A flexible metal hose roughly consists of three parts - inner convoluted hose, braid layer, braid sleeve and end fittings. The hose body is usually made of stainless steel, such as 304, 321 or 316L. The corrugated structure makes the flexure maximize. It can withstand cryogenic or high temperature while maintaining flexibility.
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The braid, made of stainless steel, bronze or other materials, is designed to provide higher pressure capability.
Braid sleeve is the area where hose body and braid are welded to. However, the properties of the hose and braid materials will change during welding. The area where the properties are changed is called "heat-affected zone" and should be taken care to insure the braid sleeve or ferrule has a proper fit.
End fittings are strongly recommended on the applications where sharp bends or extreme flexure occurs near the end of the hose.
Annular Corrugation
Annular metal hose refers to a series of complete circles or rings located at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the hose. It is characterized by high flexibility, good elasticity, and small rigidity. Annular flexible metal hose can withstand normal pressure and often be used in places where need good flexibility.
Helical Corrugation
Helical corrugation is similar to a continuous spiral or screw thread. Small or medium hoses often use helical construction. Compared with annular hose, helical metal hose is not so flexible. It is mainly used in places where needs high strength and medium and high pressures.
Braid is interwoven in angles for diverse applications
Corrugated metal hoses are usually braided to withstand internal pressure. Flexible metal hoses used under high pressure often have two or more braids to strengthen their capabilities of extremely high pressures. When internal pressure occurs, braid(s) prevent elongation at the same time allowing flexing in the axial direction. As it transforms into braid tension, the internal pressure on the corrugated hose is effectively dissipated and decreasing.
Below are the frequently-used terms of braid which will assist you with knowing our flexible metal hose easily and quickly.
Braid is fabricated by weaving a couple of carriers which are formed by multiple strands or braided strands. The former is called tubular and the latter braided braid.
Barding angle is major parameters for the diverse angles determine the applications. For general applications, the braiding angles are between 75 degree to 85 degree (see the figure below). Other angles are for special orders.
Braid coverage
Optimal braid coverage should achieve three tasks: reduce the hose squirm, minimize braid wear on the crown of the corrugation; ensure pressure ability while maintaining flexing requirements.
The type of piping used to connect two distant points to transport or transfer fluid is known as a flexible hose. Most flexible metal hoses look similar. However, their dimension, thickness and size may vary according to the requirement of the application.
A flexible metal hose helps absorb vibrations, pipe movements, and noise. They are designed to connect misaligned rigid piping. They also help connect moving parts of machinery or equipment and are practical for hooking up frequently moved or dismantled equipment.
At Aeroflex, we manufacture customised flexible metallic hoses that are durable and corrosion & temperature resistant.
Upgrade Your Systems with Flexible Metal HosesA metal hose, commonly known as a hosepipe, is made from four basic components. Individually, these parts may appear very simple. But, when combined in a flexible metal hose assembly, they become an optimal solution for varied industries and applications.
Want more information on Flanged Flexible Metal Hose? Feel free to contact us.
Corrugated tubing is the main component of a flexible metal hose. It plays a key role in the significant value-added attributes of the assembly, such as flexibility, corrosion resistance, and pressure rating.
All corrugated tubing options vary in corrosion resistance ratings, pressure ratings, and levels of flexibility they can offer, making them the most important features of every flexible hose.
The braid is the second vital hose component that contributes to an assembly's ability to withstand high pressures. Multiple factors contribute to a braid's functionality, like the diameter of the wire, the wire number per carrier, the number of carriers on the braiding machine, and the percentage of braid coverage. You can also increase the pressure rating by adding additional layers of braid to the assembly.
The design of the braid can have a significant effect on the pressure rating and the life cycle of the hose. Thus, a braid package consisting of a high-percentage braid coverage (braided directly into the hose) should be used to ensure the braid is well-secured on the hose. This protects the assembly from potential deformation while ensuring a maximum life cycle.
Though braid collars only account for a small portion of the hose assembly, they are important. Inner corrugated hose and the braid are joined together in a seamless unit by braid collars during the cap welding process.
Besides helping join the hose components, the braid collars protect and isolate corrugations near the cap weld from any movement. Once the cap welding process is done, these corrugations turn into a 'heat-affected zone'. This ensures the optimal functionality and durability of each hose.
Also, braid collars ensure that any bending stresses are evenly distributed over the right corrugations, thereby preserving the life cycle of the assembly.
The end-fittings are the final components added to an assembly. These fittings are available in numerous options, allowing flexible metal hose assemblies to be customised to suit varied applications. Before you select the fittings, ensure to verify the size, alloy, and pressure requirements of the application.
Flexible meta hose are manufactured in two basic styles, including corrugated stainless steel hose and interlock hose.
A regular hose cannot sustain the longitudinal pressure stress and tends to squirm under internal pressure. Thus, to resist the longitudinal pressure stress and prevent it from squirming, corrugated hoses are often constructed with braid wrappings around the outer surface. A corrugated hose is constructed with a long length bellow, and the braid protects the corrugation from scratch and wear. This type of hose is suitable for handling any type of gases and liquid that are compatible with the material of the hose.
Learn more about corrugated hose and its applications here.
The construction of an interlock hose involves links that are kept tight with the packaging material. Clearances are provided between these links to make them capable enough to accommodate some axial movement that gradually closes as the hose is bent.
When the clearances are completely closed, the hose becomes stiff, restricting any further bending. This sudden stiffness is a warning to the handler, preventing the interlocked hose from being over-bent and causing potential damage.
The automatic warning feature makes this hose ideal for manual handling. Also, the outer surface of the interlocked hose is relatively smooth, making handling easy without any covering.
However, its packaging does not offer a perfect seal. Hence, it is satisfactory for carrying low-pressure air, steam, and water but not apt for conveying gases and liquids such as kerosene and alcohol.
Upgrade Your Systems with Flexible Metal HosesBe it standard metal hoses or braided flexible hoses, all hoses are flexible, which makes the process of installation easy. Nevertheless, a few general precautions needed to be taken during the installation to avoid hose failures or damage.
Read: Installation Precautions
Flexible metallic hoses have a wide range of applications. Some of them include: