Flexible hose with helical stiffener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11143335-B2
Application number	US-201916458768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2019
Priority date	Jul 1, 2019
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A flexible hose assembly includes a length of tubular hose formed from a spiral-wrapped layer of polymer material. A helical stiffener is disposed on an outer surface of the tubular hose. The helical stiffener comprises an elastomer material that is configured to bond or adhere to the polymer material of the tubular hose.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A flexible hose assembly, comprising:
a length of tubular hose formed from a spiral-wrapped layer of polymer material; and
a helical stiffener disposed on an outer surface of the tubular hose,
wherein the helical stiffener comprises an elastomer material that is configured to bond to the polymer material of the tubular hose, and
wherein an end of the tubular hose includes one or more pull tabs that aid in installation of the tubular hose onto an end of a duct or flange.

2. The flexible hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the helical stiffener comprises an elastomer material that, when adhered or deposited onto the polymer material of the tubular hose, establishes a predetermined bond strength that inhibits disbonding of the helical stiffener from the tubular hose.

3. The flexible hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the helical stiffener comprises a room temperature vulcanized rubber that, when bonded or adhered to the polymer material of the spiral-wrapped layers of the tubular hose, establishes a bond sufficient to provide a peal strength in the range of 10 to 70 pounds per inch width (1.75 to 12.3 Newtons per millimeter width).

4. The flexible hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular hose comprises a silicone coated cloth, and the helical stiffener comprises a room temperature vulcanized rubber.

5. The flexible hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the helical stiffener comprises a synthetic polymer that, when bonded or adhered to the polymer material of the tubular hose, establishes a bond sufficient to provide a peal strength of between 2-10 pounds per inch width (0.35 to 1.75 Newtons per millimeter width).

6. The flexible hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular hose comprises a silicone coated fiberglass fabric, and the helical stiffener comprises an ethylene propylene elastomer.

7. The flexible hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pull tabs comprise a plurality of elongate tabs depending circumferentially about the end of the tubular hose.

8. The flexible hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the helical stiffener further includes a cylindrical coiled end that is aligned with the end of the tubular hose, thereby forming a cuffed end of the flexible hose assembly.

9. A method of manufacturing a flexible hose assembly, the method comprising:
arranging a mandrel;
wrapping the mandrel with a polymer tape to form a spiral wrapped tubular hose;
applying an elastomeric helical stiffener along an outer surface of a length of the spiral wrapped tubular hose;
bonding the helical stiffener to the spiral wrapped tubular hose; and
trimming an end of the spiral wrapped tubular hose, and forming a plurality of tabs at the end of the spiral wrapped tubular hose.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
forming an end cuff at one end of the spiral wrapped tubular hose.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of forming an end cuff includes depositing a first bead of elastomeric material in a substantially longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the spiral wrapped hose, the first bead overlapping a portion of the elastomeric helical stiffener.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of forming an end cuff includes depositing a second bead of elastomeric material in a substantially longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the spiral wrapped hose, the second bead overlapping a portion of the elastomeric helical stiffener.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of forming an end cuff includes depositing a first bead of elastomeric material in a circumferential direction around the outer surface of the spiral wrapped hose, the first bead overlapping a portion of the elastomeric helical stiffener.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of forming an end cuff includes depositing a second bead of elastomeric material in a circumferential direction around the outer surface of the spiral wrapped hose, the second bead overlapping a portion of the elastomeric helical stiffener.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of forming an end cuff includes depositing a first bead of elastomeric material in a substantially longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the spiral wrapped hose, the first bead overlapping a portion of the elastomeric helical stiffener, and depositing a second bead of elastomeric material in a circumferential direction around the outer surface of the spiral wrapped hose.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising depositing a first bead of elastomeric material in a substantially longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the spiral wrapped hose proximate the plurality of tabs, the first bead overlapping a portion of the elastomeric helical stiffener, and depositing a second bead of elastomeric material in a circumferential direction around the outer surface of the spiral wrapped hose, the second bead traversing across the plurality of tabs.

17. A flexible hose assembly, comprising:
a length of tubular hose formed from a spiral-wrapped layer of polymer material;
a helical stiffener disposed on an outer surface of the tubular hose; and
an end cuff at one end of the tubular hose, the end cuff including a first bead of elastomeric material oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the tubular hose, the first bead overlapping a portion of the elastomeric helical stiffener,
wherein the helical stiffener comprises an elastomer material that is configured to bond or adhere to the polymer material of the tubular hose.

18. The flexible hose assembly of claim 17 , wherein at the one end of the tubular hose, one or more pull tabs are located that aid in installation of the tubular hose onto an end of a duct or flange.

19. The flexible hose assembly of claim 18 , wherein the one or more pull tabs comprise a plurality of elongate tabs depending circumferentially about the end of the tubular hose.

20. The flexible hose assembly of claim 17 , wherein an end portion of the helical stiffener further includes a cylindrical coiled end that is aligned with the end of the tubular hose, thereby forming the end cuff of the flexible hose assembly.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Vandyke Bryce A

Classifications

• B29C53/587

  having a non-uniform wall-structure, e.g. with inserts, perforations, locally concentrated reinforcements · CPC title

• F16L11/082 Primary

  two layers · CPC title

• B32B1/08

  Tubular products · CPC title

• F16L11/24

  wound from strips or bands (F16L11/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C53/785

  with reinforcements · CPC title