Current carrying stretch hose

• US 20030111126A1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flexible Technologies Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Flexible Technologies Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dove, Thomas, Mountford, Stephen, Herron, Roy, Moulton, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/122
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/24 Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings hoses or hose joints in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/1185 electrically conducting

Abstract

An improved flexible hose for carrying fluids is disclosed. The hose has a first end and a second end, and is typically in a retracted position when no tensile force placed on an end of the hose and in an extended condition when a tensile force of a pulling nature is placed on an end of the hose. The hose has a thermoplastic cover on its outer surface. The thermoplastic cover has an interior surface and an exterior surface. On the interior surface there is a helical member adhered thereto this helical member being comprised of a material capable of carrying a current of electricity. The hose of the present invention stretches at least 100 percent over its at rest position when a pulling force is placed on one end of the hose.

Claims

1. A flexible hose for carrying fluids said hose having a first end and a second end, said hose being in a retracted position when no tensile force placed on an end of the hose and in an extended condition when a tensile force of a pulling nature is placed on an end of the hose, said hose having a thermoplastic cover, said thermoplastic cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface said interior surface having a helical member adhered thereto said helical member being comprised of a material capable of carrying a current of electricity.

2. The flexible hose of claim 1 wherein said hose is corrugated and has a plurality of peaks and valleys in said cover caused by said helical member that are interconnected by sidewalls that extend at an angle to the peaks and valleys and wherein said hose when in a retracted condition, the valleys are virtually eliminated and the sidewalls on opposite sides of a valley are generally in contact with each other.

3. The flexible hose according to claim 2 wherein when the hose is in an at rest position, the valleys typically are generally U-shaped.

4. The flexible hose according to claim 3 wherein when a pulling force is applied to an end of the hose, the valleys become wider and the angle of the sidewalls stay generally the same.

5. The flexible hose according to claim 4 wherein the distance from one peak to an adjacent peak in the hose is about ¼

″

to ¾

″

when these is no force on an end of the hose and the distance from one peak to an adjacent peak is about ½

″

to 2″

when a pulling for is placed on an end of the hose.

6. A flexible hose for carrying fluids said hose having a first end and a second end, said hose being in a retracted position when no tensile force placed on an end of the hose and in an extended condition when a tensile force of a pulling nature is placed on an end of the hose, said hose having a thermoplastic cover, said thermoplastic cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface said interior surface having a helical member adhered thereto said helical member having a first side and a second side and having a conductive wire in at least one side of said helix for carrying a current.

7. The flexible hose according to claim 6 wherein there is a second conductive wire on the side of the helix opposite the first conductive wire.

8. The flexible hose according to claim 6 wherein the helix is a capable of conducting an electric current.

9. The flexible hose according to claim 7 wherein the helix is a capable of conducting an electric current.

10. The flexible hose according to claim 6 wherein the conductive wire is stranded copper wire of a gauge in the range of about 10 to about 30 with a thermoplastic jacket as the insulation.

11. The flexible hose according to claim 7 wherein the conductive wires are stranded copper wire of a gauge in the range of about 10 to about 30 with a thermoplastic jacket as the insulation.

12. The flexible hose according to claim 6 wherein the helix comprises a steel wire.

13. The flexible hose according to claim 7 wherein the helix comprises a steel wire.

14. The flexible hose according to claim 6 wherein the helix is a thermoplastic covered steel wire and wherein on one side of said helix is a stranded copper wire of a gauge in the range of 10 to 30 with a thermoplastic jacket covering the stranded copper wire.

15. A flexible hose for carrying fluids said hose having a first end and a second end, said hose being in a retracted position when no tensile force placed on an end of the hose and in an extended condition when a tensile force of a pulling nature is placed on an end of the hose, said hose having a thermoplastic cover, said thermoplastic cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface said interior surface having a helical member adhered thereto said helical member comprising a pair of insulated conductors in a side by side relationship

16. The flexible hose according to claim 15 wherein the cross section of the helix is in the shape of a FIG. 8.

17. The flexible hose according to claim 16 wherein one of said conductors is a copper clad steel wire.

18. The flexible hose according to claim 17 wherein the other of said conductors is a stranded copper wire.

19. The flexible hose according to claim 16 wherein one of said conductors is a steel wire.

20. The flexible hose according to claim 19 wherein the other of said conductors is a stranded copper wire.