Need a handle? Grab a stem of the appropriate style and diameter, insert it into the ball and swing it in line with the body. There is an external ring that locks the ball in place, but there is no need to hold it back during assembly. For disassembly the ring must be drawn back, but even then swing couplers act abnormally docile.
 
            Outdated couplers are notorious for forcefully expelling the stem when the ring is pulled back -- a potentially unsafe occurrence due to the flying stem as well as the blast of compressed air. Not so with the Oetiker solution up to 200 PSI. Beyond that, the assembly locks for safe­ty purposes and cannot be disconnected until system pressure is relaxed to the 200 PSI level. (Just thought you needed to know in case you have your compres­sor's relief valve jacked up so you can blow a repaired rider mower out the door sideways when you are done with it.)
 
            To perform a disconnection of tool from air line, Oetiker' s external ring is retracted and the stem (again serving as a handle) is swung to the side. As it does, the ball valve prevents the air in the pres­surized line from advancing, then releas­es the air already in the tool through a small port in the back of the coupler. And the stem is still secured! Only after the stem is swung completely to the side can it be removed-and by that time all the fight has been taken out of it.
 
            While the disconnection I've de­scribed was intentional, it is important to understand that the Oetiker design absolutely prevents accidental discon­nection. Suppose an air hose is being pulled across a sharp edge and the ring on a Swing Coupler hangs up. The stem still cannot be extracted because of the collar around it engaging the locking flange. I have never heard of an acci­dental disconnect of an Oetiker Swing Coupler and cannot conceive of how it could happen. Perhaps that is why some racing teams use them on the special­ized tools needed during no-screw-ups-­tolerated pit stops.
 
            All of the other disconnect brands with which I am familiar utilize the cork principle. That is, air flow is interrupted during disconnection by means of em­ploying a component located in the cen­ter of the disconnect housing that seats against a companion surface to accom­plish its task, similar to a cork stopper in a bottle. In contrast, the Oetiker Swing Coupler incorporates the al­ready-discussed ball with a center hole equal in diameter to the center passage­way of the coupler and stem. When the hole is completely misaligned, airflow is effectively stopped. In summary, both approaches work.
 
            When traditional couplers receive a plug, it is the plug's nose that pushes the valve away from its seat and air begins to flow. But the valve stays right in the cen­ter of the coupler, causing air to change direction, divide, and go around it to continue flowing. All this mumble-jumble isn't good but seemed inevitable.
 
            In contrast, a ball valve disappears when fully opened. What had been an impenetrable boulder blocking the stream now becomes part of the canyon walls on each side. As depicted in the photo, you see nothing and airflow is only slightly affected because the inside diameter of the coupler and plug are somewhat less than the inside diameter of the plumbing leading to the coupler/plug assembly.
 
            Any restriction causes higher air ve­locity through the restricted area. Once through, however, the air slows down and a pressure loss results. This is akin to walking through a corridor so narrow you can simultaneously put pressure on both walls with your elbows. You then step into a wider hallway and, although you can still touch both walls, you now have to do so with your fingers, severe­ly limiting the amount of pressure ap­plied. The same thing happens with compressed air.
 
            Comparing before and after pressures renders a figure technicians call "pres­sure drop across the assembly." When­ever flow diameter is restricted there will be a loss in pressure beyond the re­striction.
 
        While some pressure drop is in­evitable, an Oetiker Swing Coupler minimizes the loss, guaranteeing it will be no more than 10%. Using the same plug, pressure and flow, Oetiker's Swing Coupler blows away standard valved couplers. A system that was pro­viding 35 cubic feet/minute (CFM) at 87 PSI was used. The standard valved disconnect caused a 15.50 PSI pressure drop while the Swing Coupler held pressure loss to just 2.90 PSI. What's the big deal? Your bottom line, so again let us count the ways.
 
        Air flow and pressure are needed to get jobs done such as activating an air tool or inflating a tire or blowing pulchritude off a piece of equipment. The com­pressor kicks in to make up for the pres­sure loss and you pay a bigger electric bill than you should have. Oetiker calcu­lated the above loss would cost $31.67/per year/per tool, but the cost of electricity has almost certainly gone up since the test was conducted.
       
        Tires don't inflate as quickly as they could so a mechanic spends one-and­-four/thirteenths of a minute more at that task. And you did how many tires last year? Wasted time is wasted money. Did I forget to mention that, again, the com­pressor kicked in unnecessarily?
 
            Air tools don't perform like they should so jobs take longer. Many times, those tools are mistakenly sent off to be rebuilt because they got the blame in­stead of the archaic connectors in your shop. Meanwhile, the compressor is overworked and that, too, will reduce its life span. You are paying to have tools resuscitated that already were in good health but starved for air. And you'll cough up to rejuvenate or replace the compressor when the rascal was run to death unnecessarily. And who's to say it won't be replaced with a bigger compressor because the old one wasn't get­ting the job done." Be careful that you don't fall into that pit of misguided thinking.
 
        In this article, I have assumed that most dealers are using the Style D or Hanson Industrial Interchange (the most common) plugs or stems. If so, you only need to swap out outdated disconnects for Oetiker Swing Couplers to start reap­ing benefits. But if you are really serious and want to soup-up your impact wrench, inquire about couplers and stems that retain the same size pipe thread but increase internal diameter of plugs. They do make a difference. Envi­sion a supercharged impact wrench and you've got the idea.
 
            For those of us who don't have money to blow in the wind there are Oetiker Swing Couplers. They are a treat to use and they don't leak, period (another compressor/dollar - friendly benefit). I've had them in my shop for about a decade and wouldn't have anything else. Try some in yours. Jobs will go smoother, air tools will be peppier, your compressor will get more sleep and your bottom line won't feel like it is being attacked by the Jaws of Life every month.
 
            Learn more about Oetik­er products on their web­site: www.oetiker.com. The company has 11 dis­tributors that handle terri­tories in the U.S. and Canada. I've been known to put a little wind into a story now and then, but not this one. I am grossly outclassed by Oetiker Swing Couplers.