Extensible Flexible Hose Structure for Abrasion and Bulk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extensible hoses with a textile outer layer suffer from rapid deterioration due to abrasive action, weakness at connections, and increased bulk, making them prone to damage and difficult to clean, while their production is complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A flexible extensible hose with a braided textile outer layer that is loosely arranged around an elastic polymeric inner tube, allowing for minimal space occupation and easy extension, featuring a single-stage manufacturing process that automates production and reduces abrasion and dirt accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an inner tube is inserted in a loose fashion inside a tubular textile layer to achieve remarkable elongation capability with reduced production costs, then the hose can be manufactured more economically, but the abrasive action between the inner tube and outer layer causes rapid deterioration and early breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The hose is divided into three distinct layers: an inner elastic layer, a middle reinforcement layer with textile material arranged in spiral windings, and an outer protective layer. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function while reducing harmful interactions between layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose combines three different material types: elastic polymer for the inner layer, textile material for the reinforcement layer, and protective polymer for the outer layer. This composite structure leverages the advantages of each material while mitigating their individual disadvantages, particularly the abrasion issue.
2Length of moving object
If the inner tube expands radially under liquid pressure to generate longitudinal thrust for extension, then the hose achieves elongation, but the abrupt swelling impacts violently at the end junction point, generating high risk of damage
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement layer with textile material arranged in spiral windings is positioned between the inner and outer layers to act as a cushioning element. This layer absorbs and distributes the thrust generated by radial expansion, preventing violent impacts at the end junction points and protecting the connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The middle reinforcement layer serves as an intermediary between the inner elastic layer and the outer protective layer. It mediates the force transmission during expansion, converting the radial thrust into controlled longitudinal extension while protecting the end connections from damage.
3Stress or pressure
If a tubular textile layer is used as an outer layer that is substantially not expandable to contain the inner tube, then the hose structure provides containment, but the hose becomes rather cumbersome in both working and rest conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The outer layer is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to expand and contract with the inner tube during operation. The reinforcement layer's spiral winding structure enables the hose to maintain a compact form in rest conditions while providing adequate containment during working conditions, reducing overall bulk.
4Length of moving object
If the outer layer is made of textile material in a wrinkled start state to allow extension, then the hose achieves extensibility, but the wrinkles cause the hose to get soiled more easily and are more difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The outer layer is designed as a smooth flexible shell that covers the reinforcement layer. This smooth outer surface prevents dirt accumulation and facilitates easy cleaning, while the underlying reinforcement layer provides the extensibility through its spiral winding structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hose achieves increased durability, reduced bulk, and ease of cleaning, with automated production reducing costs and time, while maintaining high extension performance and resistance to pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the inner tube made of polymeric elastic material... in response to a radial expansion of the inner tube (subject to the fluid pressure) becomes stretched until it forms a rigid barrier
Implementation Method 2
the extension mechanism is such as to determine an abrasive action between the inner tube and the outer layer... encountering the containment barrier from the textile layer, it cannot continue to expand, so that a thrust is generated in the longitudinal direction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of extensible flexible hoses, especially but not exclusively intended for use for irrigation, and more specifically relates to a new configuration for such a hose, and the relative production process.