What Is Gladhand Connector? What Is A Gladhand Used For?
What Is Gladhand Connector?
A gladhand connector, also known as a gladhand coupler, connects hoses that supply pressurized air to brakes on semi-trailers or railroad cars.
It looks like two hands shaking when connected, which is where it gets its name.
What Is A Gladhand Used For?
Gladhands are devices that allow drivers to quickly and easily disconnect the brake lines of a tractor-trailer without the need for tools or a mechanic.
They often have a quick release mechanism to speed up brake release time. Tractor-trailers typically have two gladhands, one for the service brakes and one for the emergency brakes.
These gladhands are color coded, with blue for service brakes and red for emergency brakes in North America, following the SAE J318 standard.
Outside of North America, the supply lines are red and the control lines are yellow, following the ISO 1728 standard.
Gladhand couplers are typically genderless or hermaphroditic, allowing them to be connected to each other easily, for example, allowing either end of a railcar to be connected to the end of a train. North America has a standardized system for gladhand sizes.
What Is A Glad Hand Seal?
Gladhand seals are used to secure standard gladhands and prevent air leakage in the air lines connecting trucks or semi-tractors to trailers.
These seals come in different colors such as blue or red to match specific types of gladhands, and silver/black color is used universally.
Various styles including open, closed, and partial are available for selection. Some seals also feature screens, filters, or dust flaps to prevent contaminants or debris from entering the airline. Open and partial seals have screens.
How Do You Install Glad Hand Seals?
To install a new seal, use a hammer to press it into place starting at the bottom of the waterway and working your way up.
Do not use a screwdriver or other sharp object as this could damage the seal and/or make it difficult to remove later on.
Be careful not to cut yourself on any jagged edges left behind by old seals that may be stuck in place!
Once all new seals are installed, check them for full seating in their grooves by gently pushing down on each one with your hand while looking closely at its face; if there are any gaps between these faces and their corresponding grooves, you will see light shining through them (and should then remove those particular seals).