Forged Socket Weld Boss
The Socket Weld Boss (also known as a Weld Boss or SW Nozzle Boss) is a forged fitting used to create a permanent, reinforced socket weld nozzle connection on the flat or curved wall of a pressure vessel, storage tank, pipe header or structural plate. The fitting consists of a solid forged body with a flat circular base on one side and a precision socket weld bore on the opposite face.
The flat base is placed against the vessel or pipe wall over a drilled hole and fully welded around its circumference with a fillet or full-penetration weld, depending on the pressure and design code requirements. The branch pipe end is then inserted into the socket bore at the top and secured with a socket weld fillet, completing the nozzle connection. The larger base diameter distributes the branch connection load over a greater area of the vessel wall, providing inherent reinforcement without a separate pad.
Cunimet Alloy International manufactures SW Bosses in a range of bore sizes with socket dimensions conforming to ASME B16.11. The base diameter is sized to provide the required area reinforcement for the branch opening per ASME VIII or B31.3 design requirements. Custom base OD and height dimensions are available to drawing.