CRIMPING PROCESSES FOR HOSE ASSEMBLIES AND HOSE ASSEMBLIES PRODUCED THEREBY

• US 20160084409A1
• Filed: 09/24/2015
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ContiTech USA, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Custom Machining Services Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Intagliata, Joseph Vincent, Intagliata, Jeffrey Robin
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/048 using presses for radially crimping tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/2073 directly connected to the rigid member

Abstract

Processes for securing a fitting to an end of a hose, and a hose assembly produced thereby. The fitting has an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a cavity therebetween. An end of the hose is located within the cavity and compressed between the interior and exterior portions. The exterior portion of the fitting has at least first and second circumferential crimped portions axially spaced apart along a length of the fitting, and first and second portions of the hose are compressed within, respectively, the first and second circumferential crimped portions. The exterior portion of the fitting further has an annular-shaped bubble portion between the first and second circumferential crimped portions. The bubble portion has a diameter that is larger than diameters of the first and second circumferential crimped portions, and the hose has a portion radially expanded into an annular-shaped cavity surrounded by the bubble portion due to the hose being compressed at the first and second portions thereof.

Claims

1. A hose assembly comprising:

a hose having an end;

a fitting having an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a cavity therebetween, the end of the hose being located within the cavity and compressed between the interior and exterior portions, the exterior portion of the fitting having at least first and second circumferential crimped portions axially spaced apart along a length of the fitting, first and second portions of the hose being compressed within, respectively, the first and second circumferential crimped portions, the exterior portion of the fitting further having an annular-shaped bubble portion between the first and second circumferential crimped portions, the bubble portion having a diameter that is larger than diameters of the first and second circumferential crimped portions, the hose having a portion radially expanded into an annular-shaped cavity surrounded by the bubble portion due to the hose being compressed at the first and second portions thereof.

2. The hose assembly of claim 1, wherein the hose has a diameter of at least 5 cm.

3. The hose assembly of claim 1, wherein the fitting has a length of more than 10 cm.

4. The hose assembly of claim 1, wherein the hose is a rotary hose.

5. A process of securing a fitting to an end of a hose, the fitting having an axial extent, the process comprising:

crimping a first circumferential portion of the fitting from an initial diameter to a final crimping diameter to thereby define a first crimp; and

then

crimping a second circumferential portion of the fitting axially spaced apart from the first circumferential portion, the second circumferential portion being crimped from an initial diameter to a final crimping diameter to thereby define a second crimp; and

then

optionally performing at least a third crimping operation on a third circumferential portion of the fitting from an initial diameter to a final crimping diameter;

whereby the fitting is secured to the hose by the crimps.

6. The process of claim 5, further comprising locating the second circumferential portion at an axial location such that once the second circumferential portion is crimped an uncrimped circumferential portion of the fitting remains between the first crimp and the second crimp, the uncrimped circumferential portion defining a bubble portion of the fitting after crimping the second circumferential portion.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the hose has a portion radially expanded into an annular-shaped cavity surrounded by the bubble portion due to first and second portions of the hose being compressed at the first and second circumferential portions of the fitting.

8. The process of claim 5, further comprising performing the third crimping operation, the third circumferential portion being axially spaced apart from the first and second circumferential portions.

9. The process of claim 8, further comprising locating the third circumferential portion at an axial location such that once the third circumferential portion is crimped an uncrimped circumferential portion of the fitting remains between the second crimp and the third crimp, the uncrimped circumferential portion defining a bubble portion of the fitting after crimping the second circumferential portion.

10. The process of claim 5, wherein the hose is not skived prior to crimping the first circumferential portion.

11. The process of claim 5, wherein the crimping of the first and second circumferential portions are performed simultaneously with a crimping die comprising more than one crimping surface in an axial direction of the hose.

12. The hose assembly produced by the process of claim 5.