Storz

Storz is a type of hose coupling invented by in 1882 and patented in Switzerland in 1890, and patented in the U.S. in 1893 that connects using interlocking hooks and flanges. It was first specified in standard FEN 301-316, and has been used by German fire brigades since 1933. (See German delivery hose article.) Amongst other uses, it has been widely employed on fire hoses in firefighting applications. It is the standard coupling on fire hoses in Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, Czechia, Israel, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece. It is also one of the standard couplings on fire hoses in Australia and the United States.

The Storz coupling system is also widely used for filling of bulk wood pellet storage systems in Europe (Storz-A or size), although in France and Belgium the equivalent Guillemin coupling is more commonly employed.

Storz connectors are usually made of brass or aluminium. They can be manufactured by casting for general hose connection and low pressure applications, but for firefighting, it is better to use forgings to guarantee the safety and durability of the coupling.

It is sometimes referred to as a sexless coupling, because rather than having a male and a female end connected by screw threads, either identical end can be joined to any other end of the same diameter. This is also called hermaphroditic or two-way connection. To couple a Storz connection, the two opposing couplings are pressed together such that the hooks of each one are inserted into the slots in the flange of the other. Then they are rotated in opposite directions until they are tight, or latches engage. This creates a watertight connection between the internal packing gaskets. To uncouple them, the latches are released and the connectors are turned in the opposite directions from coupling, and then separated when the hooks and slots are aligned. Special wrenches are designed for assisting with use of Storz connectors.

The main benefit to using Storz couplings is speed of hose connection, as a hose can be locked with a quarter-turn. By comparison, locking hoses using threaded couplings often takes several turns. Because of this, Storz couplings are widely viewed as a safer alternative to using threaded couplings. A secondary benefit over threaded couplings is that the connecting faces and hooks are less prone to damage if the coupling is dropped onto, or dragged over, a hard surface.

Storz couplers are available commercially in the following non-DIN-specified sizes: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Storz
size ! Lug diameter,
inner face (mm) ! Hose diameter,
internal (mm) ! Standard ! Fire-fighting
usage |- | 25 | 37 | 25 | AS2419.4 |Australia |- | 32 | 44 | 32 | | |- | 38 | 52 | 38 | CAN-ULC-S543, AS2419.4 |Australia |- | 45 | 59 | 45 | | |- | 65 | 81 | 38, 42, 52, 64, 70 | CAN-ULC-S543, AS2419.4 | Australia |- | 75 | 89 | 65, 75 | AS2419.4 | |- | 90 | 105 | 90 | AS2419.4 | Australia (legacy only) |- | 100 | 115 | 101 (called 4″ in U.S.) | CAN-ULC-S543, NFPA1963, AS2419.4 | U.S., Australia |- | 125 | 148 | 125 (called 5″ in U.S.) | CAN-ULC-S543, NFPA1963, AS2419.4 | U.S., Australia |- | 135 | 159 | 135 | | |- | 150 3-lug | 160 | 150 | CAN-ULC-S543, AS2419.4 | Australia |- | 165 | 188 | 165 | | |- | 205 2-lug | rowspan=2 | 220 | rowspan=2 | 203 | | |- | 205 3-lug | | |- | 250 3-lug | 278 | 256 | | |}

DIN standards define the following pressure couplings: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Storz
size ! Seal diameter,
inner (mm) ! Lug diameter,
inner face (mm) ! DIN
standard ! Hose diameter,
internal (mm) ! Fire-fighting
usage |- | D | 25 | 31 | 14301 | 25 | Germany |- | S28 | rowspan=4 | 52 | rowspan=4 | 66 | 14330-2 | 28 | Germany |- | S32 | 14330-1 | 32 | Germany |- | C42 | 14332 | 42 | Germany |- | C52 | 14302 | 52 | Germany |- | B | 75 | 89 | 14303 | 75 | Germany |- | A | 110 | 133 | 14300 | 110 | |}

DIN standards define the following suction couplings: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Storz
size ! Seal diameter,
inner (mm) ! Lug diameter,
inner face (mm) ! DIN
standard ! Hose diameter,
internal (mm) ! Fire-fighting
usage |- | D | 25 | 31 | 14301 | 15, 19, 25 | |- | C | 52 | 66 | 14321 | 19, 25, 32, 38, 42, 45, 52, 64 | |- | B | 75 | 89 | 14322 | 52, 65, 70, 75 | |- | A | 110 | 133 | 14323 | 102, 110 | Germany |}

DIN standards define the following fixed couplings (for securing fittings to hoses): {| class="wikitable" ! Storz
size ! Seal diameter,
inner (mm) ! Lug diameter,
inner face (mm) ! Sealing method ! DIN
standard ! Fire-fighting
usage |- | D | 25 | 31 | Rubber gasket | 14306 | |- | rowspan=2 | C | rowspan=2 | 52 | rowspan=2 | 66 | Rubber gasket | 14307 | |- | Integral metal seat | 14317 | |- | rowspan=2 | B | rowspan=2 | 75 | rowspan=2 | 89 | Rubber seal | 14308 | |- | Integral metal seat | 14318 | |- | rowspan=2 | A | rowspan=2 | 110 | rowspan=2 | 133 | Rubber gasket | 14309 | |- | Integral metal seat | 14319 | |}

DIN standards define the following threaded adapters: {| class="wikitable" ! Storz
size ! Seal diameter,
inner (mm) ! Lug diameter,
inner face (mm) ! Thread ! DIN
standard |- | D | 25 | 31 | BSP 1″ | 14306 |- | C | 52 | 66 | BSP 2″ | 14307 |- | B | 75 | 89 | BSP ″ | 14308 |- | A | 110 | 133 | BSP ″ | 14309 |}

DIN standards define the following caps: {| class="wikitable" ! Storz
size ! Seal diameter,
inner (mm) ! Lug diameter,
inner face (mm) ! DIN
standard |- | D | 25 | 31 | 14310 |- | C | 52 | 66 | 14311 |- | B | 75 | 89 | 14312 |- | A | 110 | 133 | 14313 |}

DIN standards define the following swivel reducers: {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan=3 | Induced ! colspan=3 | Reduced ! rowspan=2 | DIN
standard |- ! Storz
size ! Seal diameter,
inner (mm) ! Lug diameter,
inner face (mm) ! Storz
size ! Seal diameter,
inner (mm) ! Lug diameter,
inner face (mm) |- | C | 52 | 66 | D | 25 | 31 | 14341 |- | B | 75 | 89 | C | 52 | 66 | 14342 |- | A | 110 | 133 | B | 75 | 89 | 14343 |} Provided by Wikipedia