Braided Pressure Hose Reinforcement for High Pressure and Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure hoses with braided reinforcement layers face limitations in pressure tolerance, weight, flexibility, and consistency in hydrostatic and impulse performance due to inconsistent beam paths and geometry variations, leading to stress concentrations and performance inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
A pressure hose design featuring a 'superpack' braided reinforcement layer with a reinforcement volumetric ratio (RVR) greater than 110%, achieved through a specific end and beam orientation configuration, where ends within a beam have varying lengths and diameters, and all beams have identical end orientations, optimizing the surface area to volume ratio and enhancing reinforcement within the same braiding volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If higher pressure hoses are produced by increasing reinforcement, then pressure tolerance is improved, but weight and flexibility are sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the reinforcement layer by implementing a superpack braid configuration with specific end orientations and varying beam paths. This increases the reinforcement volumetric ratio (RVR) to greater than 110%, allowing higher pressure tolerance without proportionally increasing weight, as the improved geometry optimizes the distribution and efficiency of the reinforcement material.
2Strength
If higher pressure hoses are produced by increasing reinforcement, then pressure tolerance is improved, but flexibility is sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The superpack braid configuration with varied beam paths and specific end orientations changes the geometric parameters of the reinforcement structure. This increases RVR to greater than 110% while maintaining flexibility because the non-uniform beam distribution prevents rigid stress concentration points, allowing the hose to bend and flex more easily compared to traditional uniform braids with the same pressure rating.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional braided reinforcement layers are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but geometry variation creates stress concentrations and performance inconsistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the beam paths and end orientations within the reinforcement layer. Different regions of the braid have different beam configurations, which locally optimizes stress distribution. This prevents the formation of consistent stress concentration points that occur in traditional uniform braids, thereby improving hydrostatic and impulse performance consistency while remaining manufacturable.
4Strength
If reinforcement layer with higher RVR is implemented, then pressure tolerance and performance consistency are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The superpack braid configuration achieves RVR greater than 110% through specific geometric parameters including varied end orientations and beam path configurations. While the geometry is more complex than traditional braids, the patent maintains manufacturing feasibility by using systematic patterns in the beam variations rather than random configurations, allowing for controlled production with standard braiding equipment.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Described herein are embodiments of a pressure hose having an improved reinforcement layer. In some embodiments, the reinforcement layer of the pressure hose has a reinforcement volumetric ratio (RVR) of greater than or equal to 110%. The reinforcement layer can include a plurality of braided beams, with each beam comprising a plurality of ends. In some embodiments, the plurality of ends within a beam are arranged in a multi-layer orientation. In some embodiments, the number of ends and the end orientation within each beam is identical amongst all beams in the reinforcement layer. The shape, size, and arrangement of the ends within a beam can all be adjusted to increase the surface area to volume ratio and, correspondingly, the RVR of the reinforcement layer.