Miniature In-Line Screens & Breathers

Fine wire screens are used to protect orifices and other critical components from the occasional particles that enter the fluid during installation or otherwise. They are not intended to replace normal filtration equipment, but rather to augment the protection of critical components in fluid control systems.

O’Keefe Controls Co. provides bound and unbound all Stainless Steel wire screens, allowing direct integration into your device or system. The option of a bound edge stiffens the assembly and makes them easier to handle.

Available in a variety of OD sizes, four sizes of screen particle retention are offered: 10, 15, 25 and 100 microns. These accurate, high-quality screens do not introduce loose particles into the fluid stream. They are also thoroughly cleaned to prevent inadvertent introduction of contaminants.

Fine Screen Breathers are used where there is a requirement to ensure that only clean fluid enters into a component or system. They provide an air passage into equipment, enclosures, and pneumatic controls while preventing the ingestion of solid particles.

Miniature Fine Screen Breathers are rated at 15, 25 or 100 microns and are available in either brass or stainless steel fittings. Connection sizes are 10-32, 1/8″ or 1/4″ NPT.

Typical breather applications include: equipment enclosures, vented control components, small three- or four-way valves, small two-way vacuum valves, air purge equipment, EMI or RFI shield.

From the critical protection of components in medical equipment, to protection against particulate contamination for miniature pneumatic systems, Miniature In-Line Screens provide solutions and peace of mind across a wide variety of industries and applications. Due to the fact that normal application processes accumulate particles and debris, these devices are commonly placed in the flow line to protect components such as precision orifces, check valves, pneumatic equipment, hydraulic controls, and gas and fluid flow equipment — to name just a few.

Precision Orifices are widely used in industrial fluid control applications, and maintaining exact flow through the orifice is required for proper flow control function. Particulate contamination can cause irregular flow, disrupting the process. Particle build-up around the orifice throat can reduce the orifice diameter, restricting the flow rate, while particulate clumping can stop the flow altogether. This risk is significantly reduced with the addition of a Miniature In-Line Screen upstream of the orifice fitting.

Small and miniature Check Valves are another type of fluid control device that are particularly subject to the ill effects of particulate contamination. Their sealing surfaces need to remain smooth and unchanged in order to prevent unwanted leakage. Miniature In-Line Screens placed upstream of the check valve can help prevent particle build-up or corrosion on sealing surfaces which might cause leaking. They can also help prevent contamination build-up, causing sticking that could compromise valve function.

Critical components in automated processes, such as pneumatic transducers, pneumatic timers, and hydraulic controls, must also be protected from particulate contamination. A simple and effective solution is utilizing Miniature In-Line Screens to augment any filtration equipment used in the process. The added level of protection specifically for these critical components helps lower maintenance costs and system down time.

Fine Screen Breathers are used where there is a requirement to ensure that only clean fluid enters into a component or system. Simple in concept, these devices allow a passage of air in or out of an enclosure. This serves to regulate pressure within the enclosure, due to temperature changes in the environment. A common example would be an electrical transformer. As outdoor temperatures change due to the season or even throughout the day, air within the enclosure has an inlet or outlet to compensate for the resulting pressure changes. The fine screen effectively keeps out insects, debris or fine dust particles which could damage the components within or compromise their performance.

EMI or RFI shields – In the case of components protected with an EMI or RFI shield, a miniature fine Screen Breather utilized to vent the enclosure provides the necessary particulate protection for device components which require a particularly clean environment for proper operation.

Fine Screen Breathers are commonly used to vent various control components, allowing smooth operation and preventing pressure build-up. Other applications include use with air purge equipment, small three- or four-way valves and small two-way vacuum valves.

O’Keefe Controls Co.’s line of Miniature In-Line Screens & Breathers are trusted the world over to provide the particulate control necessary for protection of orifices, devices, and equipment in fluid control systems. During manufacturing, they pass stringent quality control benchmarks and testing, ensuring reliable, lasting performance.

With a quality management system that is ISO 9001:2015 registered, all processes are held to the highest standards of quality. But perhaps of even greater benefit to our customers, the engineers at O’Keefe Controls Co. are technical experts in the field — knowledgeable about not only our products, but also the science behind their use. As such, we are able to assist customers in diverse practical applications across the industrial, analytical and medical sciences landscape. In all we do, we stand proudly by our tagline: If it’s about precision, it’s O’Keefe.