Hose Dubai
Hose Dubai
There are hundreds of reasons a hydraulic hose can experience failure, however with proper precautions we can try and avoid the commonest of them all. The eight most common reasons for hose failure and how to protect them is listed here.
1. Inner tube erosion
Hydraulic hose tube erosion often causes leakage on the outside. High velocity stream of the fluid or small particles in the fluid leads to tube erosion. In order to avoid tube erosion, the correct hose size based on recommended maximum velocities must be determined. The fluid medium must not be too abrasive for the inner tube of the hose.
2. Compatibility of inner tube with fluid
Compatibility issues may be the reason behind contamination in the hydraulic system and external leakage. The inner tube of the hose assembly may be prone to swelling, deterioration and delamination due to incompatibility with the fluids. In some instances the inner tube can also wash out partially. Hence the fluid which is being conveyed should be compatible not only with the inner tube, but also the outer cover, the fittings and the o-rings in the hose assembly.
3. Exposure to dry or aged air
Dry or aged air may cause tiny cracks in the inner tubes of hoses. This type of failure is sometimes hard to locate due to the fact that the hose remains flexible and there may be no signs of cracking of the hose in the area under the fittings. However there may be sings of external leakage. To avoid these problems, ensure that your hose is rated to handle extreme dry or aged air exposure. Typically hoses with inner tubes of EPDM rubber or PKR are preferred for these applications.
4. Bend radius
If the minimum bend radius specification is not met, the hose assembly can fail pretty quickly. Double check the recommended bend radius, and if required replace hose assemblies, change routing, length or fittings in order to route the hose to comply with the minimum bend radius.
In suction or vacuum applications, the hose may tend to be flat in the bend area if bend radius is exceeded. This may hinder or restrict flow and in some cases the hose may kink.
Dubai Hydraulic Hose
5. Fittings Insertion depth
An improperly assembled hose system can lead to very dangerous situations. To ensure recommended insertion depth, fittings need to be pushed on compeletly, failing which, the fittings can blow off in service. The holding strength of a joint depends a lot on the last grip in the fitting shell.
6. Improperly assembled hoses
A hose can get contaminated when metal pieces or debris settles inside the hose when cutting it. This contamination can cause tiny fractures to develop on the inner tube which may lead to a leakage. The inner hose must be thoroughly clean and free of debris before the fittings are crimped on and the ends should be capped to prevent contamination during transport or storage prior to use. This can greatly reduce the risk of downtime due to hose failures, clogged filters or even equipment malfunction caused due to contamination of the hose.
7. Over heating of hose assembly
Overheating of a hose assembly will make the hose stiff and lead to failure. The inner tube may harden and crack under high temperatures. The outer hose may show signs of withering. While in some instances the hose assembly may retain its shape after removal from the system, on flexing the cracking of the inner tube may be even heard. Ensure that the hose working temperature ratings match those required by the application and try to reduce ambient temperatures. Use shields or guards to protect hoses from nearby external high temperature areas.
8. Abrasion
Hoses are exposed to tough external conditions on a daily basis and hence needs to be inspected regularly. Excessive rubbing of the hose against another hose, equipment parts or other objects can damage the cover and even the reinforcement layers of the hose. Signs of damage to the cover are warning signs that something may be wroing. Sleeves may be used to better protect hoses against abrasion. Some hoses with tough covers that eliminate the need for protective sleeves are also available.
In conclusion, Hoses that are identified and selected correctly, properly assembled and installed correctly will tend to last longer saving you downtime and associated costs.
For more on hydraulic hose see this article…
Hose Dubai