GB2398110A

GB2398110A - Hose assembly including electrical wire

Info

Publication number: GB2398110A
Application number: GB0307168A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon James
Original assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
Current assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
Priority date: 2003-02-07
Filing date: 2003-03-28
Publication date: 2004-08-11
Also published as: GB0302752D0; GB0307168D0

Abstract

A hose assembly 12 for carrying fluid comprises at least one wall layer 14 integral with at least one electrically conductive wire 16. The wire 16 may be wrapped around the outermost layer 14 of the hose, preferably in channels 24 (fig. 4), or may be integrally embedded in the wall layer 14 (fig. 8).

Description

23981 1 0 - 1

HOSE ASSEMBLY

The invention relates to a hose assembly.

In a particular problem addressed by the invention it is required for a fluid carrying hose to be attached to an articulated assembly. Electrical wires, or bundles of wires (commonly referred to as an electrical "harness") may share a common route over part of the assembly and will be attached to the hoses. Conventionally electrical wires are attached to hoses by employing some form of "P" clip, tie, band or clamp.

The resultant hose and harness assembly requires a space envelope in which to move during an articulated movement. The envelope will vary in size as the hose and harness assembly is translated and move relative to one another and to the articulated assembly. A casing may also be provided around the articulating assembly which also encases the hose and harness, hence a large amount of space is necessary to avoid collision between the hose and harness and the casing. Such a collision may result in damage to all three components.

Additionally the use of clips, ties or bands may be undesirable as these cause the electrical harness and the hose to chaff together, to be damaged by the clips or fatigue or perhaps severed by the harness puckering along its length or being stretched as the hose flexes.

According to the present invention there is provided a hose assembly for carrying fluid comprising at least one wall layer integral with at least one electrically conductive wire.

Preferably the at least one wire is wrapped around the outermost wall layer of the hose, although the at least one wire may formed integrally with at least one hose wall layer. - 2

The invention and how it may be carried into practice will now be described in greater detail with reference by way of example to an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view of the hose assembly.

Figure 2 shows an axial cross sectional view of an embodiment of the hose assembly.

Figure 3 shows an axial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the hose assembly.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the hose assembly embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the hose assembly.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the hose assembly comprising an outer wall or sheath.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the hose assembly.

Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the hose assembly.

Figure 9 shows a means of affixing the wires to the hose.

Referring now to Figure 1, a hose assembly 10 comprises a hose 12 having at least one wall 14 wrapped in electrically conductive wires 16. The wall 14 may be composed of several different layers including, by way of a non limiting example, an armoured layer.

The wires 16 are wrapped around the outer surface of at least one of the hose wall layers in a uni-directional helix configuration, as shown at 18. In an alternative embodiment the wires 16 are wrapped around at least one of the hose wall layers in a multi-directional helix configuration, such as shown at 20.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5 the wires 16 may be formed integrally with the hose wall 14. The wires 16 may be laid in channels 24,26 formed in the hose wall 14. The width of channels 24,26 is substantially the same as the diameter of the wire 16. As shown in Figure 2 the depth of channel 24 may be substantially the same or more than the diameter of the wire 16. As shown in Figure 3 the depth of channel 26 is substantially less than the diameter of the wire 16.

The channels 24,26 are formed in the wall 14 in a uni-directional helix configuration, as shown in Figure 4.

In an alternative embodiment, both channels 24 and channels 26 may be formed in the wall 14 in multi-directional helix configuration, as shown in Figure 5. By way of non limiting example, in this embodiment the channels 24 have a depth of substantially 1.5 x (wire 16 diameter) and the channels 26 have a depth of substantially 0.5 x (wire 16 diameter).

The wires 16 may be formed integrally with the outer sleeve 22. By way of non limiting example, and in an embodiment shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the sleeve 22 may substantially cover the hose assembly described in Figures 1 to 5.

In an alternative embodiment the wires 16 may be formed as part of the wall 14, as shown in Figure 8.

Full screening can be applied to the wires 16 as required either as individual wires, smaller bundles of wires or as an outer sleeve 22. The outer sleeve 22 can also be configured to protect the wires from mechanical or thermal damage.

The wires 16 may be pre-twisted and/or broken into small bundles of wires prior to being wrapped around the hose 12. - 4

The hose assembly 10 provides a reduced cross-section as compared to conventional hose and harness assemblies. The electrical wires 16 are supported without clips and hence the possibility of damage due to fretting on the fastening arrangement is eliminated.

In use the wires 16 follow the movement of the hose 12 without stretching or puckering.

Fretting and chaffing between the wires 16 and the hose 12 is also minimised.

Any suitable means may be used to affix the wires 16 to the hose 12 in the regions where the wires 16 converge on the hose 12. By way of nonlimiting example Figure 9 shows one suitable means for affixing the wires 16 to the hose 12 in these regions.

The wires 16 are bound by a tie 28 substantially towards the last full turn of the wires 16 on the hose 12. The wires 16 are gathered together to form a conventional twisted harness 30. Full screening may be applied to the harness 30 as an outer sheath 32.

The configurations shown in the figures are diagrammatic. The design and properties of the hose and electrical wires may vary. Likewise the combination, configuration and positioning of these components relative to one another will vary between designs. - 5

Claims

1 A hose assembly for carrying fluid comprising at least one wall layer integral with at least one electrically conductive wire.

2 A hose assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one wire is wrapped around the outermost wall layer of the hose.

3 A hose assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one wire is formed integrally with at least one hose wall layer.

4 A hose assembly as hereinbefore described and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.