CA1062593A - Method and apparatus for making reinforced hose - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A method for continuous production of reinforced, elastomeric high pressure hose having an inside diameter greater than 50 mm comprising extruding the hose onto a stationary mandrel over which the hose rollingly or slidingly passes in a continuous man-ner. Wire reinforcing is wrapped around the extruded hose as it is passing over the mandrel. Apparatus for carrying out this method is disclosed where the stationary mandrel may be the type having a plurality of roller barrels, a hydrostatic or aerostatic mandrel. or a mandrel having a plurality of endless flexible bands. Antirotational means is provided on the mandrel to pre-vent twisting of the extruded hose and the inaccurate laying of the wire reinforcing around the hose. The method provides a continuous length of high pressure hosing which can withstand hydrostatic pressures on the ocean floor. The apparatus is com-pact so that production of the hose can be carried out aboard ship when laying hose on the ocean floor.

Description

10625~3 -The invention relates to high pressure hoses made of elasto-mers and reinforcements with an inside diameter greater than 50 mm, a continuous longitudinal construction, and any desired length. The invention furthermore concerns methods of manufac-turing such high pressure hoses.
It is known to manufacture high pressure hose lines of great length by coupling together a large number of individual lengths.
These lengths, however, are short, and the large number of fittings used to assemble them constitute an unacceptable point of weakness and interfere with the cleaning of the line.
In exploration for natural gas and oil in coastal regions conduits are required for the transport of the oil or gas from points of discovery in the ocean to points of use, such conduits consisting normally of steel pipe. In cases where great depths and greatly fissured ocean bottoms are involved, the use of steel pipe is subject to limitations. The flexibility and resilience of steel pipe are inadequate where differences in level are steep or abrupt. In addition, the assembly of steel pipelines in the case of great ocean depths is made difficult by the finite length of the individual steel pipes of 12 to 18 meters on account of the large numbers of annular welds required. At great ocean depths there is also the danger that the great hydrostatic press-ure may permanently deform the steel pipes precisely while they are being laid. The wall thicknesses must therefore be propor-tioned accordingly. A very great volume of freight space must be available for the transportation of the steel pipes to the places where they are to be laid. It is for these reasons that steel pipelines have hitherto been laid only in relatively shallow waters to depths of about 200 meters.
Large tubes made of elastomers and constructed in a manner ~P

-` 106ZS93 similar to high pressure hoses are suitable for spanning great ocean depths. Tubes of this kind are used in the high pressure art for the accommodation of high internal pressures at relatively small diameters and short lengths. The technical requirements which must be met by a submarine pipeline at great depths, however, cannot be fulfilled by the hose designs which have been known hitherto. First, of course, materials must be selected for the "pipe design" which are resistant to sea water. The external sur-faces of the tubes must not be attacked by sea water even after years of use. In addition, the surface must be so prepared as to inhibit incrustation by sea animals insofar as possible. To span irregular shoals it is necessary to provide lengths of many kilo-meters, even when the diameters of the tubes are great, and they may be of the order of 300 to lO00 millimeters. It is very im-portant to use the greatest possible individual lengths of tubingin order to reduce the number of welds between the ends of the tubes, insofar as is technically possible.
This goal can be attained, however, only if the transporta-tion problems which occur where large diameters and long trans~
portation hauls are involved are simultaneously solved. A "tube"
in the above-named diameter range cannot be transported in the straight condition, with an individual length of, for example, 100 m, by conventional means. It must therefore be wound like a hose in a known manner. At the large hose diameters desired, the drum diameter required for the hose designs known heretofore would also become too large to be transportable.
The known methods of manufacturing high-pressure hoses of lamina~ed materials with a resilient supporting material can be divided basically into the mandrel processes and the mandrel-less processes.

In mandrel manufacturing processes the individual components of the hose, such as the core, the reinforcement and the covering, for example, are applied individually to a mandrel of finite length serving as a mold core. The mandrel length is limited for reasons of easier "strippability," and amounts as a rule to from 20 to 40 meters. In discontinuous manufacturing, a solid steel mandrel is usually used for small hose diameters, and an aluminum tube is used in the case of larger diameters on account of greater ease in handling (German Pat. 521,226).
The mandrel-less processes are the only ones which heretofore have permitted the continuous production of hose in any desired because the limitation of length due to the necessity of stripping the hose from the mandrel is eliminated. The construction of the hose in the assembly phase is performed in this case on a slightly compressed fluid, which is air as a rule. The establishment of the hose dimensions is achieved in these processes through the outside diameter in that, prior to the heating, a lead jacket is applied, for example, and is continuously removed again after the heating. In contradistinction to the mandrel process, the accur-acy of the inside diameter in this case depends very greatly on the material and machinery parameters. Furthermore, the mandrel-less processes known today are economically applicable only where large quantities of hose and small hose diameters are involved (periodical "Kautschuk und Gummi", February 1963, DK 678.06:
25 621.643.3).
For the manufacture of high pressure hoses of great and very great dimensions, the mandrel process has been used exclusively hitherto. The reason for this is not so much the required con-stancy of the inside diameter, but essentially two facts: The metal or textile reinforcement necessary for the construction of the hose must be applied under tension, which in the case of the mandrel-less process would result in an unacceptable con triction of the core. An increase of the supporting air pressure is no~
possible in such cases, since this would likewise result in a de-formation of the core, even though it would be in the oppositedirection. On the other hand, jacketing with lead during the heating would result in manufacturing costs which would not be economically acceptable.
The invention is addressed to the problem of making available great lengths of high pressure hose produced from laminated materials with a resilient supporting material. A special object is the production of large-size flexible tubes which can be laid as resilient pipelines in a technically simple manner by means of apparatus such as can be contained in ships, for example.
These problems are solved in accordance with the invention by high pressure hoses composed of elastomers and reinforcements and having inside diameters in excess of 50 mm, which are charac-terized by continuous construction in any desired length of at least 100 meters.
The high pressure hoses of the invention may have a reinforce-ment to maintain their stability of shape under high external pressure. According to a preferred embodiment, they are reversi-bly collapsible under external pressure, deforming their cross section to a flat oval and more.

The high pressure hoses of the invention, if not of circular c ip~ /
cross section, may have a principlc-axis of inertia whereby they are given a definite plane of collapse and twisting is prevented.
The high pressure hoses of the invention may have one or more tension supports extending longitudinally for the accommoda-tion of the longitudinal forces. These are located preferably on the principal axis of inertia. In the area of the thickening located on the principal axis of inertia the high pressure hose of the invention, in a preferred embodiment, has recesses at inter~als.
According to another preferred embodiment, the hose extremi-ties have material thickenings for the fastening of terminal fittings without impairing strength. The high pressure hose of the invention is preferably so constructed that the permeability of the material used in its construction to harmful components of the matter being pumped through it increases from the inside to the outside.
The method of the invention for the continuous production of high pressure hoses is characterized by the fact that the hose is ~;; built up on a stationary mandrel ~fer which the ~e is pulled rollingly or slidingly in the direction of production.
According to a preferred embodiment, the stationary mandrel is composed wholly or partially of a roller mandrel rotating about its long axis. In another variant of the method of the in-vention, the stationary mandrel is made wholly or partially in the form of a hydrostatic or aerostatic bearing. The stationary mandrel used in the method of the invention may bear on its entire surface one or more endless bands of heat-resistant, flexurally resilient material revolving under an external drive or driven by the movement of the hose in the direction of production. Addi-tional preferred embodiments will be understood from the followingdescription.
In the process of the invention the hose is made on a sta-tionary mandrel whose surface is driven along in the direction of production with the least possible friction by the hose being built upon it. Such a mandrel is a fixed component of the actual hose machine and thus is present only at the beginning of the production area and extends as far as the heating zone if any.
It may consist of one or more partial sections, depending on the particular embodiment, such that the mandrel segments, as seen in the direction of production, are fixedly joined to one another and are present only where the application of a new layer of material on the hose, especially a layer of wound cord or the heating coil, produces a pressure directed towards the interior of the hose has to be counter-balanced in order to prevent deformation of the circular cross section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a roller mandrel according to one preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a hydrostatic or aerostatic mandrel according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a stationary mandrel according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of an alternative form of the stationary mandrel Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-B of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a alternative form of the structure shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a partial view of another alternative form of the structure of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is an elevated view showing a preferred method of making hose core according ~o this invention.
Figure 9 shows an end view of a system used to counteract tor~ue experienced by a hose made according to this invention.

Figure 9A shows a representative cross-sectional view of a hose shown in Figure 9.
Figure lO is a side view of an alternative construction of a hose according to this invention.
Figure lOA is a cross-sectional view of the hose shown in Figure 10.
The process of the invention may be performed in three prin-cipal variants:
a) With a roller mandrel as in Fiqure lo The hose core (2) leaving the extruder (1) is kept circular by a slight air pressure in its interior (3) and is cooled as greatly as possible before the next procedure. At a constant 1_~ speed v it reaches the first hose wrapping t~e~nng (4) where it is wrapped with a layer of corded or braided yarn or wire. These layers must be made in an extremely precise and repeatable manner Cons~ lCrb~
in a high pressure hose, and therefore any ~on~r~ of the soft and unstable core must be prevented under all circumstancesO
This can be achieved in accordance with the invention by means ~f a circular array of rollers (5) which will revolve ad-vantageously in the opposite direction from that of the cordingor braiding machine (4)O The roller array (5) consists of the largest possible number of slightly rounded rollers (6) whose axis of rotation will slant to a variable degree in relation to the center line of the hoseO For a given slant of the rollers (6) and a given hose extrusion speed v the rotatory speed n of the roller array (5) is adjusted such that the rollers (6) will 6a 106Z5~3 roll helically against the inside surface of the hose (2).
~r~J
The diameter of the roller ~ ~ (Dl) is also variable so as to be able to be able to produce the greatest possible number of types of hose with the same roller mandrel. In addition, the inside diameter of the hose (D2) can also be corrected in this manner during production.
If a supporting mandrel is also required in the second cording or braiding machine (7), one can be made to rotate con-trary to the first one through a flexible driveshaft (8).
After the application of two layers of textile yarn or wire, the hose under construction is usually so resistant to pressure that a pressure of several atmospheres in its interior (9) will suffice for any further support. It would be advantageous for this pressure medium to have the temperature required for the later heating of the hose.
To provide a seal between sections (3) and (9) of the hose interior, a sliding seal (10) is rotatably fastened to the last roller array (5).
In cases where the torque transmitted to the hose (2) by the winder (4) or (7) is not counterbalanced by an equal torque pro-vided by the roller mandrel (5), an anti-rotational means (11) must be provided in order to prevent twisting of the hose (2) and the inaccurate laying of the reinforcement wrapping. This anti-rotational means is advantageously a junction of interlocking form between the hose surface and a plurality of edges cutting into same or grooved rollers rolling thereon. The point of en-gagement of the antirotational means is to be as close as possible to the point at which the wrapping is laid on.
b) With a hydrostatic or aerostatic mandrel as represented in Figure 2 ~06ZS93 The extruded and cooled hose core (2) is protected against collapse at one or more points of action of external forces by a supporting mandrel (13) of fixed location which may be made to rotate on its axis. To prevent contact between the hose core (2) and the mandrel surface a gap (15) filled with a supporting medium (14) must be maintained. This supporting medium flows under pressure through an infeed tube (15a) and capillaries (16) into a plurality of air pockets (17) and expands from there through the h c~e annular gap (15) into the interior (3) of the~e~se whence it returns through return bores (18) back to the compressor.
As in the method described in a), in all cases where the hose cross section does not have sufficient stability of shape, an additional external supporting means (19) must be used. This can advantageously be in the form of an aerostatic bearing, since a film of liquid between the core (2) and the reinforcement (20) h ~
is incompatible with-hop~ quality. In this manner the hose (2) will glide with low friction and at a constant speed v between the two stationary bearings (13) and (19). The external bearing (19) is advantageously part of the coil holder (12) of the hose wrapping machine (4) and (7) and has at its forward side guiding bores (21) for admission of the wrapping. In this manner a sup-port can be provided which will fully envelop the exterior of the hose except for the point at which the wrapping is laid on.
c) With a stationary mandrel (23) _acting as a gauge, as illus-trated in Figure 3, on whose surface a plurality of endless flexible bands (24) glide with low friction, driven in the direction of production by the hose (2). To this end it is re-quired that the friction between the inner side of the core (2) and the outside of the bands (24) is considerably greater than the friction hetween the bands (24) and the mandrel (23). If, -106Z5~3 nevertheless, the sliding friction under certain circumstances of production is too high, the bands may additionally be driven by a means (25) at the hose movement speed v. Particularly in the case of the smaller hose inside diameters it is difficult to provide a suitable driving means in the interior of the mandrel, for reasons of space limitation. In these cases the drive means (25) can be located on the exterior (see Figure 4~. Such an arrangement is also advantageous when the hose core is not extruded but is wound from strips (26).
The construction of the endless bands (24) is various and will depend on the degree to which the hose core must be free of fluting (Figs. 5,6,7~. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-B through the mandrel in Figure 3 or Figure 4. The mandrel surface (23) bears a plurality of endless bands which are stiff longitudinally, but are flexible about their center line such that they easily conform to the curvature of the mandrel.
The bands are shaped at their lateral meeting edges (27) such that they are pressed tightly together by the action of an exter-nal pressure. On their bottom sides they have longitudinal guiding beads (29) which mate with correspondingly shaped recesses in the surface of the mandrel (23) for the purpose of preventing lateral displacement of the bands under the action of a torque Mt. Likewise, the recesses 31 LFig. ~ may also be located on the underside of the bands and run on corresponding guiding ridges (32) on the mandrel surface (Fig. 7). To reduce the fric-tion between bands (24) and mandrel (23), lubricant can be fed through bores.
In the case of nonmetallic bands (24) it is advantageous to provide one or more tension supports (28), of steel cord for example, extending longitudinally within the cross section.

-- 106Z5~3 In cases in which the hose is surrounded after production with a heating coil, it is possible, for the purpose of exerting an external pressure on the hose cross section during the heating for the achievement of better quality, to increase this pressure still further by filling the interior (33) of the bands (24) with gas or liquid. In this case the bands must be made of a resilient material which permits the desired increase in the thickness of the band through thermal expansion of the filling substance.
No matter how well the bands (24) meet at the edges (27), these edges will inevitably leave some impression in the form of a line on the inside of the finished hose. However, to reduce the number of such lines and hence the resistance to flow when the hose is in use, the number of bands moving on the suxface of the mandrel must be kept as small as possible, and in the extreme case there will be only one (Figs. 6 and 7). To facilitate the return of the endless belt at the ends of the mandrel (23) the band can have either entirely (Figure 6) or only partially (Fig-ure 7) a small thickness, so that its cross section which is cir-cular at the surface of the mandrel can easily be pleated to-gether at the end of the mandrel and thus return through the in-terior of the mandrel, as shown at (34).
In order to hold the entir~ mandrel system (23) in its place in the direction of hose movemen~, the mandrel must be joined by crosspieces (35) to a mandrel mounting support (22). Since on its way through the interior of the mandrel the band (24) must pass around these crosspieces, its circular cross section is interrupted at least at one point (36). This could be eliminated if it is possible to hold the mandrel (23) in its axial position, not mechanically (22, 35), but by a strong magnetic field acting 30 on it from the inside (36) and/or from the outside (37)(Fig. 6).

--" 106Z593 A hose made in this manner would be absolutely free of ridges on its interior and could not be distinguished in this regard from a conventionally made mandrel hose.
An axial fixation of the mandrel without a mandrel mounting support (22) is also necessary in cases in which the hose core (27) is made in a separate procedure (Fig. 8). The core (2) being fed from a drum (39) passes through the fabricating zone (40) and the heating zone (41). The finished hose is cooled and then wound on the drum (42).
In order to be able to operate a quasi-continuous manufacture "mandrellessly" in this case, too, the tube section (23) bearing the endless bands (24) must be able to be locked to the hose machine in the axial direction without screw fastening. This can be accomplished magnetically in accordance with Figure 6 or hy-draulically (Figure 8) in a positive manner. In the case of hy-draulic mandrel locking, the ends of the mandrel bear, on the crosspieces (35) and the mounting (21), piston faces Ao and A
(43), which seal the hose interiors (44) and (45) from one another. The gas or liquid pressures in these interiors are con-nected to one another through a controlling means such that theforce PlAl - PoAo resulting from the products of pressure and piston area preserves at all times an equilibrium with the fric-tion force R acting between the bands (24) and the mandrel (23).
The axial position of the mandrel (23) can be verified by the known methods of nondestructive material testing--by X-rays for example--and can be corrected by means of the differential pressure control described above.
Since the unprotected core (2) is not able to withstand any great internal pressure in section 44 without unacceptable defor-0 mation, the internal pressure also can be made equal to the11 `` 106Z593 atmospheric pressure, thereby eliminating the front piston face O
In many cases it may be quite advantageous to combine the above-described methods a), b) and c). For example, in the case of a hose whose first reinforcing layer has been applied by method c), the hose cross-section is already so stable that, in the course of production the rest of the layers can be laid by method b) or, under certain circumstances, with the use of a gaseous or liquid filling in the interior of the tube, this can easily be accomplished if the media are kept separate by means of one or more suitable seals (10).
p~ss/ b l~
D In any of methods a) to c) it is i~p~ssrbhc that, despite the measures described, an excessive torque may be applied to the hose cross-section, especially by the application of the various reinforcements and the concomitant action of external forces in a direction tangential to the outside diameter of the hose. It is the purpose of the system represented in Figure 9 to counteract this torque to the greatest possible degree with an approximately equal torque in the opposite direction, and to transform the unwanted external forces into internal ones.
This is achieved substantially by the fact that an adjacent endless and flexible belt or an endless and flexible belt (48) being wound about the hose in the same direction and simultane-ously with the strand or with a set (47) consisting of a plurality of reinforcing wires or cords acts by friction to counterbalance a certain portion of the reinforcement wrapping tension. This effect is made possible by a rough surface on -~ the belt (48) on the one hand, and by the speed difference between (47) and (48) on the basis of the difference in their wrapping diameter on the hose (2). As represented in Figure 9A, the endless belt 48 revolving at the speed w produces a force Sl which engages the tube (2) as a tangential tension force and exerts a torque Mtl on the tube. When by the driving or braking of the pulley system ~49-52) the unwinding Eorce S2 of the belt 48 is kept equal to the winding force Sl, then the torque Mt2 produced thereby will also be equal to Mtl, and the external forces applied by the belt will result in a constriction of the portion (53) of the belt spiralled onto the hose and in a static force R which produces no torque. This static reaction force R is counterbal-anced by the stationary mandrel of methods a) to c).
When large pipes of high polymers are used in deep sea reg-ions, the assembly of the lines is performed at no pressure. The pressure used in the pumping of natural gas and oil, which is approximately 55 to 75 atmospheres gauge pressure cannot be applied until after the entire pipeline is completed. Up to the time of start-up, the hydrostatic pressure of the water is applied to the full extent. The parts of the pipeline therefore assume the flat oval shape used in transporting it. The circular shape is not attained until the desired final pressure has been achie-ved at thé desired depth in the ocean. To prevent the hose fromtwisting while it is compressed, the hose may have a cross sec-tion differing from the circular (Figure 10). By means of thick-ened portions (57), a principal axis of inertia x-x can be vul-canized in, which will give the hose a defined plane of collapse when it is compressed. The longitudinal tension reinforcements (56) are advantageously located in this plane.
When such a pipeline is laid floatingly at great ocean depths, the buoyancy of the hose must be compensated by counterweights.
For the application of these counterweights or to prevent their 0 displacement longitudinally, the hose has recesses (58) at ntervals.
When the above-described flexible pipelines are laid at great ocean depths, it is more economical to design the cross section of the pipeline not on the basis of the desired absolute internal operating pressure, but to design it only for the prevailing dif-ferential pressure. Thus, for example, a hose having a nominal pressure rating of at least 20 kp/cm2 will suffice for use at an internal working pressure of 70 kp/cm in that portion of the pipeline that is laid deeper than 500 meters in the ocean. The hydrostatic water pressure of about 50 kp/cm will all the more severely deform the hose designed for only 20 kp/cm when it is laid in the unpressurized state, and thus must be taken into account in designing it, on the other hand, however, greater in-dividual lengths can be transported on the same drum to the work-site.
In accordance with the invention, the steel wire or otherreinforcements are so embedded in rubber, for example, that the individual reinforcing elements will not be permanently deformed by the above-described changes of shape from the flat oval to the circular shape and vice versa.
For this purpose the wall thickness of the hose core must be made so thick that even under extreme deformations of its cross section it will not be bent beyond the acceptable bending radius of the reinforcing elements used.
By the method of the invention, the advantages of the mandrel process, especially the accommodation of great deforming forces during manufacture, the precise establishment of the inside dia-meter, the economical and flexible production even of small lots are combined with the advantages of the mandrelless process, 0 especially the production of any desired hose lengths.

By the method of the invention it is now possible to produce a high pressure hose of any desired construction, having a mainly circular but not necessarily circular cross section, continuously in large quantities, and at the same time to achieve the same quality characteristics of a hose produced on a mandrel.
By the invention, however, it can also be brought about that the hoses will be able to be wound in a flat oval shape, that is, in a drive-belt-like shape, on drums without permanently deforming their inner structure, especially their steel wire reinforcement.
This permits the rational transportation of high pressure hoses in very great individual lengths.

Claims (23)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A method for the continuous manufacture of a high pressure hose comprising: continuously advancing an elastomeric hose core in an uncured state through a winding station at which at least one reinforcing cord is wound on the core in at least one layer under tension and curing to provide the high pressure hose; the core of the hose being supported internally against distortion during winding and curing by support means located fixed in relation to the winding station over which support means the hose moves as it is continuously advanced, and including positioning an anti-rotational means such that torsion of the hose in the building-up phase is minimized.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a roller mandrel, adapting the mandrel to roatate about its longitudinal axis and locating the mandrel with this axis along the longitudinal axis of the hose.

3. The method according to Claim 2 wherein said roller mandrel comprises a plurality of rollers and including posi-tioning said rollers to provide said anti-rotational means.

4. Method of Claim 1, wherein said support means com-prises a stationary mandrel and including constructing at least part of said stationary mandrel as a bearing selected from the group consisting of hydrostatic bearings and aero-static bearings.

5. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the support means of the mandrel comprising a plurality of endless bands of heat resistant flexible material and arranging said endless bands to revolve when supporting the hose in the direction of hose production.

6. The method of Claim 1 wherein said support means is a stationary mandrel and including extending said stationary mandrel into the heating or vulcanizing zone.

7. Method of Claim 5, including filling the endless bands which are hollow with a liquid.

8. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the support means includes a roller mandrel, a stationary mandrel and a mandrel comprising a plurality of endless bands of heat resistant flexible material and arranging said endless bands to revolve when supporting the hose in the direction of hose production, adapting the roller mandrel to rotate about its longitudinal axis and locating the axis of the roller mandrel along the longitudinal axis of the hose and further including constructing at least part of said stationary mandrel as a bearing selected from the group consisting of hydrostatic bearings and aerostatic bearings and locating said mandrels successively in the direction of production.

9. Method of Claim 1, characterized in that upon the presentation of a ready-made, at least partially vulcanized hose core of finite length at the beginning of the production line, the support means, which is a stationary mandrel, is fixed in its axial position by a force of controllable magnitude exercised by means of a differential pressure control acting on pistons affixed to the mandrel.

10. Method of Claim 1, characterized in that one or more endless belts are so wound on and off from the hose that any torsion of the hose caused during the manufacture of the hose in the building-up phase is prevented.

11. An apparatus for the continuous production of high pressure hose comprising winding station, an internal hose support means over which the hose moves as it is con-tinuously advanced, said support means located in fixed relation to said winding station, said apparatus further including an anti-rotational means located adjacent said winding station.

12. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said support means comprises a roller mandrel having a plurality of rollers positioned to provide said anti-rotational means such that torsion of the hose caused by construction of the hose is minimized in the build-up stage.

13. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said anti-rotational means comprises one or more endless belts which are so wound unto and off from the hose that torsion of the hose caused by construction of the hose is minimized in the build-up phase.

14. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said support means comprises a mandrel having a plurality of endless bands of heat resistant flexible material and arranging said endless bands to revolve in the direction of hose production when supporting the hose.

15. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said support means comprises a mandrel extending into the heat or vulcanizing zone, said mandrel having a plurality endless hollow resilient belts filled with a thermally expendable liquid or gas such that said belts expand in cross-section in the vulcanizing zone increasing the pressure exerted on the hose.

16. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said support means includes at least one roller barrel including a plural-ity of slanted rollers for helically rolling on the inside surface of the hose and a sliding seal rotatably fastened to the last of said at least one roller barrels.

17. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said support means comprises a tube section having mandrel ends and endless bands, said mandrel ends including piston sealing faces for isolating said tube section from the upstream and downstream portions of the hose such that said tube section is held hydraulically in the axial direction relative to the hose due to the resulting force of the pressures acting on the piston sealing faces.

18. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 including control means for regulating the pressures acting on the piston sealing faces such that the force resulting due to these pressures and piston sealing faces counter-balances the friction force acting between said tube section and said bands.

19. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said support means and said anti-rotational means include a mandrel adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis in a direction opposite to said winding station and wherein the longitudinal axis of said mandrel is along the longi-tudinal axis of the hose.

20. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said sup-port means comprises a stationary mandrel with at least a portion of the mandrel is a bearing selected from the group of hydrostatic bearings and aerostatic bearings.

21. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said support means is a mandrel which is axially maintained in relation to said winding station by a magnetic means.

22. A method as defined in Claim 5 wherein the endless bands are arranged to revolve by an external drive.

23. A method according to Claim 5 wherein said endless bands are arranged to revolve by the movement of the hose.