Piping Question: Nipple, Nipplet and Nipoflange

Googling "nipplet" got lots of amusing hits, none of the early ones related to piping. I'm guessing it would be a weldolet with male pipe threads on the unwelded end.

On the other hand, a "nipoflange" (several images) is a weldolet with a standard flange on the unwelded end.

These devices are used as branches off a larger pipe or as nozzles off a vessel.

The terms may come from some individual manufacturer of piping components, such as for 3-A sanitary systems.

A nipple is a pipe with male threads on both ends. A half-nipple is threaded on one end, plain on the other.

Hi,

thanks for the clarification guys.

Where would you use a nipple, or half nipple?

Would it be to extend a weldolet with threads/female end?

A nipple (threads both ends) would only be used with a threaded 'olet, such as a threadolet. (or when threading together a female end valve and a female elbow, for example)

A half nipple would, typically, only be used for inserting into a sockolet (plain end installed then a fillet weld - threads towards the outside to accept a female ended component)

A half nipple could only be used with a weldolet if the plain end was beveled to allow for a full penetration weld, in which case, it would be simpler just to use a nipolet (or a threadolet)

Strictly speaking the 'olet family (except flangeolet) is a trademark of Bonney Forge.

Have a look at their catalog:

http://www.bonneyforge.com/resources/BC.pdf

The generic term for these fittings are "integrally reinforced branch connections"

And yes, they are used for branch connections, mostly Tees, except for the 'Laterolet' which is intended for elbows.

They are used to provide integral reinforcing for the material that is removed from the hole, to avoid the use of a reinforcing pad, which have increased labour to install.

Laterolet is actually for welding onto streight pipe, that branches off at an angle, usually 45 deg. There is a fitting called an Elbowlet that has a Pringle (like the chip) shape beveled connection that is designed to weld on to the out side arch of an elbow.

Nipple is an cuted tube moré less 100 mm, some time one extreme plan or biseled by other extreme thread. Nipplet or Nippolet is a fitting same a weldolet but with incorparte nipple. Nipoflange is cobination of weldolet plus nipple and flange, there are Manu catalog foro these fittings. Want in Tube Turn, Pipe Data Pro.

As a piping designer, i was trained in there usage. But the terms found out in the field are quite different. Most sites refer to short pieces of pipe as nipples. Diff manufactors have nipples that they sell, and are defined in catalogs. Some refer to swages as nipples. They are reducers (can be diff schedules), can be threaded (most common), plain end, and beveled end.

However, weldolet, lateralolet, sockolet, and threadolet are terms used as a branch connection to a vessel or a pipe. In engineering we use the term "integrally reinforced branch connection". Fitters, and the like, say olet. I even found stub-ins refered as olets by field types.

I have worked refinery, nuclear, aerospace, and now in chemical sites, and have found i need to learn new terminology every time. I agree to all previous responces. I cannot give a difinitve answer to your question, due to the many diff uses.