Current carrying stretch hose

• US 7,156,127 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flexible Technologies Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Flexible Technologies Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Herron, Roy, Dove, Thomas, Mountford, Stephen, Moulton, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): HOOK, JAMES F
• Application Number:
  US10/023,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 138/122, 138/127, 138/129, 138/134
• 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 being in a retracted condition when no tensile force is placed on said hose and in an extended condition when a tensile force of a pulling nature is placed on a section of said hose, said hose consisting essentially of:

a first end;

a second end;

a thermoplastic cover consisting essentially of a single layer of thermoplastic material having a thickness of between about 10 mil to 50 about mil wherein said thermoplastic cover further comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a single helical member, capable of retaining its shape in said hose adhered to said interior surface of said thermoplastic cover, said helical member being comprised of a material capable of carrying a current of electricity said helical member being capable of extending when a tensile force of a pulling nature is applied and then retracting to roughly the original shape when a force is not applied said helical member having a gauge between 12 and 21;

a plurality of peaks and valleys in said thermoplastic cover caused by said helical member, said peaks having a distance between them, said helical member being interconnected by sidewalls that extend at an angle to the peaks and valleys wherein when said hose is in a retracted condition, the valleys generally U-shaped and when a pulling force is applied to a section of said hose, the valleys become wider and the angle of the sidewalls stay generally the same;

the distance from one peak to an adjacent peak in the hose is about ¼

″

to ¾

″

when there is no pulling force on a section of said hose and the distance from one peak to an adjacent peak is about ½

″

to 2″

when a pulling force is placed on a section of said hose;

wherein the length of said hose in said extended condition is about two to about six times greater than the length in said retracted position; and

a conductor wire, capable of carrying a current of electricity with a gauge in the range of about 10 to about 30 said conductive wire being disposed on at least one side of said helical member said thermoplastic cover having been extruded around said conductive wire.

2. The flexible hose according to claim 1 wherein there is a second conductive wire on the opposite side of said helical member, said thermoplastic material having been extruded around said second conductive wire.

3. The flexible hose according to claim 2 wherein one of said conductors is a copper clad steel wire.

4. The flexible hose according to claim 2 wherein the second 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.

5. The flexible hose according to claim 4 wherein the helix comprises a steel wire.

6. The flexible hose of claim 1 wherein the valleys are virtually eliminated and the sidewalls on opposite sides of a valley are generally in contact with each other when said flexible hose is in a retracted position.

7. The flexible hose according to claim 1 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.

8. The flexible hose according to claim 1 wherein the cross section of the helix is in the shape of a figure 8.

9. The flexible hose of claim 1 wherein said hose has a pitch that is constant along the length of the hose.

10. The flexible hose according to claim 1 wherein said hose extends at least 100 percent over the fully retracted length of said hose when 10 pounds of pull is placed on an end of said flexible hose.