Low-Permeation Flexible Fuel Hose

• US 20110226375A1
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gates Corporation (Gates Industrial Corp. Plc)
• Original Assignee: Gates Corporation (Gates Industrial Corp. Plc)
• Inventors: Miller, Lance, Stripe, Dana, Harris, Earl
• Granted Patent: US 9,592,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/137
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/08 Tubular products
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/24 All layers being polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0223 Vinyl resin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0261 Polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0269 Aromatic polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0276 Polyester fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/103 Metal fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/105 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2270/00 Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/304 Insulating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/54 Yield strength; Tensile strength
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/704 Crystalline
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/726 Permeability to liquids, absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7265 Non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/10 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/14 comprising synthetic rubber copolymers B32B25/18 and B32B25/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/16 comprising polydienes homopolymers or poly-halodienes homopolymers B32B25/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2597/00 : Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 : comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/02 : characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 : Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 : Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/026 : Knitted fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0017 : related to fuel pipes or their connections, e.g. joints or sealings F02M55/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/081 : comprising one or more layers of a helically wound cord or wire in combination with braided layers F16L11/088
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/085 : comprising one or more braided layers in combination with layers of a helically wound core or wire F16L11/088
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2011/047 : with a diffusion barrier layer

Abstract

A flexible hose or a tubing having a barrier layer of polyamide 6 having an impact modifier, and/or branched molecular structure, a flexural modulus of 1 to 2 GPa and/or a tensile elongation of 100% or more. The hose may have additional layers such as an HNBR rubber inner tube, an EVM/CPE rubber blend outer cover, a textile or wire reinforcement, or the like. Permeability to ethanol- and methanol-containing fuels is very low. Permeability to B20 biofuels is very low.

Claims

1. A fuel hose comprising:

an HNBR rubber inner tube;

an EVM/CPE blend rubber outer cover;

an intermediate barrier layer consisting essentially of an impact-modified polyamide 6; and

a textile reinforcement disposed between said barrier layer and said outer cover.

2. The fuel hose of claim 1 wherein said polyamide 6 has branched molecular structure.

3. The fuel hose of claim 1 wherein the polyamide 6 has a flexural modulus of from 1 to 2 GPa.

4. The fuel hose of claim 3 wherein the polyamide 6 has a tensile elongation at break of about 100% or more.

5. The fuel hose of claim 1 comprising only non-fluoropolymer-based layers.

6. The fuel hose of claim 1 wherein said barrier layer is a seamless, tubular layer.

7. The fuel hose of claim 1 further comprising an elastomeric tie layer between said barrier layer and at least one of said rubber tube and rubber cover layers.

8. The fuel hose of claim 1 wherein the radial thickness of the barrier layer is in the range from 0.025 mm to 0.76 mm.

9. The fuel hose of claim 8 wherein said barrier layer is a seamless, tubular layer.

10. The fuel hose of claim 9 wherein said polyamide 6 exhibits the physical properties and permeation properties indicated herein of the grade marketed as Technyl®

C 548B.

11. A hose comprising:

an HNBR rubber inner tube;

an EVM/CPE blend rubber outer cover;

an intermediate barrier layer consisting essentially of an impact-modified polyamide 6; and

a textile reinforcement disposed between said barrier layer and said outer cover.

12. The hose of claim 11 further comprising an HNBR rubber tie layer disposed between said barrier layer and said reinforcement.

13. The hose of claim 11 further comprising an EVM/CPE blend rubber tie layer between said barrier layer and said reinforcement.

14. The hose of claim 11 wherein the textile reinforcement comprises aramid fibers.

15. The hose of claim 11 wherein the polyamide 6 has branched molecular structure.

16. The hose of claim 11 wherein said polyamide 6 has a flexural modulus of from about 1 to about 2 GPa and a tensile elongation at break of 100% or more

17. The hose of claim 11 having at least one of a permeability to gasoline of about 1 g/m²/day or less at 40°

C. and a permeability to B20 biofuel of less than 1 g/m²/day at 40°

C. when tested according to SAE J1737.

18. A hose system comprising:

at least one length of hose according to claim 11 and

at least one fitting, clamp, or fluid-handling device.

19. The hose system of claim 18 wherein said polyamide 6 exhibits the physical properties and permeation properties indicated herein of the grade marketed as Technyl®

C 548B.