GB2102909A

GB2102909A - Hose

Info

Publication number: GB2102909A
Application number: GB08221834A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cyril Anderson
Original assignee: Winster Hose Ltd
Current assignee: Winster Hose Ltd
Priority date: 1981-07-30
Filing date: 1982-07-28
Publication date: 1983-02-09
Also published as: GB2102909B

Abstract

There is extruded with the outer layer of a hose (11) a formation (12) which extends along the hose and can interfit with an identical formation on a further hose to hold the hoses together. Adjacent to a point from which the hoses diverge, they are embraced by a band (7) and filler pieces (5 and 6) are interposed between the band and the interfitting formations of the hoses. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to hose The present invention relates to hose, primarily reinforced high pressure hydraulic hose.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided hose having an outwardly projecting resilient formation adapted to interfit with an identical formation on another hose to connect the hoses together releasably in side-byside relation.

In hydraulically operated machinery, it is generally necessary to provide a plurality of hoses for conveying hydraulic fluid. Since a number of independently supported and relatively movable hoses is inconvenient, it is common to bundle hoses together where two or more hoses are required to extend along a common path for at least parts of their respective lengths. It is known to provide straps around a bundle of hoses at intervals along the length of the bundle.

It is also known to connect a plurality of hoses together into a bundle by means of an adhesive. A band of adhesive is applied between a pair of hoses along the entire length of the bundle. This arrangement is unsatisfactory, in that a single hose of the bundle cannot be replaced without replacing the entire bundle. In a case where one hose of a bundle carries the feed to an hydraulic motor and another hose in the bundle carries return fluid from the motor at a relatively low pressure, it is to be expected that the first of these hoses will require replacement at more frequent intervals than replacement of the return hose will be necessary.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly comprising a plurality of hoses arranged side by side and releasably connected together by interfitting formations on the hoses.

Two examples of assemblies of hoses embodying both aspects of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 shows a cross-section through a bundle comprising two hoses, the cross-section being in a plane perpendicular to the length of the hoses and, FIGURE 2 shows a similar cross-section through another bundle of hoses.

The bundle illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings comprises a first hose 10 which is a reinforced, high pressure hydraulic hose. The hose 10 has a generally cylindrical wall 1 1 which, for convenience of illustration, is shown as being homogeneous. However, the wall would usually comprise an inner rubber layer, at least one reinforcing layer comprising a braid or spiral of steel wire or non-metallic filaments and an outer rubber layer. The hose further comprises a connecting formation 12 which projects radially from the external surface of the wall 1 1 and extends along substantially the entire length of the hose. It will be understood that, when metal fittings are applied to ends of the hose, the connecting formation will be removed from end portions of the wall 11 which are to be received in the fittings.When this has been done the formation will still extend along substantially the entire length of the hose.

The connecting formation 12 is formed of rubber and is integral with the outer layer of the wall 1 The hose is formed by extruding the inner layer of the wall 11 onto a mandrel, applying the reinforcing wire, extruding the outer layer of the wall 11 and the connecting formations about the reinforcement and then curing the hose.

Subsequently, the mandrel is extracted from the hose. Known rubber compounds may be used for the wall 11. When cured, these compounds are resiliently flexible and accordingly the connecting formation, having the same composition as does the outer layer of the wall 1 1, is resiliently flexible.

The connecting formation 12 comprises two limbs, 15 and 16 which have the same size and shape and are spaced from each other circumferentially of the hose. The limb 1 5 includes a head 17 joined to the wall 1 1 by a neck 18. As viewed in the cross-section shown in the drawing, the head tapers in a direction away from the neck and presents shoulders 8 and 9 towards the neck.

These shoulders are mutually inclined to include with the neck acute angles.

The head of the limb 1 6 has the same size and shape as does the head 17 and is joined to the wall 11 by a neck 21 which has the same size and shape as does the neck 18. The gap 22 between these necks has a size and shape complementary to that of the head 17. Between the heads of the limbs 15 and 16, there is a further gap 23 which is an extension of the gap 22. The gap 23 includes an outer part which tapers towards the wall 11 and an inner part, adjacent to the gap 22, which has a uniform width. By the widths of the gaps 22 and 23, of the necks 18 and 21 and of the head 17, we mean those dimensions which are measured in a direction parallel to a tangent to the wall 1 1 at a point between the necks 18 and 21.

The width of the head 1 5 is preferably within the range 2 to 4 times the width of the neck 1 8. In the particular example illustrated, the width of the neck is approximately 4 millimetre and both the width and the length of the head are approximately 10 millimetre.

As shown in Figure 1, two hoses provided with formations identical to the formation 12 can be connected together by arranging the hoses side by side with a limb on the formation of each hose facing towards the gap between the limbs of the formation on the other hose and then exerting pressure on the hoses to move their respective axes towards one another. Resilient deformation of the connecting formations occurs, the formations being stressed until the head on one limb of each formation is received in the gap between the necks of the other formation, whereupon the stress is substantially entirely relieved. The two hoses can be separated once more by pulling on the hoses in a direction to move their respective axes apart.In a case where two hoses are connected together to form a bundle over a part only of their respective lengths, the hoses are preferably strapped together at positions from which the hoses diverge.

When a pair of hoses are connected together by formations identical with the formation 12, the formations remain in contact with one another but mutual engagement of the formations is not under substantial pressure. Accordingly, friction between the formations is only moderate and relative longitudinal sliding of the formations can occur when, for example, one of the pair of hoses is pressurised or the bundle is bent. In a case where only two hoses are to be connected together, each hose may be provided with a single connecting formation, as shown in Figure 1.

Where more than two hoses are to be connected together, each hose may be provided with a plurality of connecting formations 12 having the same size and shape, in transverse cross-section.

For holding the bundle of hoses shown in Figure 1 together, particularly at a position from which the hose diverge, the bundle is embraced by a band 7. The band may be formed of high strength adhesive tape. Alternatively, the band may comprise a strap formed by moulding a plastics material. Such strap would include means for releasably fastening the strap about the bundle. To maintain the interfitting formations of the hoses in the required relation at that position along the length of the bundle where the band 7 is applied, there is interposed between each interfitting formation and the band a filler piece.

Two different filler pieces are illustrated in Figure 1 at 5 and 6. These filler pieces occupy the major part of the space defined between the band, the walls of the hoses and one of the interfitting formations. The filler pieces each bear on the head of one limb of one of the interfitting formations so that the head cannot move away from the neck of the other interfitting formation in a direction towards the band. Each filler piece typically extends along the bundle of hoses for a distance within the range 20 to 100 millimetre.

The hoses illustrated in Figure 2 have interfitting formations which differ in shape from those of the hoses shown in Figure 1 but the interfitting formations of all of the hoses of the bundle shown in Figure 2 have the same size and shape as one another. In Figure 2, parts corresponding to those hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 are indicated by like reference numerals with the prefix 1 and the preceding description is deemed to apply to such corresponding parts, except for the differences hereinafter mentioned.

The hose 1 10 has the same structure as does the hose 10 but has three formations 1 12, 1 13 and 1 14. Each of these formations comprises two limbs 1 15 and 116 which have the same size and shape and are spaced from each other circumferentially of the hose. The limb 1 5 includes a head 1 17 joined to the wall 111 by a neck 1 18. As viewed in the cross-section shown in the drawing, the head 1 17 is "D" shaped, having a semi-cylindrical surface facing away from the wall 1 1 1 and substantially flat surfaces on opposite sides of the neck 1 18 facing towards the wall 1 1 1. Each of these surfaces meets the neck 11 8 at a right angle and meets a further flat surface 1 19, and 120 respectively, in a further right angle.

In Figure 2, there are shown second and third hoses 124 and 125 connected directly to the hose 1 10 by means of formations interfitting with the formations 1 13 and 1 14. The hoses 124 and 125 may be identical with the hose 1 10 or may be of a somewhat smaller size. A fourth hose may be connected directly with the hose 1 10 by means of a formation interfitting with the formation 1 12.

There may be connected directly with each of the second, third and fourth hoses a respective pair of further hoses. These further hoses may be of a somewhat smaller size and are spaced apart from one another circumferentially of the hose 110. It will be noted that the connecting formations of all of the hoses are of the same size so that any two of the hoses illustrated could be connected together into a bundle. Particularly in a case where hoses of different sizes are to be connected together, one or more of the hoses may be provided with more than three connecting formations. The length of each connecting formation is preferably no greater than the outside diameter of the associated hose wall and is preferably not less than one quarter the outside diameter of the associated wall.

It will be understood that interfitting formations of the form shown in Figure 1 may be provided on the hoses shown in Figure 2 and that filler pieces similar to the filler pieces 5 and 6 may be provided where a bundle of hoses as shown in Figure 2 is embraced by a band.

The invention may be applied to hose which does not include reinforcing filaments.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a plurality of hoses arranged side-by-side and releasably connected together by interfitting formations on the hoses.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said formations extends along substantially the entire length of the hose concerned without interruption and is integral with an outer part of the hose.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein there is directly connected by said formations to a first one of the hoses at least a second and a third of the hoses.

4. An assembly according to any preceding Claim further comprising a band which embraces the hoses and wherein a filler piece is interposed between the band and one of said formations.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim comprising hoses of respective different sizes, each having one or more of said formations of the same size.

6. A hose having an outwardly projecting resilient formation adapted to interfit with an identical formation on another hose to connect the hoses together in side by side relation.

7. A hose according to claim 6 which has a plurality of said formations spaced apart around the circumference of the hose.

8. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5 or a hose according to either of claims 6 and 7 wherein, as viewed in cross-section perpendicular to the length of the hose, each said formation comprises two limbs spaced apart circumferentially of the hose and each limb comprises a head joined by a neck to the remainder of the hose.

9. An assembly or a hose according to claim 8 wherein, as viewed in said cross-section, the heads of said limbs and the gap between said necks all have the same shape and size.

10. An assembly or a hose according to claim 9 wherein the width of each neck, as viewed in said cross-section, is substantially equal to the spacing between the heads.

1 An assembly or a hose according to claim 10 wherein the width of each head is within the range two to four times the width of the neck.

12. A hose having a connecting formation substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in either Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. An assembly of hoses substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in either Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.