Flexible Metal Hoses: All You Need To Know

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• Flexible Metal Hoses All You Need To Know
• The type of piping used to connect two distant
  points to transport or transfer fluid is known as
  a flexible hose. Most flexible metal hoses look
  similar. However, their dimension, thickness and
  size may vary according to the requirement of the
  application.
• A flexible metal hose helps absorb vibrations,
  pipe movements, and noise. They are designed to
  connect misaligned rigid piping. They also help
  connect moving parts of machinery or equipment
  and are practical for hooking up frequently moved
  or dismantled equipment.
• At Aeroflex, we manufacture customised flexible
  metallic hoses that are durable and corrosion
  temperature resistant.
• A Flexible Metal Hose/Flexible Metal Piping
  Whats Inside?
• A metal hose, commonly known as a hosepipe, is
  made from four basic components. Individually,
  these parts may appear very simple. But, when
  combined in a flexible metal hose assembly, they
  become an optimal solution for varied industries
  and applications.
• 1. Corrugated Tubing
• Corrugated tubing is the main component of a
  flexible metal hose. It plays a key role in the
  significant value-added attributes of the
  assembly, such as flexibility, corrosion
  resistance, and pressure rating.

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• Pressure Rating The term pressure rating or
  working pressure is used to express the hoses
  ability to handle the internal pressure. The
  pressure rating helps create value for an
  assembly, depending upon its use.
• All corrugated tubing options vary in corrosion
  resistance ratings, pressure ratings, and levels
  of flexibility they can offer, making them the
  most important features of every flexible hose.
• Braid
• The braid is the second vital hose component that
  contributes to an assemblys ability to
  withstand high pressures. Multiple factors
  contribute to a braids functionality, like the
  diameter of the wire, the wire number per
  carrier, the number of carriers on the braiding
  machine, and the percentage of braid coverage.
  You can also increase the pressure rating by
  adding additional layers of braid to the
  assembly.
• The design of the braid can have a significant
  effect on the pressure rating and the life cycle
  of the hose. Thus, a braid package consisting of
  a high-percentage braid coverage (braided
  directly into the hose) should be used to ensure
  the braid is well- secured on the hose. This
  protects the assembly from potential deformation
  while ensuring a maximum life cycle.
• Braid Collar
• Though braid collars only account for a small
  portion of the hose assembly, they are important.
  Inner corrugated hose and the braid are joined
  together in a seamless unit by braid collars
  during the cap welding process.
• Besides helping join the hose components, the
  braid collars protect and isolate corrugations
  near the cap weld from any movement. Once the cap
  welding process is done, these corrugations turn
  into a heat-affected zone. This ensures the
  optimal functionality and durability of each
  hose.
• Also, braid collars ensure that any bending
  stresses are evenly distributed over the right
  corrugations, thereby preserving the life cycle
  of the assembly.

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• B Types of Flexible Metal Hoses
• Flexible meta hose are manufactured in two basic
  styles, including corrugated stainless steel hose
  and interlock hose.
• Corrugated Hoses
• A regular hose cannot sustain the longitudinal
  pressure stress and tends to squirm under
  internal pressure. Thus, to resist the
  longitudinal pressure stress and prevent it from
  squirming, corrugated hoses are often constructed
  with braid wrappings
• around the outer surface. A corrugated hose is
  constructed with a long length bellow, and the
  braid protects the corrugation from scratch and
  wear. This type of hose is
• suitable for handling any type of gases and
  liquid that are compatible with the material of
  the hose.
• Learn more about corrugated hose and its
  applications here.
• Interlock Hoses
• The construction of an interlock hose involves
  links that are kept tight with the packaging
  material. Clearances are provided between these
  links to make them capable enough to accommodate
  some axial movement that gradually closes as the
  hose is bent.
• When the clearances are completely closed, the
  hose becomes stiff, restricting any further
  bending. This sudden stiffness is a warning to
  the handler, preventing the interlocked hose from
  being over-bent and causing potential damage.

C Factors to Consider for Installation of Metal
Flex Hoses Be it standard metal hoses or braided
flexible hoses, all hoses are flexible, which
makes the process of installation easy.
Nevertheless, a few general precautions needed to
be taken during the installation to avoid hose
failures or damage.
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• The hose should not be subjected to any sort of
  twisting. The hose should be installed in such a
  way that flexing takes place only in the plane of
  bending.
• Make sure that the hose length is sufficient to
  accommodate the offset and movement.
• The space where the hose has to be installed
  should be adequate to accommodate its length.
• Avoid sharp bends while installing flexible
  hoses. Follow the Technical Data Section of the
  vendor catalogue to maintain the minimum
  centerline bend radius for intermittent flexing.
• Ensure to maintain a minimum bend radius with the
  respect to the hose during the initial layout and
  throughout the installation process.
• Read Installation Precautions

• D Flexible Metallic Hoses - Application Areas
• Flexible metallic hoses have a wide range of
  applications. Some of them include
• As a garden hose to water plants or to convey
  water to a sprinkler.
• As a hose to water crops in agriculture for drip
  irrigation.
• To carry air from a surface compressor or air
  tank. As a fuel hose to carry fuel safely.
• To convey water to a fire site for fire-fighting
  service.
• In chemistry medicine, flexible hoses are
  utilised to move around liquid chemicals or
  gases.
• Flexible metal hoses can be used for Heat
  Tracing.
• In the oil industries, liquids under high
  pressures are moved using these types of hoses.
• Other applications include auto heater tubing,
  wiring conduit, moderate suction lines,
  automotive exhaust, dust collecting ducting,
  ventilating ducting, air blower ducting,
  refrigeration tubing armour, etc.

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