Hose arrangements

Abstract

A hose arrangement includes an outer tube of flexible material and an inner tube of an elastic material for carrying fluid. Due to an action of the elastic inner tube, the hose has a shorter length in a contracted state in the absence of fluid pressure in the interior of the inner elastic tube and a longer length in an expanded state when the fluid pressure is applied to the interior of the elastic inner tube. The tube has an undulating state in the contracted state and controls and contains expansion of the inner tube when the hose is in the expanded state. At least one sleeve portion is provided between the elastic inner tube and the outer tube along a part of the elastic inner tube where undulation of the outer tube occurs in the contracted state for protecting the elastic inner tube from abrasion undulations of the outer tube.

1 . A hose arrangement comprising an outer tube of flexible material and an inner tube of an elastic material for carrying fluid through the hose arrangement, wherein due to the action of the elastic inner tube, the hose arrangement has a shorter length in a contracted state in the absence of fluid pressure in the interior of the inner elastic tube and a longer length in an expanded state when fluid pressure is applied to the interior of the elastic inner tube, and the outer tube has an undulating state when the hose arrangement is in the contracted state and serves to control and contain expansion of the inner tube when the hose arrangement is in the expanded state, wherein at least one sleeve portion is provided between the elastic inner tube and the outer tube along at least part of a length of the elastic inner tube where undulation of the outer tube occurs in the contracted state for protecting the elastic inner tube from abrasion by the undulations of the outer tube, the hose arrangement further comprises:
 a first hose end portion for receiving a first end of the outer tube and a first end of the elastic inner tube for use in coupling the first ends of the tubes together,   a second hose end portion for receiving a second end of the outer tube and a second end of the elastic inner tube for use in coupling the second ends of the tubes together,   a first clamping member for clamping the outer tube, the inner tube and the sleeve portion to the first hose end portion, wherein the sleeve portion extends longitudinally inwards of the clamping member away from the first ends of the outer and inner tubes,   a second clamping member for clamping the outer tube, the inner tube and the sleeve portion to the second hose end portion, wherein the sleeve portion extends longitudinally inwards of the clamping member away from the second ends of the outer and inner tubes,   a first expansion retainer at the first hose end portion for controlling radial expansion of the inner tube, wherein the sleeve portion extends longitudinally inwards of the expansion retainer away from the first ends of the outer and inner tubes and said first expansion retainer comprises a respective support surface for supporting the inner tube against expansion in the region of the first clamping member, and   a second expansion retainer at the second hose end portion for controlling radial expansion of the inner tube, wherein the sleeve portion extends longitudinally inwards of the expansion retainer away from the second ends of the outer and inner tubes and said second expansion retainer comprises a respective support surface for supporting the inner tube against expansion in the region of the second clamping member.   
     
     
         2 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 1  which comprises two sleeve portions, a first sleeve portion provided at a first end of the tubes and clamped by the first clamping member, and a second sleeve portion provided at a second end of the tubes and clamped together by the second clamping member. 
     
     
         3 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the first and/or second hose end portion comprises a respective adaptor arranged for introduction in and clamping by a hose connector portion, such as a conventional hose fitting. 
     
     
         4 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 3  which comprises two sleeve portions and two adaptors in which the first clamping member clamps the outer tube, the inner tube and the first sleeve portion to a first of the adaptors, and the second clamping member clamps the outer tube, the inner tube and the second sleeve portion to a second of the adaptors. 
     
     
         5 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 3  which comprises two adaptors and a first nut for securing the first ends of the tubes to a first of the adaptors and a second nut for securing the second ends of the tubes to a second of the adaptors, wherein the first nut carries the first expansion retainer and the second nut carries the second expansion retainer. 
     
     
         6 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the first and/or second hose end portion comprises a hose connector portion, such as a conventional hose fitting. 
     
     
         7 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the sleeve portion, the outer tube and the inner tube are connected together at at least one location inwards of the ends of the outer and inner tubes. 
     
     
         8 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 7  in which the at least one location is inwards of the first and/or second hose end portion. 
     
     
         9 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 8  in which the sleeve portion extends from the first and/or the second hose end portion to the at least one location. 
     
     
         10 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 8  in which the sleeve portion is connected to the first and/or the second hose end portion and/or connected to at least one of the inner and outer tube at the region of the first and/or the second hose end portion. 
     
     
         11 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 1  in which the sleeve portion, the outer tube and the inner tube are connected together at at least one location inwards of the first ends of the outer and inner tubes and the sleeve portion is connected to the first hose end portion and/or connected to at least one of the inner tube and outer tube at the region of the first hose end portion so enabling control by the sleeve portion of longitudinal expansion and contraction of the hose arrangement between said at least one location and the first hose end portion. 
     
     
         12 . A hose arrangement according to any one of  claim 7  in which the at least one sleeve portion extends beyond the location at which it is connected to the outer tube and the inner tube. 
     
     
         13 . A hose arrangement according to any one of  claim 7  in which the hose arrangement comprises a joiner member at the location at which the at least one sleeve portion is connected to the inner and outer tubes. 
     
     
         14 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 13  in which the outer tube, inner tube and sleeve portion are all attached to the joiner member. 
     
     
         15 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 13  in which there is an aperture or a break in the sleeve portion in the region of the joiner member with the joiner member bridging the aperture or break in the sleeve portion. 
     
     
         16 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 2  in which a first of the sleeve portions is connected to the outer tube and the inner tube at a first location which is inwards of a first end of the tubes and a second of the sleeve portions is connected to the outer tube and the inner tube at a second location which is inwards of a second end of the tubes. 
     
     
         17 . A hose arrangement according to  claim 1 , in which the support surface defines a flared bore in the first expansion retainer and/or in the second expansion retainer in order to allow gradual increase in diameter of the inner tube when subjected to pressure. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a hose arrangement comprising an outer tube of flexible material and an inner tube of an elastic material for carrying fluid through the hose arrangement, wherein due to the action of the elastic inner tube, the hose arrangement has a shorter length in a contracted state in the absence of fluid pressure in the interior of the inner elastic tube and a longer length in an expanded state when fluid pressure is applied to the interior of the elastic inner tube, and the outer tube has an undulating state when the hose arrangement is in the contracted state and serves to control and contain expansion of the inner tube when the hose arrangement is in the expanded state, the method comprising the step of providing at least one sleeve portion between the elastic inner tube and the outer tube along at least part of a length of the elastic inner tube where undulation of the outer tube occurs in the contracted state for protecting the elastic inner tube from abrasion by the undulations of the outer tube,
 wherein the method comprises the further steps of:   providing a first hose end portion for receiving a first end of the outer tube and a first end of the elastic inner tube for use in coupling the first ends of the tubes together;   providing a second hose end portion for receiving a second end of the outer tube and a second end of the elastic inner tube for use in coupling the second ends of the tubes together;   providing a first clamping member for clamping the outer tube, the inner tube and the sleeve portion to the first hose end portion, wherein the sleeve portion extends longitudinally inwards of the clamping member away from the first ends of the outer and inner tubes;   providing a second clamping member for clamping the outer tube, the inner tube and the sleeve portion to the second hose end portion, wherein the sleeve portion extends longitudinally inwards of the clamping member away from the second ends of the outer and inner tubes;   providing a first expansion retainer at the first hose end portion for controlling radial expansion of the inner tube, wherein the sleeve portion extends longitudinally inwards of the expansion retainer away from the first ends of the outer and inner tubes and said first expansion retainer comprises a respective support surface for supporting the inner tube against expansion in the region of the first clamping member; and   providing a second expansion retainer at the second hose end portion for controlling radial expansion of the inner tube, wherein the sleeve portion extends longitudinally inwards of the expansion retainer away from the second ends of the outer and inner tubes and said second expansion retainer comprises a respective support surface for supporting the inner tube against expansion in the region of the second clamping member.