05/08/2008	<<Back to News
Safety - Petroleum Coupler Wear Gauge
The API nose wear gauge
Ever mindful of the need to prevent spillage at the interface between terminal and fuel tanker, Fort Vale developed a wear gauge to check the API adaptor on the fuel tanker.
This gauge is designed to check the wear of both the outside diameter and the contact face that the coupler latches to, on the API nose on the tanker. It easily slides over the nose and has a simple graduated reading between original condition and maximum wear limit. It was thought that this would become part of the operator’s maintenance review programme of the trucks but in 2006 it became part of a mandatory UK recognized industry standard. This is the Safe Loading Pass for Trailers and Tank Equipment and the Fort Vale gauge is found under section B.12.2. This commitment to safety is typical of the company’s ethos and Fort Vale continues to make a major contribution to industry safety within the Petroleum Industry. In today’s climate of safety culture & culpability, Fort Vale have developed not one but two API wear gauges. The second gauge is designed to check wear of the API coupler itself and is doubled ended. One end of the warning gauge indicates that the coupler is showing signs of wear. The other end simply states ‘Remove from Service’, as the coupler is sufficiently worn to risk a spill, if coupled onto a worn API nose. This gauge is suitable for checking Fort Vale couplers only. These have been well received by the petroleum industry and Fort Vale’s latest Mk3 semi-automatic Safeload coupler, which was launched in January 2007, is already proving itself and becoming the choice of major oil companies.