Debris in access fittings is a known problem. Axess developed the ‘Saturn’ coupon holder which has a series of rings that sweep the internal bore of the access fitting during installation and then prevents debris from entering whilst the device is installed. The rings do not provide a pressure seal but are snug enough to prevent sand and debris entering the fitting and threads, greatly aiding the online retrieval process.
The Saturn holder can also be orientated whilst connected to the carrier plug, making it quick and easy to align strip coupons parallel with the flow. All of Axess carrier plugs are engraved with directional arrows and the number of turns required for the plug to disengage completely.
This is 14 turns for standard 1-3/4” UN parallel threaded plug and is 9 turns for ACME thread plugs. This design improvement came after Axess had learned that a Janus guard had been engaged at 2200psi, after a technician had mistaken an ACME fitting for a standard mechanical fitting.
