Bullhead Tee, Slip x Slip x Slip PVC Schedule 40 3" x 3" x 4" (401-341)

The 401-341 is a PVC Schedule 40 bullhead tee with a 3" slip (socket) run and a 4" slip (socket) branch outlet, all joined by solvent cement welding per ASTM D2564. Unlike a standard reducing tee where the branch is smaller than the run, a bullhead tee reverses this relationship — the branch port is larger than the run ports, making the 401-341 a specialized fitting designed for flow consolidation and collection applications rather than the distribution and tapping roles that standard reducing tees serve. All three ports are permanent solvent-welded connections accepting standard PVC pipe ends joined with solvent cement and primer.

Manufactured from rigid PVC compound conforming to ASTM D1784 cell classification requirements, this fitting delivers the corrosion resistance, chemical compatibility, and long service life associated with Schedule 40 PVC across a wide range of commercial, industrial, and municipal piping systems. The Schedule 40 wall thickness provides reliable pressure-rated performance for both pressurized distribution systems and gravity-flow applications.

The bullhead configuration is the defining characteristic of this fitting and governs its application context entirely. Where a standard tee splits flow from a larger mainline into a smaller branch, the bullhead tee does the inverse — two 3" lines converge at the run ports and discharge together through the oversized 4" branch, or a single 4" branch feeds into a split 3" distribution run. The most common real-world use case is flow consolidation: two parallel 3" collection lines joining at a single fitting and discharging into a common 4" trunk main, a layout frequently encountered in drainage collection manifolds, irrigation return systems, multi-pump discharge headers, and industrial process consolidation networks. The larger branch diameter accommodates the combined flow volume from both run ports without creating a flow restriction or backpressure at the junction — a critical design requirement in consolidation systems where the branch must handle the full aggregate flow from both run inlets simultaneously. Buyers should note that bullhead tees are not recommended for standard distribution applications where flow enters from one run port and must split between the other run and the branch — the oversized branch geometry is optimized for consolidation, not distribution, and using a bullhead tee in a distribution context can produce uneven flow distribution and elevated turbulence at the junction.

Specifications:

Industries & Applications:

• Irrigation & Agriculture — Consolidating flow from two parallel 3" collection or return lines into a single 4" trunk main in large-scale irrigation tail-water recovery systems, drainage collection manifolds, and pump station return headers where aggregate flow volume requires the larger branch diameter
• Municipal Water & Wastewater — Flow consolidation at pump station discharge headers, treatment facility collection manifolds, and gravity sewer collection networks where two 3" lines must merge into a common 4" trunk without restriction at the junction
• Industrial Process Piping — Combining parallel process fluid streams, cooling water return lines, or recirculation circuit flows from dual 3" inlets into a single 4" collection or discharge main in industrial process and cooling systems
• Commercial Plumbing — Multi-line drain consolidation in mechanical rooms and equipment areas where two 3" waste or drain lines must merge into a common 4" building drain or collection main
• Aquaculture & Water Treatment — Consolidating return flows from parallel treatment circuits, tank drain lines, or filter backwash discharge lines into a single 4" collection main in recirculating aquaculture and water treatment systems
• Fire Suppression — Combining flow from dual 3" branch mains into a 4" system riser or main drain in fire suppression grid configurations where aggregate branch flow requires a larger discharge path