Hose for Conveying Fluid

Abstract

A hose is disclosed for conveying fluids. The hose has a wall defining a fluid carrying tube and a power and/or data transmission cable is integrated into said wall. Also disclosed is a user definable module that is removably attachable to the distal end of a fluid conveying hose. The hose being releasably connectable to a fluid receiving entity to provide fluid to said entity. The fluid conveying hose has a wall defining a fluid carrying tube and a power and/or data transmission cable integrated into that wall. The user definable module is connectable to the cable and has components to measure at least one measurable parameter at the end of the hose and/or provide electrical connection between the cable and said fluid receiving entity for the transmission of data and/or power along the hose via said user definable interface. Also disclosed is a method of configuring a hose for fluid transfer. The method includes the step of selecting a user definable module and attaching the selected module to a distal end of the hose prior to connecting said hose to a fluid receiving entity.

1 . A hose for conveying fluids comprising a wall defining a fluid carrying tube and a power and/or data transmission cable integrated into said wall. 
     
     
         2 . The hose of  claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises an inner fluid carrying tube and an outer protective sheath, wherein the cable is positioned between the inner fluid carrying tube and the outer protective sheath. 
     
     
         3 . The hose of  claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises an inner fluid carrying tube and an outer protective sheath, wherein the cable is embedded within the outer protective sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The hose of  claim 2 , wherein the cable is wound around the inner fluid carrying tube to define a helical path along the hose. 
     
     
         5 . The hose of  claim 4 , wherein the cable comprises a plurality of spaced insulated wires encased in a sleeve of low friction material to allow movement of the wires relative to the sleeve when the cable is subject to bending. 
     
     
         6 . The hose of  claim 1 , wherein the hose has a distal end and a user definable module, the user definable module being removably attachable to said distal end and including a connector for electrical connection to said cable. 
     
     
         7 . The hose of  claim 6 , wherein the user definable module is tubular and surrounds the distal end of the hose. 
     
     
         8 . The hose of  claim 6 , wherein the user definable module comprises at least one or more components for determining a measurable parameter at the distal end of the hose. 
     
     
         9 . The hose of  claim 8 , wherein the user definable module comprises at least one of a position sensor, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a proximity sensor and a flow rate sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The hose of  claim 6 , further comprising an intermediate connecting collar, attachable to the distal end of the hose proximal to the user definable module, the collar comprising first electrical terminals to connect the cable to conductors in the collar and second electrical terminals spaced from the first electrical terminals to connect the conductors in the collar to the user definable module. 
     
     
         11 . The hose of  claim 10 , wherein the conductors in the collar extend from the first electrical terminal in a helical path and terminate at the second electrical terminal in a plane extending substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the hose. 
     
     
         12 . The hose of  claim 11 , wherein the intermediate collar has an angled cut out that defines a face which is substantially perpendicular to the helical path of the cable, said first electrical terminal being mounted on said face. 
     
     
         13 . The hose of  claim 11 , wherein the intermediate collar comprises an end face which lies in a plane substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the hose, said second electrical terminal being mounted to said end face. 
     
     
         14 . The hose of  claim 6 , wherein the user definable module comprises two half tubular portions or shells that are attachable to each other to surround the distal end of the hose. 
     
     
         15 . The hose of  claim 14 , wherein the user definable module is attachable to the collar. 
     
     
         16 . The hose of  claim 10 , wherein the user definable module comprises a connector configured to connect to the second electrical terminals, when the user definable module is attached to the distal end of the hose. 
     
     
         17 . The hose of  claim 6 , wherein a connector extends from the distal end of the hose to receive a probe, the connector extending distally beyond the user defined module. 
     
     
         18 . The hose of  claim 17 , wherein the user definable module comprises a terminal connector configured to electrically connect to a mating terminal connector on a receiving probe, when the connector is connected to said receiving probe. 
     
     
         19 . A user definable module removably attachable to the distal end of a fluid conveying hose that is releasably connectable to a fluid receiving entity to provide fluid to said entity, the fluid conveying hose comprising a wall defining a fluid carrying tube and a power and/or data transmission cable integrated into said wall, the user definable module being connectable to said cable and comprising components to measure at least one measurable parameter at the end of the hose and/or provide electrical connection between the cable and said fluid receiving entity for the transmission of data and/or power along said hose via said user definable module. 
     
     
         20 . A method of configuring a hose for fluid transfer, said hose being releasably connectable to a fluid receiving entity to provide fluid to said entity and comprising a wall defining a fluid carrying tube and a power and/or data transmission cable integrated into said wall, the method comprising the step of selecting a user definable module according to  claim 19  and attaching said selected module to a distal end of the hose prior to connecting said hose to a fluid receiving entity. 
     
     
         21 . canceled 
     
     
         22 . canceled