Quick Connect Air Couplers

From Free Knowledge Base- The DUCK Project
Revision as of 20:25, 4 December 2025 by Littleguy (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Terminology for 1/4" Quick Connect Air Couplers uses "industrial" and "automotive" labels common retail terms for two main styles of 1/4" NPT quick connects. They refer to the shape of the male plug (not the coupler itself), which determines compatibility. 

Style        Plug Tip Shape                      Coupler Sleeve Markings       Common Colors     Notes
-----        --------------                      -----------------------       -------------     -----
Industrial   Outward bevel/ring (M-style)        Two stripes                   Red               Tighter seal; standard for tools; less leak-prone.
Automotive   Inward bevel (T-style/Tru-Flate)    One stripe                    Blue              Slightly looser fit; common in auto shops; may hiss if low-quality.

These are not interchangeable without adapters but can connect sometimes not well.

Industry Standards

Beyond retail names, manufacturers use standardized profiles (e.g., Milton, ARO) for catalogs and specs:

  • Industrial: M-style (Type D/I/M), red, ~32 CFM flow.
  • Automotive: T-style (Type C), blue, ~32 CFM flow.
  • Others: A-style (ARO, green, ~28 CFM); V-style (high-flow, purple, ~70 CFM for HVLP).
Retrieved from "http://wiki.robotz.com/index.php?title=Quick_Connect_Air_Couplers&oldid=24015"