Elastomeric Hose With Longitudinal Ribs For Dynamic Length Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hoses have fixed lengths, making them difficult to manipulate and store, leading to kinks, knots, and premature failure due to improper storage.
Innovation Solution
An elongatable and retractable hose design featuring an elastomeric inner fluid conductor with raised longitudinal ribs and a stretchable outer jacket, along with a lubricant to reduce friction, allowing the hose to extend when pressurized and retract when pressure is decreased.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the hose length is increased to improve fluid delivery reach, then the hose becomes more difficult to manipulate and store
Solution Approach 1:
The hose transitions from a fixed length to a dynamic length that can change based on operational needs. The elastomeric inner conductor with longitudinal ribs allows the hose to elongate when pressurized and retract when pressure is released, providing adaptability between extended and compact states to resolve the contradiction between length and ease of storage.
2Length of moving object
If the hose is made longer to extend reach, then storage space requirements increase and improper storage leads to kinks and knots
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic elongation and retraction capability allows the hose to maintain proper configuration automatically. When not in use, the hose retracts to a compact state that prevents kinks and knots, thereby maintaining reliability and durability while still providing extended reach when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose self-regulates its configuration through pressure-driven elongation and retraction. The longitudinal ribs and elastomeric material enable the hose to automatically return to a proper stored configuration without user intervention, preventing damage from improper storage while maintaining extended operational length.
3Ease of operation
If conventional hose storage methods (reels and hooks) are used to manage long hoses, then storage organization improves, but user strength, coordination, and budget requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hose performs its own storage function through automatic retraction when pressure is released. The elastomeric material and longitudinal rib structure enable the hose to compact itself without requiring external reels, hooks, or other storage devices, eliminating the need for complex storage systems and reducing user burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the storage management function from external devices (reels and hooks) and integrates it into the hose structure itself. The longitudinal ribs and elastomeric conductor provide inherent retraction capability, removing the need for separate storage mechanisms and simplifying the overall system.
4Strength
If the inner fluid conductor and outer jacket are in direct contact, then structural integrity is maintained, but friction increases causing wear and reduced elongation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal ribs create localized contact points between the inner fluid conductor and outer jacket rather than continuous contact. This local quality approach maintains structural integrity at the rib contact points while reducing overall friction and wear, thereby extending hose lifespan and improving elongation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribbed structure creates a porous-like interface between the inner conductor and outer jacket, allowing controlled interaction zones (at the ribs) while maintaining separation in other areas. This reduces cumulative friction and wear while preserving necessary structural connection points.
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
Enables easy manipulation and storage of hoses while reducing wear and maintaining durability by minimizing friction between components, thus extending the hose's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
an inner fluid conductor made of an elastomeric material having raised longitudinal ribs thereon
Implementation Method 2
the ribs being configured to reduce friction between the inner fluid conductor and the outer jacket
Implementation Method 3
A lubricant may be disposed between the inner fluid conductor and the outer jacket. The lubricant between the inner fluid conductor and the outer jacket may be silicone-based.
Data Source
AI summary
An elongatable and retractable hose includes an inner fluid conductor made of an elastomeric material having raised longitudinal ribs thereon and an outer jacket disposed around the inner fluid conductor.