Weldable, low lead and lead-free plumbing fittings and methods of making the same
A plumbing fitting that includes: a fitting body having a plurality of ends; and a cover element joined to the body with a weld in proximity to and spaced from an interface in contact with a potable or non-potable aqueous medium. The body and the cover element are fabricated from a lead-free or low lead, copper or copper-silicon alloy having a thermal conductivity of ≤45 W/(m*K). Further, the weld has a centerline that is ≤6.4 mm from the interface and/or a heat affected zone that has an average width ≤400 μm and is spaced from the interface. The plumbing fittings include but are not limited to ball valves, gate valves, elbows, check valves and other fittings without stems.
1. A plumbing fitting, comprising:
a fitting body; and
a fitting element joined to the body with a weld in proximity to and spaced from an interface in contact with a potable or non-potable aqueous medium,
wherein the body and the fitting element are fabricated from a low lead or lead-free, copper-silicon or copper alloy having a thermal conductivity of ≤60 W/(m*K), and
further wherein the weld has a centerline that is ≤10 mm from the interface.
2. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the body and fitting element are fabricated from a lead-free, copper-silicon alloy having a thermal conductivity of ≤55 W/(m*K).
3. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the body and fitting element are fabricated from a lead-free, copper-silicon alloy having a thermal conductivity of ≤50 W/(m*K).
4. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the plumbing fitting is selected from the group consisting of a valve, an elbow and a plumbing fitting lacking a stem, and further wherein the fitting element is a cover element or an end.
5. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the fitting element comprises a flange and the flange comprises the interface.
6. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the weld is formed from a laser welding apparatus and has a heat affected zone (HAZ) that has an average width ≤1500 μm.
7. The fitting according to claim 6 , wherein the body and fitting element are fabricated from a lead-free, copper-silicon alloy having a thermal conductivity of ≤30 W/(m*K).
8. The fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the weld is formed from a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) apparatus and has a heat affected zone (HAZ) that has an average width from 3000 μm to 9500 μm.
9. A plumbing fitting, comprising:
a fitting body; and
a fitting element joined to the body with a weld in proximity to and spaced from an interface in contact with a potable or non-potable aqueous medium,
wherein the body and the fitting element are fabricated from a low lead or lead-free, copper-silicon or copper alloy having a thermal conductivity of ≤60 W/(m*K),
wherein the weld has a heat affected zone (HAZ) that has an average width ≤10,000 μm and is spaced from the interface, and
further wherein the weld comprises a centerline that is ≤10 mm from the interface.
10. The fitting according to claim 9 , wherein the weld has a heat affected zone (HAZ) that has an average width ≤5,000 μm and is spaced from the interface.
11. The fitting according to claim 9 , wherein the weld has a heat affected zone (HAZ) that has an average width ≤1,000 μm and is spaced from the interface.
12. The fitting according to claim 9 , wherein the weld has a heat affected zone (HAZ) that has an average width ≤800 μm and is spaced from the interface.
13. The fitting according to claim 9 , wherein the plumbing fitting is selected from the group consisting of a valve, an elbow and a plumbing fitting lacking a stem, and further wherein the fitting element is a cover element or an end.
14. The fitting according to claim 9 , wherein the fitting element comprises a flange and the flange comprises the interface.
15. A plumbing fitting, comprising:
a fitting body; and
a fitting element joined to the body with a weld in proximity to and spaced from an interface in contact with a potable or non-potable aqueous medium,
wherein the body and the fitting element are fabricated from a low lead or lead-free, copper-silicon or copper alloy,
wherein the weld has a heat affected zone (HAZ) that has an average width ≤10,000 μm and is spaced from the interface, and
further wherein the weld has a centerline that is ≤10 mm from the interface.
16. The fitting according to claim 15 , wherein the weld has a centerline that is 9 mm from the interface.
17. The fitting according to claim 15 , wherein the weld has a centerline that is 8 mm from the interface.
18. The fitting according to claim 15 , wherein the weld has a centerline that is 7 mm from the interface.
19. The fitting according to claim 15 , wherein the plumbing fitting is selected from the group consisting of a valve, an elbow and a plumbing fitting lacking a stem, and further wherein the fitting element is a cover element or an end.
20. The fitting according to claim 15 , wherein the fitting element comprises a flange and the flange comprises the interface.