FITTING FOR A FLEXIBLE METAL HOSE

• US 20060192380A1
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark A. Hess, Wolfgang F. Fullbeck
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Hess, Wolfgang F. Fullbeck
• Inventors: Hess, Mark A., Fullbeck, Wolfgang F.
• Application Number:
  US11/383,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/256
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/2073 directly connected to the rigid member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/903 Corrugated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49428 Gas and water specific plumbing component making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49913 by constricting outer annulus

Abstract

A flexible hose formed from corrugated metal tube has a fitting permanently crimped to the end of the hose. The fitting includes an elongated stem having a first end adapted to be coupled to an appropriate fitting surface and a second end configured to be received within the hose. A sealing member disposed on the second end of the stem seals the fitting between the corrugated metal tube and the stem. A ferrule is placed over the hose and is crimped to compress the hose and sealing member between the ferrule and stem.

Claims

1. A method of securing a fitting to a flexible hose having a corrugated metal tube, the fitting including a ferrule, a stem and a sealing member having a contoured outer surface corresponding to the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube, the method comprising:

inserting the sealing member into the corrugated metal tube such that the contoured outer surface contacts substantially all of the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube along the length of the sealing member;

placing the ferrule over the end of the corrugated metal tube;

inserting an end of the stem into the sealing member disposed within the corrugated metal tube; and

crimping the ferrule to compress the corrugated metal tube and the sealing member between the ferrule and the stem.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contoured outer surface contacts the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube along at least part of the length of the sealing member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein crimping the ferrule compresses the sealing member up to approximately 15% to approximately 25% of its wall thickness.

4. A hose assembly formed by a process comprising:

inserting a sealing member into a corrugated metal tube, the sealing member having a contoured outer surface that matches the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube, the sealing member contacting substantially all of the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube when inserted therein;

placing a ferrule over an end of the corrugated metal tube;

inserting an end of a stem into the sealing member disposed within the corrugated metal tube; and

crimping the ferrule to compress the corrugated metal tube and the sealing member between the ferrule and the stem.

5. The hose assembly of claim 4, formed by a process further comprising:

threadably coupling the ferrule to the stem.

6. The hose assembly of claim 4, wherein the ferrule is crimped an amount to compress the sealing member up to approximately 15% to approximately 25% of its wall thickness.

7. A hose assembly formed by a process comprising:

placing a ferrule over an end of a hose having a corrugated metal tube, the ferrule having a first end with a first outer diameter and a second end with a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter sized to be initially greater than the first outer diameter;

inserting a sealing member into the corrugated metal tube of the hose, the sealing member having a pre-formed undulating outer surface that corresponds to the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube;

inserting an end of a stem into the end of the hose to engage sealing member;

threadably coupling the ferrule to the stem; and

crimping the ferrule to compress the hose between the ferrule and the stem.

8. A fitting for an end of a flexible hose, the hose including a corrugated metal tube having an interior surface, the fitting comprising:

an elongated, tubular stem having a first end adapted to engage a corresponding fitting surface, and a second end configured to be received in the flexible hose;

a ferrule having a first end configured to receive said second end of said stem, and a second end configured to receive the end of the flexible hose, said ferrule configured to be crimped to the corrugated metal tube to thereby secure the fitting to the hose; and

a sealing member having a preformed, undulating outer surface corresponding to corrugations of the metal tube, said sealing member insertable within the corrugated metal tube such that the undulating outer surface of said sealing member mates with and fills corresponding corrugations of the metal tube.

9. A fitting for an end of a flexible hose, the hose including a corrugated metal tube having an interior surface, the fitting comprising:

an elongated, tubular stem having a first end adapted to engage a corresponding fitting surface, and a second end configured to be received in the flexible hose;

a ferrule having a first end configured to receive said second end of said stem, and a second end configured to receive the end of the flexible hose, said ferrule configured to be crimped to the corrugated metal tube to thereby secure the fitting to the hose; and

an independently mountable sealing member sized to be received over said second end of said stem and having a contoured outer surface corresponding to the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube such that said contoured outer surface contacts substantially all of the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube along the length of said sealing member when inserted therein.

10. The fitting of claim 9, wherein said contoured outer surface contacts the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube along at least part of the length of said sealing member.

11. The fitting of claim 9, wherein said ferrule is formed with a substantially uniform outer diameter sized to initially receive the end of the flexible hose.

12. The fitting of claim 9, wherein said first end of said ferrule has a first outer diameter, and said second end of said ferrule has a second outer diameter sized to be initially greater than said first outer diameter, said ferrule configured such that said second end may be subsequently deformed to be approximately equal to said first outer diameter during attachment of the fitting to the hose.

13. A flexible hose assembly, comprising:

a corrugated metal tube including a first end and an interior surface; and

a fitting permanently crimped to said first end of said tube, said fitting comprising;

a ferrule having first and second ends, said second end of said ferrule circumscribing said first end of said corrugated metal tube,

an elongated, tubular stem comprising a first end adapted to engage a corresponding fitting surface, and a second end extending through said first end of said ferrule and into said corrugated metal tube, and

an independently mounted tubular sealing member on said second end of said stem, between said stem and said corrugated metal tube, said sealing member having an undulating outer surface corresponding to said interior surface of said corrugated metal tube such that said undulating outer surface contacts substantially all of said interior surface of said corrugated metal tube along the length of said sealing member.

14. The flexible hose assembly of claim 13, wherein said undulating outer surface contacts said interior surface of said corrugated metal tube along at least part of the length of said sealing member.

15. The hose assembly of claim 13, further comprising a braided sheath covering said corrugated metal tube and extending beneath said ferrule so that said sheath is crimped between said ferrule and said stem.

16. The hose assembly of claim 13, wherein said ferrule is formed with a substantially uniform outer diameter sized to initially receive said first end of said corrugated metal tube.

17. The hose assembly of claim 13, wherein said first end of said ferrule has a first outer diameter, and said second end of said ferrule has a second outer diameter sized to be initially greater than said first outer diameter, said ferrule configured such that said second end may be subsequently deformed to be approximately equal to said first outer diameter during crimping of said fitting to said corrugated metal tube.

18. A fitting for a hose formed from corrugated metal tube, the fitting comprising:

an elongated, tubular stem having a first end adapted to engage a corresponding fitting surface, and a second end configured to be received in the hose;

a ferrule having a first end configured to receive said second end of said stem, and a second end configured to receive the end of the hose, said ferrule configured to be crimped to the end of the corrugated metal tube to thereby secure the fitting to the hose; and

an independently mountable sealing member sized to be received over said second end of said stem, and having a contoured outer surface corresponding to the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube such that said contoured outer surface contacts substantially all of the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube along the length of the sealing member;

wherein said first end of said ferrule has a first outer diameter, and said second end of said ferrule has a second outer diameter sized to be initially greater than said first outer diameter, said ferrule configured such that said second end may be subsequently deformed to be approximately equal to said first outer diameter during attachment of the fitting to the hose.

19. The fitting of claim 18, wherein said contoured outer surface contacts the interior surface of the corrugated metal tube along at least part of the length of said sealing member.