Definition of "Hydraulic Tool" in ASME B31.1-2001

[RenoDave]

I am designing the power piping for a hydraulically driven shredding unit. I am trying to determine the correct references to use. I am currently using the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and B31.1-2001 ASME Power Piping Code as my main references but I noticed that B31.1 does not apply to "piping for hydraulic and pneumatic tools and their components downstream....." ! I hate to nitpick but does anybody know what constitutes a "tool" in this case?!

 

[JohnBreen]

Dave,

You are going to find that all the B31 Pressure Piping Codes explicitly exclude power tool piping from their scope.

This indicates that the Committee feels that it wrote the rules of the specific Code to address a very specific scope and they felt it is inappropriate to apply these specific codes to the excluded services.

In this context, "tool" is meant to be a device whis is powered by the flow of the specific fluid. An impact wrench, a jack hammer, a grinder are air driven tools. Similarly, devices that are driven by the flow of hydraulic fluid are also tools. Even "cutter/grinders" which use the impact of the fluid to abrade or erode the "work" are tools.

Regards, John.

 

[RenoDave]

If B31.1 is inappropriate for hydraulically driven equipment, do you know which code is applicable?

Thanks in advance!