flanges

A flange is an external or internal rib, or rim, for strength, as the flange of an iron beam or I-beam; or for a guide, as the flange of a train wheel; or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc, or on the lens mount of a camera. Thus a flanged rail is a rail with a flange on one side to keep wheels, etc., from running off. The term "flange" is also used for a kind of tool used to form flanges.

A flange can also be a plate or ring to form a rim at the end of a pipe when fastened to the pipe (for example, a closet flange). A blind flange is a plate for covering or closing the end of a pipe. A flange joint is a joint, as that of pipes, where the connecting pieces have flanges by which the parts are bolted together.

Common flanges used in plumbing are the surrey Flange or Danzey flange, York flange and Essex flange. Surrey and York flanges fit to the top of the hot water tank allowing all the water to be taken without disturbance to the tank. The are often used to ensure an even flow of water to power showers. An Essex flange requires a hole to be drilled in the side of the tank. There is also a Warix flange which is the same as a York flange but the shower output is on the top of the flange and the vent on the side. The York and Warix flange have female adaptors so that they fit onto a male tank however the Surry flange connects to a female tank.

Other uses of flange

The flange is also the underside of a golf club.

Flange is also British vulgar slang for vagina.

After a Not the Nine O'Clock News sketch "Gerald the Intelligent Gorilla" used flange as a comic collective noun for baboons the usage has stuck and gained popularity. OED Collective nouns

Also used to describe the protruding edges on flanged maces, the medieval weapon.