In the hydraulic fittings manufacturing industry, you’ll encounter various types of threads on fittings, with UNF and JIC being the most prevalent. Today, we’ll briefly explain the differences between these two.
JIC fittings comply with the SAE J514/ISO 8434-2 standards.
JIC (Joint Industry Council) fittings adhere to Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards and are commonly used in fuel delivery and fluid power applications, particularly in high-pressure environments (up to 10,000 psi).
“UNF thread” stands for Unified National Fine thread, part of the Unified Thread Standard (UTS) used in the US and Canada. UTS establishes a standardized system for threads used in fasteners like bolts and nuts. “UNF” signifies a fine thread pitch compared to the Unified National Coarse (UNC) thread, which is the other primary thread type in UTS.
The key difference is that Automotive Lift Repair Florida JIC fittings feature a conical seating face (with a 37° or 74° total angle) while UNF fittings have a flat seat, with sealing achieved through an O-ring or washer. In JIC fittings, the male component has a convex cone, while the female component has a concave cone.
Are JIC and AN hydraulic fittings the same? In the hydraulics industry, JIC and AN fittings are often used interchangeably, but let’s explore whether these terms refer to the same thing.
AN stands for Air Force – Navy Aeronautical Design Standards, also known as “Army Navy,” which are used in U.S. military aviation. These fittings are designed to meet stringent performance standards specific to the aeronautical industry. As the use of “AN” fittings expanded to various branches of the U.S. military, military contractors, general aviation, and commercial aviation, confusion arose between AN fittings and their industrial counterpart, the SAE 37° fitting. In the 1960s, multiple versions of 37° flare fittings entered the market, all claiming to meet the AN standard, creating confusion for users.
To address this confusion, the Joint Industry Council (JIC) established the “JIC” fitting standard—a 37-degree fitting with a slightly lower thread quality compared to the military AN version. This JIC standard was later adopted by the SAE as well. While the original AN and JIC specifications are largely obsolete, the JIC (or SAE) 37-degree fittings are generally considered interchangeable with AN fittings for most applications. However, JIC fittings are not suitable for military aviation or aerospace use, being more appropriate for agricultural, construction, heavy machinery, or material handling applications. Notably, JIC fittings are significantly less expensive than true AN fittings.
Technically, AN fittings are manufactured to MIL-F-5509, while industrial 37-degree flare fittings conform to SAE J514/ISO-8434-2. The key difference lies in the threads: AN fittings feature an increased root radius thread (“J” thread) and tighter tolerances (Class 3), resulting in a 40% increase in fatigue strength and a 10% increase in shear strength. Material requirements also differ significantly. Although both fittings function and appear similar, the industrial version is much more cost-effective to produce. The “JIC” / SAE J514 fittings produced by Air-Way meet or exceed all relevant qualification requirements.
When purchasing fittings for your hydraulic system, you’ll encounter a variety of types, including American, British, French, German DIN, and Japanese connections, among others.
What Are Automotive Lift Repair Florida Japanese Hydraulic Fittings?
Japanese hydraulic fittings typically feature JIS couplings with a 30-degree seat on the male end and a 30-degree flared seat on the female end. Some versions also come with 60-degree hose ends.
These fittings often use British Standard pipe parallel threads, although some have tapered threads. They are commonly used in OEM equipment manufactured not only in Japan but also in Korea and other Asian countries.
Advantages of Automotive Lift Repair Florida Japanese hydraulic fittings include their durability, as they are made from high-quality steel materials that resist corrosion and provide good heat insulation. They are also easy to install in tight spaces, and their adapters offer flexibility for various applications.
However, Japanese hydraulic fittings come in different sizes and designs, so it’s crucial to select a design that matches your hydraulic system.
Types of Automotive Lift Repair Florida Japanese Hydraulic Fittings
1. JIS B 0202
This type uses 30-degree flare parallel pipe threads and is a male coupling similar to the American 37° JIC flare. It will only fit with a JIS 30-degree flare female. While it resembles BSPP fittings, it is not interchangeable with them due to differences in the seat angle. There is a JIS 30-degree inverted seat variant that is interchangeable with BSPP fittings.
2. JIS Metric 60 Cone Seal
These fittings have a 60-degree inverted flare seal on the female end and a 60-degree flare seat on the male end. They typically feature metric threads and are made from stainless steel or zinc-plated carbon steel for durability.
3. JIS B 0203
JIS B 0203 fittings feature Japanese standard tapered pipe threads and are similar to BSPT fittings. They are not compatible with BSPP females because they lack a 30-degree flare. The seal is created directly on the threads.
4. Automotive Lift Repair Florida Style 30° Flare Parallel Threads
The main difference between Komatsu style 30° flare parallel thread fittings and Japanese style fittings is the threads. Komatsu fittings have metric fine threads similar to JIS B 0207 screw threads.
5. Automotive Lift Repair Florida Flange Fitting
These fittings are similar to SAE Code 61 flange fittings and are fully interchangeable, though they come in different sizes and O-ring dimensions. You’ll need an SAE-style O-ring for proper interchangeability.
JIS and JIC fittings may appear similar due to their flared tube connectors, but they are distinct. JIS fittings adhere to Japanese Industrial Standards, while JIC fittings follow the Joint Industrial Council standard from the UK. JIC fittings have a 37-degree flare tube connector, whereas JIS fittings have 30-degree connectors with some options for 60-degree cone fittings. Therefore, JIS and JIC fittings are not interchangeable.
Automotive Lift Repair Florida JIS and BSP fittings are often confused because they both feature 60-degree cone tube connectors. The main difference is that BSP fittings follow British Standard Pipe requirements, while JIS fittings follow Japanese Industrial Standards. Some JIS fittings are interchangeable with BSP fittings, such as JIS tapered pipe fittings with BSPT connections and JIS parallel thread fittings with BSPP connections.
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