Flexible hose for transporting a fluid

Abstract

Flexible hose assembly for transporting a fluid, especially for transporting coolant in industrial applications, with - a base layer (1) made of a rubber material, - a reinforcing layer (2) surrounding the load-bearing layer (1) and - an outer layer (5) made of a polyurethane material surrounding the reinforcement layer (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a flexible hose for transporting a fluid, in particular for transporting coolant in industrial applications.

[0002] For the safe transport of coolants in industrial applications, hose assemblies with an inner liner made of polyamide (PA) or polyethylene (PE) are particularly well-known. While unarmored hose assemblies are also known in this field, they are frequently reinforced to withstand the typically high mechanical forces (medium pressure, abrasion). Pressure-resistant solid rubber hoses are also known in the prior art for such applications.

[0003] Disadvantages of an inner liner made of PA or PE include increased water diffusion, lower temperature resistance compared to rubber, and low flexibility of these materials, meaning that in practice, hoses with a large bending radius must be laid to avoid kinking.

[0004] Solid rubber hoses, on the other hand, have comparatively low abrasion resistance and also low aging resistance, especially with regard to UV radiation and ozone. Furthermore, the kinking behavior of solid rubber hoses is generally unsatisfactory.

[0005] Against this background, the invention is based on the objective of providing a hose assembly that has high flexibility, high resistance to aging and at the same time also robust mechanical load-bearing capacity.

[0006] According to the invention, the problem is solved by a flexible hose for transporting a fluid, in particular for transporting coolant in industrial applications, with - a support layer made of a rubber material, - a reinforcing layer surrounding the load-bearing layer and - an outer layer made of polyurethane material surrounding the reinforcement layer.

[0007] According to the invention, it was recognized that a novel layered structure of the flexible hose, combining a rubber inner liner, reinforcement (as a pressure carrier), and outer sheath, offers advantages, particularly in the aforementioned applications. The hose thus constructed combines the advantages of a rubber hose with those of a thermoplastic hose. The rubber liner exhibits excellent media resistance and high temperature resistance; in particular, it offers advantages as a water diffusion barrier and is also highly flexible. This strong diffusion barrier results in significantly less coolant escaping from the coolant circuit over the hose's service life compared to a conventional hose design. The hose's high flexibility allows for kink-free installation even in confined spaces.The abrasion-resistant outer layer made of polyurethane (PUR) ensures very high mechanical strength and therefore also very high abrasion resistance.

[0008] The rubber material is preferably made of butyl rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, or latex rubber. Rubbers are vulcanizates of natural and synthetic rubbers and belong to the group of elastomers. Alternatively, the rubber material can also be, for example, butadiene rubber (BR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), butyl rubber (IIR), chloroprene rubber (CR), or polyisoprene rubber (IR).

[0009] Within the scope of the invention, it is particularly important that the support layer is designed as the innermost layer of the hose assembly, the layer exposed to the fluid. Preferably, the support layer has a Shore A hardness of 55 to 85, particularly 60 to 80. The Shore A hardness is determined, for example, according to DIN EN ISO 868 (e.g., on 2 mm thick pressed or injection-molded plates, layered in three stages, with a reading time of 1 to 3 seconds).

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing layer comprises filaments, preferably wound diagonally and / or braided. These filaments can be made of polyester and / or polyamide (e.g., PA 6 or PA 66), particularly aramid. The filaments can be formed, in particular, as yarns and / or fibers.

[0011] In particular, the reinforcing layer can be designed as a closed reinforcement that completely covers the base layer. However, this does not preclude an open embodiment in which spaces remain between the wound and / or braided filaments, and consequently the base layer is not completely covered by the reinforcing layer. The filaments can be fixed to the base layer by an adhesive material.

[0012] The hose assembly according to the invention can be used in particular for transporting coolant in industrial applications, for example in injection molding machines, or also, e.g. as a hydraulic and / or pneumatic hose, in robotics. Substances that lower the freezing point, corrosion inhibitors, or the like can be added to the coolant. Within the scope of the invention, the fluid, in particular the coolant, can be transported at an operating pressure of at least 5 bar, in particular at least 7 bar (absolute).

[0013] The invention will now be explained with reference to a drawing that illustrates only one embodiment. The drawing schematically shows: Fig. 1 a side view of a section of a hose line according to the invention (shown cut out on the left) and Fig. 2 a cross-section through the in Fig. 1 hose line shown.

[0014] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal view of a flexible hose assembly according to the invention for transporting a fluid F, in particular for transporting coolant in industrial applications, for example in an injection molding machine. The hose assembly has a support layer 1 made of a rubber material, a reinforcing layer 2 surrounding the support layer 1, and an outer layer 5 made of a polyurethane material surrounding the reinforcing layer 2. In the exemplary embodiment, the rubber material is butyl rubber. It can also be seen that the support layer 1 is designed as the innermost layer of the hose assembly, which is exposed to the fluid F. In the exemplary embodiment, the support layer 1 has a Shore A hardness in the range of 60 to 80, which gives the hose assembly good overall flexibility.

[0015] In the Fig. Figure 1 further indicates that the reinforcement layer 6 is composed of diagonally braided filaments 3. In the exemplary embodiment, the filaments 3 consist of polyester yarn or, alternatively, polyamide yarn. It is also evident that the reinforcement layer 2 is designed as a closed reinforcement that completely covers the support layer 1. Furthermore, the filaments 3 are fixed to the support layer 1 by an adhesive material (not shown in detail). The inner diameter d1 of the hose assembly is 4–8 mm, e.g., 5–7 mm, in particular 5.8–6.1 mm. The outer diameter d2 of the hose assembly, i.e., the outer layer 5, is in the range of 8–12 mm, e.g., 9–11 mm, in particular 9.8–10.2 mm. The outer diameter d aThe thickness of the reinforcement layer 2 is 7–9 mm, particularly 8–8.5 mm. The hose is so flexible that it exhibits kink resistance even at a small bending radius of r = 100 mm, and especially at r = 80 mm. A (not shown) printed design may be applied to the outer layer 5.

[0016] Fig. Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the in Fig.Figure 1 shows a hose assembly with three layers 1, 2, 5. The hose assembly according to the invention can be used, in particular, for transporting coolants in industrial applications or in robotics, for example as a hydraulic or pneumatic hose. Due to the robust construction of the hose assembly, it is possible to transport the fluid under a comparatively high operating pressure, for example 8 bar (absolute). Because of its construction, a burst pressure of at least 500 bar is guaranteed for the hose assembly at 20 °C. The operating temperature of the fluid F to be transported is, for example, 0 to 40 °C.

Claims

[1] Flexible hose for transporting a fluid, in particular for transporting coolant in industrial applications, with - a base layer (1) made of a rubber material, - a reinforcing layer (2) surrounding the load-bearing layer (1) and - an outer layer (5) made of a polyurethane material surrounding the reinforcement layer (2). [2] Hose assembly according to claim 1, characterized by that the rubber material is made of butyl rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) or latex rubber. [3] Hose assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the support layer (1) is designed as the innermost layer of the hose line exposed to the fluid. [4] Hose assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the base layer (1) has a Shore A hardness of 55 to 85, in particular 60 to 80. [5] Hose assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the reinforcing layer (2) preferably has diagonally wound and / or braided filaments (3). [6] Hose assembly according to claim 5, characterized by , that the filaments (3) consist of polyester and / or polyamide, in particular aramid. [7] Hose assembly according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by , that the reinforcement layer (2) is designed as a closed reinforcement which completely covers the base layer (1). [8] Hose assembly according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by , that the filaments (3) are fixed to the support layer (1) by an adhesive material.

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