TES-LOK Female Cross Tube Fittings — female NPT/BSP internal thread on all four ports in a + configuration. Join four male-threaded nipples, studs, or pipe ends at a single cross-junction. SS 304 · SS 316 · Brass · Alloy 400 · 6,000 PSI · ISO 9001:2015 certified.
A female cross tube fitting is a four-port fitting arranged in a + (plus or cross) configuration, with female internal threads on all four ports. Two ports lie on the inline run axis (facing left and right); two ports lie on the perpendicular branch axis (facing forward and back), all at 90° to each other. Every port receives a male-threaded component — a nipple, hex nipple, stud, or pipe end.
The female cross is the four-way counterpart of the female tee: where the female tee provides three connection points, the female cross provides four, allowing a single fitting body to serve as a central hub for four independent male-threaded pipe runs or instrument connections. This eliminates the need for multiple back-to-back tee assemblies at a four-way junction and reduces the total fitting and leak-joint count.
TES-LOK Female Cross Fittings are machined from certified bar stock, available in equal configuration (same thread size on all four ports) and on request in reducing configurations. Maximum working pressure is 6,000 PSI in SS 316. All materials are supplied with full Mill Test Certificates; EN 10204 3.1/3.2 MTCs are available on request for critical applications.
| Port | Connection Type | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Run Port 1 (inline — left) | Female thread (NPT / BSP) | Receives male-threaded nipple, stud, or pipe end for the first run direction |
| Run Port 2 (inline — right, 180° to Port 1) | Female thread (NPT / BSP) | Receives male-threaded nipple, stud, or pipe end for the continuing run |
| Branch Port 1 (perpendicular — front) | Female thread (NPT / BSP) | Receives male-threaded nipple, stud, or instrument body connection |
| Branch Port 2 (perpendicular — back, 180° to Branch 1) | Female thread (NPT / BSP) | Receives male-threaded nipple, stud, or instrument body connection |
All four ports are co-planar and at 90° to adjacent ports. In the equal configuration all four are the same thread size. Compare with the Female Tee (three female-thread ports) and the Union Cross (four compression tube ports).
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Product name | Female Cross Tube Fitting (Four-Way Female Cross) |
| Brand | TES-LOK (Tesco Steel & Engineering) |
| Connection type — all ports | Female internal thread — NPT, BSP tapered (BSPT), BSP parallel (BSPP/G), UNF, ISO metric |
| Port geometry | Four ports in + (cross) configuration; all four co-planar at 90° to adjacent ports |
| Configuration | Equal (same thread size all four ports) · Reducing on request |
| Thread size range | 1/8" to 1" (NPT / BSP) · ISO metric M10 to M42 |
| Max working pressure | Up to 6,000 PSI (SS 316, ambient temperature) |
| Materials | SS 304, SS 316, SS 316L, Brass, Alloy 400 (Monel), Alloy 600 (Inconel), Alloy C-276 (Hastelloy), Duplex 2205, Super Duplex 2507 |
| Temperature range | −65 °F to +1200 °F (material dependent) |
| Thread standard | ANSI/ASME B1.20.1 (NPT) · BS EN 10226 / ISO 7 (BSPT) · ISO 228 (BSPP) |
| Quality certification | ISO 9001:2015 · Material test certificates · 3.1 / 3.2 MTCs on request |
| Finish | Bright machined (SS) · Electropolished on request · Nickel-plated (Brass) |
| Industries | Oil & Gas · Petrochemical · Power · Hydraulics · Marine · Pharma |
| Thread Size (All 4 Ports) | Thread Standard | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8" | NPT(F) | Miniature instrument manifold cross-junctions |
| 1/4" | NPT(F) | Process instrument panel four-way headers |
| 3/8" | NPT(F) | Process skid four-way distribution points |
| 1/2" | NPT(F) | High-flow process headers, steam distribution crosses |
| 3/4" | NPT(F) | Large-bore hydraulic circuit cross-junctions |
| 1" | NPT(F) | Full-bore manifold headers, main process headers |
| 1/4" | BSP(F) | Offshore metric instrument loops, European OEM panels |
| 1/2" | BSP(F) | Marine hydraulic four-way junctions, metric process headers |
A four-way junction can be built from two female tees connected by a close nipple or from one female cross. The table below shows why the female cross is the preferred solution in most instrumentation applications:
| Criterion | Two Female Tees + Nipple | One Female Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Total fitting count | 3 (tee + nipple + tee) | 1 |
| Potential leak joints | 4 (3 fitting entries + nipple) | 4 (fitting entries only) |
| Assembly length | Longer by 1× nipple length | Shortest possible |
| Installation time | 5 thread-make-up operations | 4 thread-make-up operations |
| Alignment complexity | Two bodies to align | One body — inherently aligned |
| Inspection surface area | Two bodies to inspect | One body |
One female cross replaces two tees and one nipple at every four-way junction. The single body is inherently aligned — all four ports are machined concentric and perpendicular to each other — eliminating the angular misalignment risk of a two-tee assembly.
Without a connecting nipple between two tee bodies, the female cross is the most compact possible four-way junction. In instrument panel boards, analyser cabinets, and densely packed offshore module skids, this often makes the difference between a design that fits and one that does not.
With female threads on all four ports, the cross accepts hex nipples, close nipples, stud ends, instrument process connections, and male pipe ends simultaneously — no adapters or additional fittings needed. Four male-threaded runs join at a single body.
Unlike compression-type cross fittings, the female cross has no tube stubs or ferrule seats. Installation requires only PTFE sealant and a wrench — no tube cutting, deburring, or ferrule make-up. This is the fastest four-way junction to assemble when all connections are threaded.
Machined from certified bar stock to TES-LOK's standard pressure ratings, the female cross achieves up to 6,000 PSI working pressure in SS 316. The all-metal body has no elastomeric components and is equally suitable for cryogenic, ambient, and elevated-temperature service.
Available in SS 304, SS 316, SS 316L, Brass, Monel 400, Inconel 600, Hastelloy C-276, Duplex 2205, and Super Duplex 2507. All materials are supplied with EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificates; 3.2 third-party MTCs are available on request for critical, nuclear, or subsea-classified applications.
| Fitting | Port Count | Port Type | When to Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female Cross | 4 | Female thread × 4 | All four mating parts are male-threaded nipples or studs |
| Union Cross | 4 | Compression tube × 4 | All four connections are bare compression tube runs |
| Female Tee | 3 | Female thread × 3 | Three directions only; no fourth connection needed |
| Female Branch Tee | 3 | Compression × 2 run + female thread × 1 branch | Tube run passes through; one female thread branch only |
| Female Connector | 2 | Compression tube + female thread (inline) | Two-port inline connection only; no branches |
Step 1 — Inspect all threads. Check all four female ports in the cross and all mating male nipples or studs for damage, burrs, or contamination. Clean with a lint-free cloth. Replace any component with a damaged or crossed thread — do not force-thread past resistance.
Step 2 — Plan port orientation. Decide which of the four female ports will serve as run ports (inline axis) and which as branch ports before applying any sealant. Once a joint is made up, reorientation requires full disassembly and fresh sealant.
Step 3 — Apply sealant to male threads. Apply PTFE tape (2–3 wraps clockwise from the first complete thread) to each male nipple or stud. For NPT and BSPT (tapered) mating threads only — do not use PTFE on BSPP parallel male threads; use a bonded seal washer or O-ring instead.
Step 4 — Thread each port in sequence. Hand-thread one male component into its female port until snug. Using a wrench on the nearest flat of the cross body, tighten 1½ to 2 full turns past hand-tight for NPT/BSPT. Use a back-up wrench on the body hex adjacent to the port being tightened — never torque diagonally through the body, as this loads the opposite port thread. Repeat for each of the remaining three ports.
Step 5 — Check alignment and leak test. Verify that all four ports are correctly aligned with their mating components before final torque. Pressurise the assembly to working pressure and inspect all four joints with a calibrated gas sniffer or bubble solution. Depressurise before any retightening.
| Industry | Typical Application |
|---|---|
| Oil & Gas | Wellhead instrument manifold four-way junctions, chemical injection cross-headers |
| Refinery / Petrochemical | Process four-way distribution headers, analyser sample loop cross-junctions |
| Power Generation | Steam impulse pipe four-way headers, boiler drum gauge manifold crosses |
| Hydraulics & Pneumatics | HPU four-way distribution blocks, pneumatic panel cross-junction points |
| Marine & Offshore | Deck piping four-way junctions, HVAC four-way distribution, ballast headers |
| Chemical & Pharma | Chemical dosing manifold crosses, CIP/SIP four-way distribution, sterile utility piping |
▶ What is a female cross tube fitting?
▶ How does a female cross differ from a union cross?
▶ How does a female cross differ from a female tee?
▶ What thread standards are available?
▶ What thread sizes are available?
▶ What is the maximum pressure rating?
▶ How do I install a female cross tube fitting?
▶ Which industries use female cross tube fittings?
ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer. SS 304 · SS 316 · Brass · Special Alloys. 1/8"–1" female thread. NPT / BSP / BSPT. Four-port + configuration. Short lead times. Mill test certificates included.
✉ Email Quote 📞 WhatsApp 📞 Call Us