Flexible Hose Coupling Seal Using Thermoplastic Inner Liner Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flexible hoses for high pressure and high temperature applications face challenges in maintaining a reliable seal due to the inherent permeability of elastomeric materials, leading to potential catastrophic failures like explosive decompression, and existing solutions complicate the construction and manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A flexible hose design featuring a semi-crystalline thermoplastic inner liner with embedded reinforcement material, a metallic hose coupling with a recessed sealing area, and a semi-crystalline thermoplastic sealing material bonded to the inner liner and coupling, providing a non-elastomeric sealing solution that eliminates air pockets and enhances structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastomeric materials are used for sealing in flexible hoses, then flexibility and elasticity are improved, but permeability increases leading to potential catastrophic failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining an elastomeric inner liner layer with an outer layer comprising a thermoplastic material and reinforcement material. This composite construction allows the elastomeric layer to provide flexibility while the thermoplastic and reinforcement layers eliminate permeability issues, preventing catastrophic failures from air pocket formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different regions of the hose structure. The inner liner layer uses elastomeric material for flexibility and sealing contact, while the outer layer uses thermoplastic material with reinforcement for structural integrity and permeability prevention. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between flexibility and sealing reliability.
2Strength
If reinforcement material is embedded in the inner liner layer, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reinforcement material embedding process with the extrusion process in a single manufacturing step. The reinforcement material is embedded within the elastomeric inner liner layer during extrusion, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement steps and reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the added structural capability.
3Reliability
If thermoplastic material is used for sealing, then permeability resistance is improved, but bonding quality with hose coupling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite outer layer combining thermoplastic material with reinforcement material. The thermoplastic provides permeability resistance while the reinforcement material (such as steel cord or fabric) enhances bonding capability with the hose coupling, resolving the contradiction between sealing ability and bonding quality.
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
This design enhances the sealing performance and structural strength of flexible hoses, reducing the risk of failure under harsh conditions while simplifying the manufacturing process and achieving a more reliable, long-lasting connection between the hose and coupling.
Implementation Method 1
a semi-crystalline thermoplastic sealing material bonded to the inner liner and coupling
Implementation Method 2
a reinforcement means is incorporated into an inner liner of the flexible hose
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
An elastomeric flexible hose for the transportation of high pressure and/or temperature hydrocarbon liquids or gases comprising: a semi-crystalline thermoplastic inner liner layer (1'); an armour layer (9') surrounding the inner liner layer (1') at an end of the flexible hose; a hose coupling (13') disposed at the end of the hose and surrounding the armour layer (9'); a sealing area defined by recessed portion (3') of the hose coupling (13'); and a semi-crystalline thermoplastic sealing material (23), or a cross-linked elastomeric sealing material, disposed in the sealing area; wherein a portion of the inner liner layer (1') at said hose end extends into the sealing area and is bonded to the sealing material (23), and wherein a reinforcement material (2') is provided wholly within the inner liner layer (1') and further in that the inner liner layer (1') is bonded to the inner surface of the hose coupling (13') by a tie layer (14').