vacuum down to 29.5 in. Hg.

Apply PTFE thread sealant paste or tape to the male pipe thread. Thread the fitting into the equipment port finger-tight, then rotate with a wrench 2 to 3 full turns until the perpendicular tube branch points in the exact trajectory required for the incoming tubing. Never loosen the fitting to align the port, as reversing breaks the tapered thread seal; always advance forward to the next aligned position.

No. The tubing connection is completely flareless and cold-assembled. Cut the tubing square, deburr edges, slide the nut and elastomeric sleeve over the tube, push the tube into the fitting until it bottoms out, and tighten the nut finger-tight plus exactly one full turn (360°) with an open-end wrench.

Yes. The resilient elastomeric sleeve readily compensates for minor tube out-of-roundness, shallow longitudinal scratches, and angular misalignments up to 4 degrees. The elastomer flows into microscopic surface defects under compression to ensure an airtight, bubble-free seal.

Yes. Because the elastomeric sleeve does not swage, cut, or crimp a permanent groove into the tubing wall, the tubing remains undamaged and 100% reusable. Disassembly simply requires loosening the nut. If the elastomer becomes aged or heat-hardened after years of service, inexpensive replacement sleeves restore the joint to factory-fresh sealing integrity.

The fitting is fully compatible with soft copper, half-hard drawn copper, seamless aluminum, brass, thin-wall hydraulic steel, and even lab-grade glass tubing. When utilizing thermoplastic tubing like Nylon or Polyethylene, brass tube support inserts should be inserted into the tube bore to prevent wall collapse.

Bodies are hot-forged from BS 218 / CW617N (ASTM B124 C37700) brass to eliminate porosity and stress crack susceptibility. Consignments undergo 100% pneumatic bubble testing at 10 bar, thread pitch optical inspection, and are delivered with authentic EN 10204 Type 3.1 Mill Test Certificates verifying complete melt heat traceability.