Flexible hoses

Abstract

To enhance flexibility of a flexible hose by controlling a deformation mode of a hose wall.SOLUTION: A flexible hose 1 is constituted by spirally winding a flexible strip 2 having a prescribed width and caulking and joining end edge parts of the flexible strips 2 adjacent to each other by a metallic strip 3. The flexible strip 2 is constituted of a flexible sheet material including a metal foil. A plurality of folding lines 6, 6 are provided in parallel at predetermined intervals in a portion 2a of the flexible strip positioned between the metal strips 3, 3. The folding lines 6, 6 are provided obliquely with respect to an extending direction of the flexible strip. All of the plurality of parallel folding lines 6, 6 are mountain- folded or valley-folded.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible hose in which a flexible strip of a predetermined width is wound in a spiral shape and the edge portions of adjacent flexible strips are joined by crimping with a metal strip. [Background technology]

[0002] Flexible hoses, which are made by spirally winding flexible strips of a predetermined width and crimping the edges of adjacent flexible strips together with a metal strip, are used for applications such as air ducts. Such flexible hoses are lightweight, flexible, and resistant to crushing.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for a flexible duct in which a strip made of inorganic fiber woven fabric having a predetermined fiber structure is wound spirally and then crimped and joined with a metal strip, and it is disclosed that this flexible duct can improve the strength of heat-resistant flexible ducts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-38175 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a flexible hose with a structure such as that described in Patent Document 1, the metal strip portion functions as a hose reinforcement, and the woven fabric strip portion functions as a flexible hose wall. In addition, in flexible hoses, metal foil is sometimes used as the flexible strip to improve the fire resistance, heat resistance, etc. of the hose wall.

[0006] When a hose wall is made of metal foil, the hose wall tends to be stiff and the flexibility of the hose is easily impaired. In particular, when a sheet material made of resin-coated metal foil or a sheet material made of stainless steel foil is used as the flexible strip, the hose wall becomes difficult to deform and the flexibility of the hose is easily impaired.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to increase the flexibility of a flexible hose by controlling the deformation modes of the hose wall. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] After careful consideration, the inventor discovered that when the sheet material constituting the flexible strip contains metal foil, the above problem can be solved by providing multiple parallel fold lines in a direction obliquely inclined relative to the extension direction of the flexible strip, and thus completed the present invention.

[0009] The present invention is a flexible hose in which a flexible strip of a predetermined width is wound in a spiral shape and the edge portions of adjacent flexible strips are crimped and joined with a metal strip, the flexible strip being made of a flexible sheet material including a metal foil, and the portion of the flexible strip located between the metal strips has a plurality of parallel folds at predetermined intervals, the folds being obliquely inclined with respect to the extension direction of the flexible strip, and the plurality of parallel folds being all mountain folds or all valley folds (first invention).

[0010] In the first invention, preferably, when viewed from the side of the flexible hose, the direction in which the extension direction of the metal strip is inclined relative to the central axis of the hose is opposite to the direction in which the folds are inclined relative to the central axis of the hose (second invention). Also in the first invention, preferably, other folds are provided between each of the parallel folds, and these other folds are provided in a different direction from the parallel folds, and the other folds have the opposite mountain folds and valley folds to the parallel folds (third invention). Also in any of the first to third inventions, preferably, the flexible sheet material constituting the flexible strip is a laminate material in which metal foil is coated with resin, or is metal foil (fourth invention). [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the flexible hose of the present invention (first invention), when the hose expands, contracts, or bends, the hose wall deforms in a specific deformation mode, improving the flexibility of the hose.

[0012] Furthermore, the second and third aspects of the invention can further improve the flexibility of the flexible hose, and the fourth aspect of the invention can improve the flexibility of a flexible hose that is particularly excellent in fire resistance and heat resistance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of a flexible hose of a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a caulking joint using a metal strip in a flexible hose of a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 3A to 3C are diagrams showing examples of shapes of flexible strips used in manufacturing the flexible hose of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of a flexible hose according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described using a flexible hose, a so-called ventilation duct, used in an air conditioning system as an example. The present invention is not limited to the individual embodiments shown below, and can be practiced by modifying the form.

[0015] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of a flexible hose 1 of a first embodiment. Flexible hose 1 is a flexible hose in which flexible strips 2 of a predetermined width are spirally wound and the edge portions of adjacent flexible strips 2 are crimped and joined together with a metal strip 3. In flexible hose 1, metal strip 3 acts as a spiral reinforcement to maintain the cylindrical shape of the hose, while the flexible strips 2, particularly the portions of flexible strip 2 located between metal strips 3, 3, deform, allowing the hose to stretch, expand, and bend, resulting in a flexible hose.

[0016] The flexible hose 1 of the first embodiment can be used, for example, as an air duct for an air conditioner or ventilation system installed in a house or office. If necessary, an insulating layer made of a fiber assembly or the like may be additionally provided on the outer periphery of the flexible hose 1.

[0017] The flexible strip 2 is made of a flexible sheet material containing a metal foil. Examples of metal foil include, but are not limited to, aluminum foil and stainless steel foil. The flexible sheet material may also be made of metal foil, i.e., the flexible sheet material may be a metal foil. The flexible sheet material may also be a laminate material in which metal foil is coated with resin. A laminate material in which a cloth material (e.g., glass cloth) is integrated with metal foil may also be used as the flexible sheet material.

[0018] The metal strip 3 is made of a thin plate made of a metal material such as plated iron, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, etc. The metal strip 3 is provided with a predetermined thickness so that it functions as a reinforcing member that makes the hose less likely to collapse when it is made into a hose, and also so that the flexible strip 2 and the metal strip 3 can be firmly joined by crimping the strip.

[0019] The specific joining structure in which the edge portions of adjacent flexible strips 2 are crimped and joined by the metal strip 3 is not particularly limited. Any known crimping structure can be used. A typical example of a crimping structure for a flexible strip 2 using the metal strip 3 is the structure shown in FIG. 2 . That is, both end edges of the flexible strip 2 are formed as folded portions 22, 24, and both end edges of the metal strip 3 are also formed as folded shapes 31, 32. The metal strip 3 is crimped while the folded portions 22, 24 of the flexible strip 2 are sandwiched between the folded shapes 31, 32 of the metal strip 3, thereby crimping and joining the flexible strip 2 with the metal strip 3. As in the example shown in FIG. 2 , wires 4, 4 may be enclosed inside the folded portions 22, 24 of the flexible strip 2 to increase the crimping strength and improve the sealing properties of the joint.

[0020] In the flexible hose 1, a portion 2a of the flexible strip 2 located between the metal strips 3, 3 has a plurality of parallel fold lines 6, 6 formed at predetermined intervals. Although not essential, the interval between the fold lines 6, 6 is preferably 0.5 to 2 times the width of the portion 2a of the flexible strip 2 located between the metal strips 3, 3.

[0021] The fold lines 6, 6 are provided at an angle to the extension direction of the flexible strip. Figure 3 shows an example in which the fold lines 6, 6 are provided in advance on the flexible strip 2, but in this example, the extension direction of the flexible strip 2 is the left-right direction in the figure, and the fold lines 6, 6 are provided at an angle to that direction.

[0022] These parallel folds 6, 6 are all mountain folds or all valley folds. In the flexible hose 1 of this embodiment, as shown in the XX cross section of Fig. 1, all of the folds 6, 6 are mountain folds, and the folds 6, 6 are folded so that they protrude toward the outside of the hose. The fold shape may be folds that resemble folds made by bending a sheet, or folds that resemble embossed folds made on the sheet.

[0023] Furthermore, although not essential, it is preferable, as in this embodiment, that the direction in which the metal strip 3 extends and the direction in which the folds 6, 6 are inclined relative to the central axis m of the hose are opposite to each other when viewed from the side of the flexible hose 1. That is, as shown in Fig. 1, the central axis m of the hose extends in the left-right direction, and the metal strip 3 extends in a direction connecting the upper right and lower left of Fig. 1, and the extension direction of the metal strip 3 is inclined counterclockwise relative to the central axis m of the hose. On the other hand, the extension direction of the folds 6, 6 is a direction connecting the upper left and lower right, and the extension direction of the folds 6, 6 is inclined clockwise relative to the central axis m of the hose, which extends left and right.

[0024] As in the flexible hose 1 of the first embodiment, the flexible strip 2 may have only the parallel fold lines 6,6 as described above as fold lines, but as in other embodiments described later, fold lines other than the parallel fold lines 6,6 as described above may also be provided.

[0025] The flexible hose 1 of the above embodiment can be manufactured by applying a known hose manufacturing method. For example, a flexible sheet material containing metal foil may be cut to a predetermined width to obtain the flexible strip 2, which may then be sandwiched between a folding die such as a helical gear to form predetermined folds 6, 6 in the flexible strip 2. The flexible strip 2 with the folds 6, 6 may then be subjected to a known manufacturing process for a hose with a crimped structure using a metal strip, and both end edges of the flexible strips 2, 2 may be crimped and joined using the metal strip 3 to obtain the flexible hose 1.

[0026] The following describes the operation and effect of the flexible hose 1 of the first embodiment. According to the flexible hose 1, when the hose expands, contracts, or bends, the hose wall is more likely to deform in a specific deformation mode, improving the flexibility of the hose.

[0027] In prior art flexible hoses, the flexible strips were not provided with folds, and the flexible strips formed a substantially cylindrical hose wall. For a flexible hose to stretch / bend, the flexible strips between the metal strips must be deformed in a folding manner. However, if a relatively rigid material such as stainless steel foil is used for the flexible strips, such flexible strips do not easily undergo folding deformation. In other words, such folding deformation is similar to the deformation of a stainless steel foil crushing a straight cylindrical tube in the direction of its extension, and such folding deformation does not occur unless a considerable compressive force is applied in the direction of the tube's extension.

[0028] Therefore, in conventional flexible hoses, when a relatively rigid material such as stainless steel foil is used for the flexible strip, it is difficult to bend or shrink the hose. Furthermore, when attempting to apply such deformation with a strong force, problems such as the caulking between the flexible strip and the metal strip come off can easily occur.

[0029] On the other hand, in the flexible hose 1 of the above embodiment, a portion 2a of the flexible strip 2 located between the metal strips 3 has a plurality of parallel folds 6, 6 provided at a predetermined interval, the folds 6, 6 being oblique to the extension direction of the flexible strips 2, 2, and all of these parallel folds 6, 6 are mountain folds. Therefore, in the portion 2a, the folds 6, 6 are mountain folds, and the flexible strip 2 is easily folded in a mountain and valley shape so that the parallelogram-shaped portions between the folds 6, 6 become grooves (valleys).

[0030] When observing the deformation state of the flexible hose 1 of the above embodiment when it is bent, it was observed that the diagonal mountain folds 6, 6 and the parallelogram-shaped valley folds between them appeared alternately along the spiral of the flexible strip, and that the strip was smoothly folded as the hose was bent.

[0031] In this way, in the flexible hose 1 of the above embodiment, part of the deformation mode in which the portion 2a of the flexible strip 2 located between the metal strips 3, 3 should deform is given in advance as a plurality of parallel folds 6, 6, and when an attempt is made to deform this portion, the flexible strip is folded along the folds 6, 6, making it easier to deform. Therefore, the flexibility of the flexible hose 1 of the above embodiment is improved.

[0032] In the above explanation, all of the parallel folds 6,6 are mountain folds, but the flexibility of the hose is also improved when all of the parallel folds 6,6 are valley folds. In this case, the flexible strip 2 is folded in a mountain and valley pattern so that the folds 6,6 at the portion 2a of the flexible strip 2 located between the metal strips 3,3 become valley folds, and the parallelogram-shaped portion between the folds 6,6 becomes a mountain.

[0033] Furthermore, although not essential, when viewed from the side of the flexible hose, as in the flexible hose 1 of the above embodiment, the direction in which the extension direction of the metal strips 3,3 is inclined relative to the central axis m of the hose is opposite to the direction in which the extension direction of the fold ridges 6,6 is inclined relative to the central axis m of the hose, the flexible strips 2 will be folded in a deformation mode in which the hose shrinks or bends without changing the circumference of the hose significantly, thereby further improving the flexibility of the hose.

[0034] Furthermore, although not essential, if the flexible sheet material constituting the flexible strip 2 is a laminate material in which metal foil is coated with resin, or a metal foil, as in the flexible hose 1 of the above embodiment, the heat resistance and fire resistance of the flexible strip are improved, thereby improving the heat resistance and fire resistance of the flexible hose 1. Furthermore, such materials have poor elasticity, and therefore hoses usually tend to be rigid, but according to the flexible hose 1 of the above embodiment, the flexibility of the hose is improved even when the hose is constituted by a flexible strip 2 made of such a material.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be described below, focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment, and detailed descriptions of similarities will be omitted. Furthermore, these embodiments can be implemented by combining parts of them with each other or by substituting parts of them.

[0036] 4 shows a flexible hose 10 of the second embodiment. Similar to the flexible hose 1 of the first embodiment, the flexible hose 10 is formed by crimping and joining flexible strips 2 with metal strips 3, the portion 2a of the flexible strips 2 located between the metal strips has a plurality of parallel folds 6, 6 at predetermined intervals, the folds 6, 6 are oblique to the extension direction of the flexible strips 2, and all of these parallel folds are mountain folds.

[0037] In the flexible hose 10 of the second embodiment, other folds 7, 7 are provided between the parallel mountain folds 6, 6. In FIG. 4, the other folds 7, 7 are indicated by dashed lines. The other folds 7, 7 are provided so as to extend in a direction different from the parallel mountain folds 6, 6. That is, the folds 7, 7 and the folds 6, 6 are provided in directions that intersect with each other. The other folds 7, 7 have mountain folds and valley folds that are opposite to those of the parallel mountain folds 6, 6. In this embodiment, the other folds 7, 7 are all valley folds.

[0038] Although not essential, as in this embodiment, the other folds 7, 7 and the parallel mountain folds 6, 6 are preferably arranged so that the mountain folds 6 and the valley folds 7 alternate along the extension direction of the flexible strip 2. Also, although not essential, the alternately arranged folds 6 and 7 are preferably arranged to form a zigzag or sawtooth shape. It is preferable that the folds 6 and 7 are spaced apart from each other.

[0039] In the flexible hose 10 of the second embodiment, in addition to the multiple parallel mountain folds 6, 6, other folds 7, 7 are provided as valley folds, which makes it easier to achieve a deformation mode in which the folds 6, 6 are mountain folds and the parallelogram-shaped portion between them becomes a valley. In other words, the flexible hose 10 of the second embodiment further improves the flexibility of the hose.

[0040] In the above description of the flexible hose 10 of the second embodiment, the parallel folds 6,6 are all mountain folds and the other folds 7,7 are all valley folds, but the relationship between mountain folds and valley folds may be reversed. That is, the parallel folds 6,6 may all be valley folds and the other folds 7,7 may all be mountain folds.

[0041] Furthermore, in the explanation of the manufacturing method of the above embodiment, an example of a manufacturing method has been described in which the fold lines 6, 6 are first formed in the flexible strip 2 and then the flexible strip 2 and the metal strip 3 are joined to form the flexible hose 1, but the timing of forming the fold lines is not limited to this. That is, after the flexible strip 2 and the metal strip 3 are formed into the flexible hose 1, fold lines may be formed in the portion 2a of the flexible strip 2 located between the metal strips 3, 3 by pressing the hose from the outside with a mold, for example.

[0042] The specific structure of the portion where the flexible strip 2 and the metal strip 3 are crimped and joined is not particularly limited. A sealant may be placed at the crimped joint as appropriate to improve the sealing performance of the crimped joint. Furthermore, the relationship between the flexible strip 2 and the metal strip 3 on the inside / outside of the hose is not particularly limited. If the metal strip 3 is exposed on the outer periphery of the hose, wear of the flexible strip, which is the hose wall, is suppressed when the hose is dragged.

[0043] The applications of the flexible hose are not particularly limited, and the flexible hose can be used as an air conditioning duct, a pipe for sending hot air, an exhaust duct for an internal combustion engine or a combustion device, a flexible hose for sending liquid, powder, or granules, a sheath member for a cable used inside a building, etc. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The flexible hose can be used for ventilation ducts and the like, and is highly useful in industry. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 flexible hose 2 Flexible strips 2a part 6 Fold 3 Metal strips 4 wire rod

Claims

1. A flexible hose in which a flexible strip of a predetermined width is wound in a spiral shape and the edge portions of adjacent flexible strips are crimped and joined together with a metal strip, the flexible strip is made of a flexible sheet material including a metal foil, A portion of the flexible strip located between the metal strips has a plurality of parallel fold lines at predetermined intervals; The fold is provided obliquely with respect to the extending direction of the flexible strip, and The plurality of parallel fold lines are all mountain folds or all valley folds. Flexible hose.

2. Viewed from the side of the flexible hose, a direction in which the extending direction of the metal strip is inclined with respect to the central axis of the hose; The direction in which the fold line is inclined relative to the central axis of the hose is opposite to the direction in which the fold line is inclined relative to the central axis of the hose. The flexible hose of claim 1 .

3. Other fold lines are provided between the parallel fold lines, The other creases are provided in a direction different from the parallel creases, and The other folds have mountain folds and valley folds opposite to those of the parallel folds. The flexible hose of claim 1 .

4. The flexible sheet material constituting the flexible strip is A laminate material in which metal foil is coated with resin, or a metal foil, 4. The flexible hose according to claim 1.

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