Vinyl 'Torque Arrestors' Are Flexible Yet Rugged, Preventing Wear and Tear in Water Wells

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LIVERPOOL, NEW YORK, U.S.A., March 20, 2002: Flexible vinyl has outperformed thermoset rubber in a water-well component that nobody sees but every well owner relies upon to prevent wear and tear caused by startup torque from a submersible pump, according to component supplier American Granby Inc.

An expandable spacer that fits snugly between the drop pipe that delivers water and the well casing that surrounds it, the Torque Arrestor is positioned just above the pump at the bottom of the well. By keeping the drop pipe centered, the injection molded component minimizes startup torque produced by the submersible pump, preventing wear or damage that would otherwise occur if the drop pipe and adjacent wiring banged and rubbed against the well casing. One Torque Arrestor is used per well. American Granby provides thousands each year with the equipment it supplies for well installation.

By switching from rubber to Apex (R) flexible vinyl compound from Teknor Apex, American Granby improved the durability of its Torque Arrestor and increased manufacturing productivity, according to Mary Lanzafame, Vice President of Operations. "Initially we used rubber because the application calls for flexibility over a wide temperature range," said Lanzafame, "but rubber can break down when exposed to chlorinated water, releasing carbon black filler into the water supply. In addition, rubber has a distinct odor, and some installers worry that if a Torque Arrestor gives off an odor then it may be releasing contaminants into the drinking water. As for flexibility: Some installers actually report that PVC is more flexible than rubber, even in cold weather."

Flexibility is critical because of how a Torque Arrestor is installed. The component consists of two roughly 0.5-lb. (0.23 kg) vinyl halves and two stainless steel hose clamps joining the halves at either end of the Torque Arrestor. The installer sandwiches the drop pipe between the halves, grasps the top and bottom ends of the Torque Arrestor, manually forces them toward the center section of the component until that section flanges outward to fit the inside diameter of the casing, and tightens the clamps. Well casings typically range in diameter from four to eight inches (100 to 200 mm).

Other advantages of vinyl over rubber in this application are design freedom and manufacturing productivity, noted Philip Morin, Industry Manager for the Vinyl Division of Teknor Apex: "To produce a component that is flexible yet durable, the manufacturer designed the vinyl halves with undercuts and supports as well as sections that flange out during installation. These intricate parts are injection molded in a four-cavity tool."

American Granby, Inc., has supplied products for water systems, irrigation, plumbing, swimming pools, and spas for 40 years. It is located at 7645 Henry Clay Boulevard, Liverpool, NY 13088 U.S.A. Tel: 1-315-451-1100. Visit www.americangranby.com.