Spiral Wrap Lip Profile for Gap-Free Hose Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spiral wraps in hydraulic hose protection suffer from gaps between coils, especially when bending or curving, leading to reduced protection against environmental conditions and potential leakage, and overlapping coils can jam and form gaps, compromising safety.

Innovation Solution

A spiral wrap with a profile having lips on opposite ends that ensure continuous contact between adjacent coils, maintaining protection even in extended or curved configurations, and incorporating materials with abrasive and impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the spiral wrap is bent or curved to accommodate tight turns, then the wrap can adapt to different routing configurations, but gaps form between coils exposing the hoses to environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to accommodate tight turnsVSAvoidprotection continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spiral wrap profile is segmented into distinct sections: a body portion and lip portions (first and second lips) at opposite ends. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function - the body provides coverage while the lips engage with adjacent coils to prevent gap formation during bending or curving operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves from considering only the radial dimension of coil spacing to incorporating the axial dimension by adding lips that extend along the axis. These lips engage with adjacent coils in the axial direction, preventing gap formation when the wrap is bent or curved, thus maintaining protection continuity through a dimensional extension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If the coils are compressed causing them to overlap, then the wrap can accommodate compression forces, but the overlapping forms gaps known as cascading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression resistanceVSAvoidprotection continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lip structure is designed to prevent cascading gaps before they can form. When compression forces attempt to overlap coils, the lips engage with adjacent coils to maintain proper spacing and alignment, counteracting the compression-induced gap formation that would otherwise occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The lips are pre-positioned at the ends of each profile section to engage with adjacent coils before compression forces can cause overlapping. This preliminary engagement prevents the cascading effect from initiating, maintaining protection continuity even under compression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the spiral wrap is designed with simple circular coils, then the manufacturing is easier and cost is reduced, but gaps form when bent or curved diminishing protection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextrusion simplicityVSAvoidprotection in curved configurations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than making the entire profile complex, only specific local regions (the ends of the profile) are given special geometry with the lip portions. The majority of the profile remains a simple extruded shape, maintaining manufacturing ease while the localized lip features provide the gap-prevention function when bent or curved

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4208659B1A spiral wrap
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 MAY PETER ANDREW JOHN
  • EP4208659B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4208659B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4208659B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a spiral wrap formed of an extruded profile coiled along a helical path around an axis. The profile having a first section and a second section; the first section having a first lip directed towards the axis; and the second section having a second lip directed away from the axis. The first lip and the second lip are arranged such that one of the lips is always in contact with an adjacent coil such that the engagement of adjacent coils of the spiral wrap prevents gaps in protection from forming even when the spiral wrap is curved.