Method of making reinforced flexible hose with leakage indicator

Abstract

A reinforced flexible hose that has at least one layer of stainless steel threads braided about the outer surface of the inner core and a transparent flexible polymeric covering located over the braided stainless steel threads, thereby protecting them from abrasion and corrosion. The covering is not in intimate contact with the circumference of each thread thereby trapping pockets of air between the covering and the threads. A moisture sensitive compound is dispersed through the stainless steel threads under the transparent covering. When the compound becomes wet, it changes from a first color to a second color indicating that the hose has failed.

1 . A method of manufacturing a reinforced flexible hose with leakage indicator comprising the steps of:
 A. fabricating an interior tube for conducting a fluid having an outer surface;   B. braiding stainless steel threads about said outer surface to form a braided layer;   C. fabricating a transparent flexible polymeric covering with inner diameter large enough to fit over said braided layer;   D. inserting a moisture sensitive compound among said stainless steel threads;   E. slipping said transparent flexible polymeric covering over said braided layer so that said flexible polymeric covering contacts said stainless steel threads in said braided layer tangentially;   wherein pockets of air are trapped between said flexible polymeric covering and said stainless steel threads, said stainless steel threads are protected from abrasion and corrosion and the insulative properties of said hose are improved, moisture penetrating from said interior tube to said stainless steel threads changes said moisture sensitive compound to said second color, indicating failure of said hose.   
   
   
       2 . The method as described in  claim 1  in which said interior tube is fabricated by extrusion. 
   
   
       3 . The method as described in  claim 1  in which said flexible polymeric covering is fabricated by extrusion. 
   
   
       4 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said interior tube is formed of synthetic polymer material. 
   
   
       5 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said interior tube is formed of material selected from the group comprising:
 ethylene-propylene-compound diene, acrylonitrile-butadiene, synthetic resinous fluorine, nylon, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride and rubber.   
   
   
       6 . The method as described in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 A. grouping said stainless steel threads into distinct strands; and   B. interweaving said strands to form said braided layer.   
   
   
       7 . The method as described in  claim 6  in which each of said strands includes between about two and nine stainless steel threads. 
   
   
       8 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein a gauge of said stainless steel threads ranges from about 0.002 inches to about 0.070 inches. 
   
   
       9 . The method as described in  claim 1 , in which said braiding step further includes the step of keeping said stainless steel threads under tension ranging from about 0.5 pounds to about 3 pounds. 
   
   
       10 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said moisture sensitive compound is selected from the group comprising:
 Copper sulfate, cobalt chloride, and cobalt iodide.   
   
   
       11 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible polymeric covering is formed of material selected from the group comprising:
 ethylene-propylene-compound diene, acrylonitrile-butadiene, synthetic resinous fluorine, nylon, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and rubber.   
   
   
       12 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible polymeric covering is about 0.8 to 1.0 mm thick.