Hose assembly/and method for making same

Abstract

A method of making a hose assembly ( 10 ) includes the steps of disposing a reinforcing layer ( 14 ) having interstitial spaces extending therethrough about a tubular inner liner ( 12 ) and heating an outer surface ( 16 ) of the inner liner ( 12 ) to cause it to melt and disperse into the interstitial spaces of the reinforcing layer ( 14 ) and the fibers themselves to bond the first layer to the inner liner ( 12 ). A lightweight hose assembly ( 10 ) of the type adapted for conveying fuels and other corrosive fluids is also disclosed. The assembly ( 10 ) includes a tubular inner liner ( 12 ) including a melt extrudable polymeric fluorocarbon material having an external surface ( 16 ). A layer ( 14 ) having gaps extending therethrough is disposed about the inner liner ( 12 ). The inner liner ( 12 ) is dispersed into the layer ( 14 ) and bonds the layer ( 14 ) to the external surface ( 16 ) of the inner liner ( 12 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for constructing a hose assembly ( 10 ), said method comprising the steps of: 
 disposing a reinforcing layer ( 14 ) having interstitial spaces extending therethrough about a tubular inner liner ( 12 ) and    dispersing an outer surface ( 16 ) of the inner liner ( 12 ) into the interstitial spaces of the reinforcing layer ( 14 ) and bonding the first layer ( 14 ) to the inner liner ( 12 ).    
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in    claim 1   , including the step of extruding a tubular inner liner ( 12 ) comprising a melt extrudable fluorocarbon polymeric material and having an internal passageway ( 22 ) defined by an inner surface ( 15 ) thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said disposing step is further defined as braiding a reinforcing layer.  
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in    claim 2   , further including the step of preventing flow of the inner surface ( 15 ) while allowing flow of the outer surface ( 16 ).  
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in    claim 4    further including the step of cooling the internal passageway ( 22 ).  
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in    claim 5   , wherein said cooling step is further defined as disposing a fluid into the internal passageway ( 22 ).  
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in    claim 6   , wherein the fluid is a gas.  
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in    claim 6   , wherein the fluid is a liquid.  
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in    claim 6   , wherein the fluid is cooled.  
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in    claim 4    further including the step of maintaining expansion of the inner liner ( 12 ).  
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in    claim 10   , wherein said maintaining step further includes pressurizing the internal passageway ( 22 ).  
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in    claim 10   , wherein said pressurizing step is defined as disposing fluid into the internal passageway ( 22 ).  
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in    claim 12   , wherein the fluid is a gas.  
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in    claim 12   , wherein the fluid is a liquid.  
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in    claim 12   , wherein the fluid is cooled.  
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in    claim 1   , including the additional step of disposing a second layer ( 18 ) about the reinforcing layer ( 14 ).  
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in    claim 16   , wherein the second layer ( 18 ) includes a braided reinforcing material.  
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in    claim 17   , wherein the material is one from the group consisting essentially of stainless steel, glass, Aramid fiber, PVDF or PPS fiber.  
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in    claim 1    further including the step of affixing at least one end fitting ( 20 ) to the hose assembly ( 10 ).  
     
     
         20 . A hose assembly ( 10 ) comprising: 
 an extruded, smooth bore tubular inner liner ( 12 ) comprising a melt extrudable polymeric fluorocarbon material having an external surface and a reinforcing layer ( 14 ) having gaps extending therethrough disposed about said external surface ( 12 ), said inner liner ( 12 ) being dispersed in said reinforcing layer ( 14 ) and bonding said reinforcing layer ( 14 ) to said external surface of said inner liner ( 12 ).    
     
     
         21 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20   , wherein said assembly is free of additional polymeric fluorocarbon dispersions.  
     
     
         22 . An assembly as set forth in    claim 20    characterized by a reinforcing layer ( 18 ) disposed about said reinforcing layer ( 14 ) for increasing the strength and bending properties of said hose assembly ( 10 ).  
     
     
         23 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 21    further characterized by said reinforcing layer ( 14 ) having an outer periphery, said inner liner ( 12 ) extending from the outer periphery of said reinforcing layer ( 14 ) radially inwardly toward said inner liner ( 12 ).  
     
     
         24 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20    further characterized by said reinforcing layer ( 14 ) including a tightly wound non-metallic material.  
     
     
         25 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 24    further characterized by said non-metallic material including one from the group consisting essentially of glass fiber, aramid, PVDF, and PPS fiber.  
     
     
         26 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20    further characterized by said outer reinforcing layer ( 18 ) including a metallic material.  
     
     
         27 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 26    further characterized by said metallic material including stainless steel.  
     
     
         28 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20    further characterized by said melt extrudable polymeric fluorocarbon material including perfluorinated ethylene-propropylene.  
     
     
         29 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20    further characterized by said melt extrudable polymeric fluorocarbon polymer including perfluoralkoxy.  
     
     
         30 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20    further characterized by said melt extrudable polymeric fluorocarbon material including perfluoralkoxy fluorocarbon resin.  
     
     
         31 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20    further characterized by said melt extrudable polymeric fluorocarbon material including one from the group consisting essentially of a polymer of ethylenetetrafluoroethylene, PVDF and THU.  
     
     
         32 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20    further characterized by said inner liner ( 12 ) including an integral conductive ( 24 ) means coextensive with the length of said inner liner ( 12 ) for conducting electrical charges along the length of said inner liner ( 12 ).  
     
     
         33 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 22    further characterized by said integral conductive means ( 24 ) including carbon black.  
     
     
         34 . An assembly ( 10 ) as set forth in    claim 20    further characterized by including coupling means ( 20 ) adapted to engage the ends of said hose assembly ( 10 ) for interconnecting said hose assembly ( 10 ) to a flow of fluid.