Hose Fitting Sealing via Inner Liner Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hose fittings in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries face contamination risks due to material incompatibilities and gaps between different materials, particularly at connections, when conveying free-flowing products, necessitating a solution that ensures complete inertness and easy, cost-effective production with varying hose lengths.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a hose with a composite structure produced by co-extrusion, where the fixed bond between the outer cover and inner liner is released at the connection area, allowing the inner liner to be exposed and molded onto the hose fitting, creating a seamless, inert surface for product contact, and using certified fluoropolymers like PTFE for the inner liner and rubber for the outer cover, with optional reinforcement inserts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hose fittings are made from different materials (e.g., metal or plastic), then mechanical strength and structural integrity are improved, but contamination risk increases due to material incompatibility with free-flowing products
Solution Approach 1:
The hose fitting comprises a substrate made from mechanically strong material (metal or plastic) and an inner lining made from certified fluoropolymer material. This composite structure combines the mechanical strength of the substrate with the chemical inertness and certification of the fluoropolymer lining, eliminating contamination risk while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluoropolymer inner lining is applied locally to the interior surface of the hose fitting where product contact occurs. This localized application ensures that only the areas requiring chemical inertness and certification are treated with certified material, while the bulk structure maintains its mechanical strength from the substrate material.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the inner liner is separated from the outer cover at the connection area, then a seamless inert surface is achieved for product contact, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The inner liner is pre-formed as a separate component with a configuration designed to receive the hose fitting. The bonding surfaces are prepared in advance with appropriate adhesives or bonding mechanisms, allowing for controlled assembly that ensures a seamless connection between the inner liner and hose fitting without requiring complex post-assembly operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hose fittings are lined with an inner layer of the hose, then material incompatibility is reduced, but gaps and joints may still exist at connections
Solution Approach 1:
The inner liner of the hose and the inner lining of the hose fitting are merged into a continuous, seamless structure through bonding at their interfaces. This eliminates gaps and joints at the connection area, ensuring that the entire product contact surface consists of certified fluoropolymer material without interruptions or exposure of substrate material.
4Productivity
If co-extrusion is used to produce the hose composite, then production efficiency is improved, but the bond between outer cover and inner liner must be loosened later
Solution Approach 1:
The bond between the outer cover and inner liner is selectively loosened only at the specific connection area where the hose fitting will be attached, while the bond remains intact in other portions of the hose. This localized bond release allows the inner liner to be exposed and properly positioned for connection without compromising the overall structural integrity or requiring complete separation of the hose layers.
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 method ensures safe, contamination-free conveyance of free-flowing products by creating a continuous, inert inner surface that matches the hose fitting, allowing for easy production in various lengths and enhancing mechanical strength, while maintaining product purity and reducing material incompatibility issues.
Implementation Method 1
molding the inner liner on the axially facing sealing surface of the hose fitting
Implementation Method 2
a hose with an outer cover and an inner liner, which form a composite produced by co-extrusion
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
The hose assembly has a hose provided with an outer cover and an inner liner. A hose fitting is connected to end structure of hose such that inner liner of hose surrounds interior of hose fitting. The end structure has a primary end at which fixed bond is formed between outer cover and inner liner, and a secondary end at which inner liner projects beyond outer cover in axial direction. A nozzle of hose fitting is inserted into a pocket formed between outer cover and inner liner. A sealing surface (13) is formed at secondary end, so as to axially face inner liner of hose fitting. An independent claim is included for method for manufacturing hose assembly.