funny outlet for sampling valve

[JonChristiansen]

OK, I've been battling trying to find a sutible zwickle/sampling valve for my fermenter's. I do not have the luxury of a 1 1/2" try clamp fitting to attach my sampling valve to. What I have is a 7/16" male fitting on my tank. Very strange. The threading is not tight like water threading, and it is most likely treading meant for gas fittings. I have been able to piece together a "sort" of sampling valve, but I can not find a piece that will attach to the 7/16" male treading that is stainless steel. Besides that if pieced together brass attachments

Anyone out there have this on any of there tanks? I have no clue where these tanks were made but they are 14 bbl and NOT double jacketed. Poor stainless steel quality and I do have a proper spot for a butterfly valve on the bottom of the fermenter and on the side of the cone. Any suggestions up to having the tanks rewelded with a 1 1/2" fitting for try-clamps. The stainless steel is very thin and welding leads to burn through on the inside of the tank.
Thanks to any/all the respond!!!
Cheers,
Jon Christiansen
Joseph James Brewing Company
Henderson, NV

[Moonlight]

First question, if you look into your fitting, is it straight pipe thread all the way into the tank, or do the threads end at a narrowing lip? If the latter, it is a sanitary style that uses a gasket/O-ring and is not pipe thread. This would be my guess.
Second, is the fitting thick enough to drill out and tap to 1/2" NPT?

[Sauce]

Jon,

Could you take a picture of the fitting on your tank and post it?

We might have a better understanding of what your dealing with.

JackK

[BrewinLou]

Our 30bbl tanks have the threaded o-ring style sample port. They came with sample valves that screw right in. The tanks are JV Northwest. The ports are located on the manway doors, and the doors are not of the insolated double wall variety. You may try JV.

[beermkr]

my DME tanks have the same sort of setup. There is an o-ring that seals it up.

Mike

[sbradt]

I don't have one in front of me to measure, but that sounds like the standard Perlick "bacteria proof" fitting connection. Where the threads end to the inside of the tank, is there a flat surface to seat a sealing washer against? If so, Perlick can probably supply the necessary valve and the sealing gaskets as well.

http://www.perlick.com/products/sample-valve

[South County]

Second on the Perlick, the new tanks were getting have these valves.

[JonChristiansen]

Thanks guys for the responses. The treading is on the OUTside of the piece sticking out of my tank. It sticks out less than 3/4 inch total and its welded onto the tank. I will take a picture soon and post it on this thread asap. I have my camera here at work.

Jon

[JonChristiansen]

heres a picture of the sampling valve port i have to work with...
thanks guys and gals.
jon

[JonChristiansen]

oops, didnt work. ill get the pictures on here soon .....
jon

[JonChristiansen]

here ya go folks. thanks again! anyone recognize this valve/fitting?
jon

[ottonut]

almost looks like a soda keg fitting...

[alchemy]

looks like a 1/4 inch gas/beer line fitting.

[beermkr]

I will go with standard flare fitting....

Mike

[Moonlight]

It appears there is a hex head against the tank...is this hex welded to the tank or is it threaded on to some other thing which is welded to the tank?
I agree with beermkr, try to match it with a flare fitting at your local hardware store. If it does match, there are flare fittings in stainless that will adapt this to NPT, and you can thread your sample cock to that. It would be safest to disassemble this for each tank cleaning.