Fluid Hose Leakage Detection via Sliding Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large diameter hoses for fluid transport, such as marine hoses, face increased manufacturing costs, weight, and reduced flexibility due to complex reinforcing layer structures that complicate the detection of fluid leakage upon reinforcing layer failure.

Innovation Solution

A hose design featuring a sliding-surface layer and a constraining layer embedded within the cover rubber layer, where the sliding-surface layer is non-adhesive and the constraining layer is adhesive, allowing for visible deformation upon fluid leakage without complicating the reinforcing layer structure, facilitating easy external detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex auxiliary pressure cord layer structure is used to detect fluid leakage, then leakage detection capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage detection capabilityVSAvoidreinforcing layer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a visible design (such as color markings or patterns) on the outer surface of the cover rubber layer that changes or becomes visible when the hose twists due to internal fluid pressure. This allows leakage detection through visual observation of color or pattern changes, eliminating the need for complex auxiliary pressure cord layers while maintaining reliable detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the leakage detection function from the complex auxiliary pressure cord layer structure and implements it through a simple visible design on the cover surface. By separating the detection function from the reinforcing structure, the patent achieves reliable leakage detection without complicating the reinforcing layer configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a complex auxiliary pressure cord layer structure is used to detect fluid leakage, then leakage detection capability is improved, but hose weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage detection capabilityVSAvoidhose weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The visible design using color markings or patterns adds negligible weight while providing reliable leakage detection through visual changes. This replaces heavy auxiliary pressure cord layers with a lightweight optical indication system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If a complex auxiliary pressure cord layer structure is used to detect fluid leakage, then leakage detection capability is improved, but hose flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage detection capabilityVSAvoidhose flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The visible design on the cover surface does not constrain hose movement or flexibility. The color or pattern changes passively in response to hose twisting, maintaining full hose flexibility while providing reliable leakage detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

4Reliability

If multiple detection means are proposed to detect fluid leakage, then leakage detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage detection capabilityVSAvoiddetection system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a simple visible design with color markings or patterns that provide intuitive leakage detection. This single visual indication system replaces multiple complex detection means, achieving reliable detection while minimizing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

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 design enables easy visual detection of fluid leakage through twisting deformation of the cover rubber layer, maintaining hose flexibility and reducing manufacturing costs by avoiding complex reinforcing structures.

Implementation Method 1

a sliding-surface layer that is adjacent to the cover rubber layer and that is embedded at least partially in the hose axial direction in the cover rubber layer and that is non-adhesive with respect to the cover rubber layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNon-adhesive property: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a constraining layer that is embedded in the cover rubber layer so as to be wound in a hose circumferential direction on an outer side of the sliding-surface layer so that opposite ends in the longitudinal direction of the constraining layer are not in contact with each other and that is adhesive with respect to the cover rubber layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

a visible design, continuous in a hose axial direction, is provided on an outer surface of the cover rubber layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP2515016B1Fluid conveying hose
Publication Date: 2017.06.28 THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD
  • EP2515016B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2515016B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2515016B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

Disclosed is a fluid conveying hose wherein a plurality of carcass layers (5, 7, 9) are disposed between an inner rubber layer (4) and a cover rubber layer (10), and wherein a continuous visible marking (3) is applied to the outer surface of the cover rubber layer (10) along the axial length of the hose. The fluid conveying hose comprises a smooth-surface layer (11) which is buried in the cover rubber layer (10) across at least part of the axial length, and which is non-adherent to the cover rubber layer (10); and restrictive layers (12) which are buried outside the smooth-surface layer (11) so as to extend partially circumferentially thereupon, and which are adherent to the cover rubber layer (10).