Polygonal Wire Reinforcement for Smooth, Anti-Slip Composite Hoses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible composite hoses with large diameters tend to collapse due to internal spiral translation under intense use and curving angles, leading to reduced fluid passage efficiency and production challenges.
Innovation Solution
The inner and outer reinforcement spirals are designed with polygonal cross-sections, featuring rounded vertices and curved sides, which anchor effectively to the hose surface, preventing sliding and enhancing structural robustness, while maintaining a smooth inner surface for optimal fluid flow and minimizing contact with production mandrels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a circular cross-section wire is used in the inner reinforcement spiral, then the hose achieves high flexibility, but the inner spiral translates and slides under intense use and curving angles, causing collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the wire cross-section from a symmetric circular shape to an asymmetric polygonal shape with rounded vertices. This asymmetric geometry creates uneven contact surfaces that prevent the inner spiral from sliding and translating along the hose, thereby maintaining structural stability while preserving flexibility. The polygonal cross-section with specific vertex rounding ensures the wire engages differently at various points, locking the spiral in place under operational stresses.
2Productivity
If the inner wall hose surface is made perfectly smooth, then fluid passage efficiency is optimized, but contact area with mandrel during production increases, increasing friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface that is smooth in specific local areas (where it contacts the fluid flow) while having controlled irregularities in other local areas (where it contacts the mandrel during production). The polygonal wire cross-section with rounded vertices produces a surface that is smooth along the flow path but creates minimal contact points with the mandrel, thus optimizing fluid transfer while facilitating easy removal during manufacturing.
3Reliability
If polygonal cross-section wire is used in inner spiral, then sliding is prevented and structural robustness is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters of the wire cross-section from a simple circular shape to a polygonal shape with specific characteristics (number of sides, vertex rounding radius, side curvature). These parameter changes achieve the desired structural robustness and anti-sliding properties while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple by using standard wire drawing and forming techniques that can produce polygonal cross-sections.
Data Source
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AI summary
A flexible composite hose (100), for transportation of fluids in the field of chemical and/or petrochemical industry, comprising: - a cylindrical multi-layered surface (106), composed of some layers made of different materials, situated between an inner reinforcement spiral (104) and an outer reinforcement spiral (103), so that the inner and outer spirals (104, 103) express some opposing forces that maintain a robust general structure of the hose (100), characterized in that: - said inner reinforcement spiral (104) is composed of a metallic wire, that is helically wrapped around, where the same metallic wire has a cross-section (108) having a shape that approximates the shape of a polygon (210), more exactly it has a shape of a polygon (210) in which: all the vertexes are rounded, and at least one side is curved with a concavity directed outside; - said cross-section (108) approximating a polygon (210) presents said curved side (212b) placed aligned to the inner wall of the hose (100), and the opposite vertex (211a) placed as a cusp into the inner side of said cylindrical multi-layered surface (106), all along the length of the hose (100), so that three effects are achieved: the first is that said inner spiral (104) is anchored more effectively to said cylindrical multi-layered surface (106), avoiding therefore any sliding motion, and increasing strength and robustness of the general structure of the hose (100), even for large diameters; the second is to achieve an inner wall of the hose (100) as smooth as possible, permitting therefore an optimal passage of fluids inside, resulting in a higher speed of transfer; the third is to maintain, all during the factory production process, a minimal contact surface between said hose (100) and a mandrel on which it is constructed, and to facilitate therefore, at the end of said process, the longitudinal removal of said hose (100) from the mandrel, maintaining at the same time a minimal friction.