image showing various miniature screens and breathers

Miniature In-Line Screens & Breathers:

Reliable Protection for Critical Components

If you are looking for another level of particulate control for your fluid control system, the O’Keefe Controls Co. line of Miniature In-Line Screens & Breathers represents an ideal solution to that requirement. The screens protect precision orifices, small & miniature check valves, tamperproof flow controls, and other critical components from damage or reduced performance due to clogging or reduced flow rate.

Stainless Steel Wire Screens

These durable, reliable screens are available for integration into your own system or device, in either bound or unbound configurations. They are offered in a variety of screen sizes, with particle retention size as small as 10 microns.

Miniature In-Line Screens

For in-line applications requiring both upstream and downstream connections, O’Keefe Controls Co. provides miniature screens configured in a wide variety of fittings and connection sizes. Featuring well-defined flow characteristics and durable, long-life construction, these screens are particularly well suited for use across numerous industrial applications. Examples include: precision orifices, pneumatic transducers, gas and liquid flow instruments, medical devices, filling and purging systems, pneumatic timers, transmitters, pneumatic transmission lines, hydraulic controls, leak test equipment, and flow measurement devices.

Fine Screen Breathers

O’Keefe Controls Co. Fine Screen Breathers have an inlet-only connection and are used where there is a requirement that only clean fluid enters into a component or system. Typical 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.

Miniature SS Wire Screens

bound and unbound miniature stainless steel wire screens

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Miniature In-Line Screens

various miniature inline screens fittings

CLICK to view our catalog of Miniature In-Line Screens offerings

Fine Screen Breathers

brass and stainless steel miniature fine screen breathers

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Call us to ask about your Miniature In-Line Screens and Breathers application: 203.261.6711

images of stainless steel wire screens, bound and unbound

Features of Fine Stainless Steel Wire Screens

  • Screen material is fine Stainless Steel wire
  • Bound or unbound versions available
  • Offered in a variety of OD sizes
  • 4 screen sizes – 10, 15, 25 and 100 microns
  • No loose fibers or particles

CLICK HERE to view our catalog of Stainless Steel Wire Screens offerings

Stainless Steel Wire Screens

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.

Typical Applications of Stainless Steel Wire Screens

  • Protection in custom manifolds
  • Protection of valves and actuators
  • Gas and liquid flow instruments
  • Leak test equipment
  • Flow measurement devices

Call us to ask about your Fine SS Wire Screens application: 203.261.6711

Miniature In-Line Screens

Miniature In-line Screens are an assembly of a fine Stainless Steel wire screen into a fitting with both upsteam and downstream connections, allowing easy in-line incorporation into a device or system.

Not intended to replace normal filtration equipment, Miniature In-Line Screens are used to augment the protection of orifices, check valves, and other critical components from particles or debris introduced by normal application processes. In fact, in fluid control systems it is commonly considered a “best practice” to include such protection to ensure optimum operation and reduced risk of down time.

O’Keefe Controls Co. offers Miniature In-Line Screens in an extensive variety of fittings and connections, including compression, barb, 10-32, and NPT. Screens come in four sizes of particle retention: 10, 15, 25 and 100 microns. The devices undergo rigorous quality control processes and testing during manufacturing, making them extremely accurate and reliable, with well-defined flow characteristics. The stainless steel wire screens are thoroughly cleaned to ensure they do not introduce inadvertent particles or contaminants into the fluid stream.

Miniature In-Line Screen Applications

Protection for:

  • Precision Orifices
  • Pneumatic Transducers
  • Gas and Liquid Flow Instruments
  • Medical Devices
  • Filling and Purging Systems
  • Pneumatic Timers
  • Transmitters
  • Pneumatic Transmission Lines
  • Hydraulic Controls
  • Leak Test Equipment
  • Flow Measurement Devices
miniature in-line screens in various fittings shown

Features of Miniature In-Line Screens

  • All metal fittings, available in Brass or Stainless Steel
  • Screen material is fine Stainless Steel wire
  • Particle retention size as small as 10 microns
  • Clean assemblies
  • No loose fibers or particles
  • Well defined flow characteristics
  • Compatible with standard 10-32 and NPT fittings
diagram, mini in-line screen

CLICK HERE to view our catalog of Miniature In-Line Screens offerings

Call us to discuss your Miniature In-Line Screens application: 203.261.6711

brass and stainless steel miniature fine screen breathers

Features of Miniature Fine Screen Breathers

  • All Metal Construction
  • Brass or Stainless Steel fittings
  • SS fine wire screens
  • Screen sizes – 15, 25 or 100 microns
  • Connections sizes  – 10-32, 1/8″ NPT, 1/4″ NPT
breather diagram

Fine Screen Breathers

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.

Typical Applications of Miniature Fine Screen Breathers

  • Equipment enclosures
  • Vented control components
  • Small 3-way or 4-way valves
  • Small 2-way vacuum valves
  • Air purge equipment
  • EMI or RFI shields

CLICK HERE to view our catalog of Fine Screen Breathers offerings

Call us to ask about your  Fine Screen Breathers application: 203.261.6711

Industrial Applications for Miniature In-Line Screens & Breathers

small environmental test chamber

Miniature in-line Screens are commonly used in medical device applications to provide vital protection of critical components, and ensure fluid purity.

spray painting automotive parts

Miniature In-Line Screens provide the particulate control protection necessary to prevent clogging in industrial spraying applications.

robotic arm in cell phone manufacturing

Small and minature hydraulic systems —as in this robotic arm aiding in cell phone production —  benefit from Miniature In-Line Screens providing added protection of critical system components.

pole-mounted equipment enclosure

Breathers used in pole-mounted equipment enclosures help maintain a favorable environment when temperatures change, while filtering the incoming air. 

image of RFI shields

When using RFI shields, breathers vent the enclosure while protecting the components from particulate contamination.

Miniature In-Line Screens

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

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.

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.

Have questions regarding your Miniature In-Line Screens & Breathers application? Call 203.261.6711

Call us to get your technical questions answered: 203.261.6711

Used Worldwide for Particulate Protection

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.

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