Abstract:
A flexible hose assembly is disclosed. The flexible hose assembly has a first coupling member with a first anti-rotational element on a first end and a crimping element on a second end, the crimping element being configured to receive a first flexible hose. The flexible hose assembly also has a second coupling member with a second anti-rotational element on a first end, the second anti-rotational element being configured to mate with the first anti-rotational element. The flexible hose assembly also has a clamping ring configured to retain the first ends of the first and the second coupling members together.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed to a hose assembly and, more particularly, to a hose assembly having an anti-rotational coupling attached to a flexible hose via a crimping element. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fluid transfer systems, such as, for example, hydraulic systems, generally include flexible hoses for transfer of pressurized fluid to components of the fluid system, such as pumps, filters, metal pipes, hydraulic cylinders, and fluid reservoirs. The flexible hoses are often connected with the fluid system components by way of a rigid threaded coupling. Specifically, a first threaded coupling member is attached to one flexible hose, while a second threaded coupling member is bolted, welded, threaded, or otherwise joined rigidly to the fluid system component. The first coupling member is then threadingly engaged with the second coupling member, thus creating a sealed assembly through which fluid may be transmitted. 
     During the operation of the fluid transfer system, vibration, changing pressures, and changing flow rates can create torsional forces that can loosen the sealed assembly. For example, a large pressure (may be up to 250 or 300 bar in some high pressure systems) or flow rate in a curved portion of the flexible hose can create a force that distorts the trajectory of (e.g., straightens) the flexible hose. Fluctuations in the pressure and other vibrations can create movement and/or torsional forces that can loosen the threaded coupling members. As the couplings begin to separate, the transmitted fluid may begin to leak through the threaded interface between the coupling members. The leaking fluid may lubricate the threads on the first and second coupling members and cause even further loosening. The fluid leakage can result in decreased pressure in the system that diminishes the ability of the system to perform useful work or transmit further fluid. The leakage also wastes fluid, and may create a need for periodic fluid replenishing. 
     One method of preventing relative rotation of coupling members is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,905 (the &#39;905 patent) issued to Mack et al. on May 6, 2003. The &#39;905 patent discloses a submersible well pump assembly having two connected housings, a clamp ring, and an anti-rotation member. To keep the connection between the two housings secure, the anti-rotation member has cooperative elements associated with each end of the two housings to inhibit rotation of one housing relative to the other. Once placed in compression, the cooperative elements have intermeshing teeth that interlock to inhibit rotation of one adapter relative to the other. The teeth have triangular ridges with radial symmetry that are integrally formed on each end face. The clamp ring is used to put the two housings in compression. The clamp ring is rotatably and slidably carried on the first housing and has internal threads that engage external threads of the second housing to draw the housings together upon threading. Each of the first and second housings connect to the next member in the assembly by a threaded, sealed connection made in a conventional manner. 
     Although the submersible well pump assembly of the &#39;905 patent may prevent rotation of the first and second housings, it may be incompatible with a flexible hose. Specifically, both of the housings in the &#39;905 patent are joined to the next respective member via a threaded joint. Using a conventional threaded joint to connect each coupling member to the flexible hose may create another location where loosening and separation may occur. In other words, although the ends of the housings that incorporate the anti-rotational member may not loosen relative to each other, the housings may loosen relative to the next respective members. As described above, this loosening may cause leakage and loss of pressure. 
     The disclosed hose assembly is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a flexible hose assembly. The flexible hose assembly may include a first coupling member having a first anti-rotational element on a first end, and a crimping element on a second end. The crimping element may be configured to receive a first flexible hose. The flexible hose assembly may further include a second coupling member having a second anti-rotational element on a first end. The second anti-rotational element may be configured to mate with the first anti-rotational element. A clamping ring may retain the first ends of the first and the second coupling members together. 
     In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of connecting a flexible hose assembly. The method may include mating a first coupling member and a second coupling member to inhibit relative rotation. The method may further include holding the first and second coupling members together with a clamping ring to control axial displacement between the first and second coupling members. The method may also include connecting one of the first and second coupling members to a flexible hose. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial illustration of an exemplary disclosed hose assembly; and 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional illustration of the hose assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a hose assembly  10  for transmission of pressurized fluid. Hose assembly  10  may include a flexible hose  17 , a first coupling element  12 , a second coupling member  14 , and a clamping ring  16 . Hose assembly  10  may transmit any fluid, such as, for example, a fuel, a coolant, an oil, a cleaning fluid, air, or any other fluid known in the art. 
     Flexible hose  17  may be a hollow member used to conduct fluid. Flexible hose  17  may be fabricated from rubber, plastic, or any other flexible material, and may have any combination of layers of these materials. An outer wall of flexible hose  17  may be reinforced with a braided or meshed metal and/or a composite material to improve the strength of flexible hose  17 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , first coupling member  12  may be a generally hollow member with a fluid orifice  60  that provides a means for mechanically and fluidically interfacing flexible hose  17  with second coupling member  14  and, thus, with an associated fluid system component (e.g., a pump, a valve, a pipe, etc.). In particular, first coupling member  12  may include a first end  18 , a neck  21 , a body  19 , and a second end  20 . First coupling member  12  may be fabricated from steel, aluminum, brass, plastic, composite, or any other material known in the art. 
     First end  18  may include a first anti-rotational element  26  to prevent rotation of first coupling member  12  relative to second coupling member  14 , once joined. In one embodiment, first anti-rotational element  26  may be a modification of the surface topography of a face  40 . For example, first anti-rotational element  26  may embody annularly located triangular or rectangular ridges or teeth on face  40  having a radial symmetry. First anti-rotational element  26  may be machined, injection molded, cast or otherwise formed in first end  18  of first coupling member  12 . 
     Neck  21  may be an area of reduced diameter located between first end  18  and body  19  of first coupling member  12 . Neck  21  may have varying lengths and may have a linear or an angled trajectory (e.g., 45 or 90 degree angle). Clamping ring  16  may be slidably disposed on neck  21 . 
     Second end  20  of first coupling member  12  may include a crimping element  29  that mechanically interfaces with flexible hose  17 . Crimping element  29  may receive flexible hose  17  such that a terminal end  44  of flexible hose  17  abuts an internal shoulder  46  of first coupling member  12  (not shown as abutting in  FIG. 2 ). Prior to crimping, an outer diameter of flexible hose  17  may be slightly smaller than the initial interior diameter of crimping element  29 . Second end  20  may be constructed of a thin (i.e., thinner than the walls of body  19 ) deformable material, such as, for example, steel, copper, aluminum, or plastic. A constricting force may apply to crimping element  29  to reduce its diameter such that an interior surface of crimping element  29  is brought into contact with and compresses an external surface of flexible hose  17 . This reduction in the diameter of crimping element  29  may produce a high coefficient of friction between the outer surface of flexible hose  17  and the inner surface of crimping element  29  and may constrain the axial displacement and rotation of flexible hose  17  relative to second end  20 . It is contemplated that crimping element  29  may include internal protrusions that at least partially penetrate flexible hose  17 , if desired. It is also contemplated that crimping element  29  may be integral with first coupling member  12 , or may be attached to first coupling member  12  via welding, brazing, chemical bonding, mechanical fastening or any other fastening method known in the art. 
     Second coupling member  14  may be a generally hollow member with a fluid orifice  62  that provides a means for mechanically and fluidly joining first coupling member  12  with the fluid system component. Specifically, second coupling member  14  may include a first end  22 , a fixed fastening member  25 , and a second end  24 . Second coupling member  14  may be fabricated from steel, aluminum, brass, plastic, composite, or any other material used or known in the art. 
     First end  22  may include a second anti-rotational element  28 , a sealing member  30 , and an externally threaded portion  50 . Second anti-rotational element  28  may be located to interface with first anti-rotational element  26  and constrain the rotation of second coupling member  14  relative to first coupling member  12 , once joined. Similar to first anti-rotational element  26 , second anti-rotational element  28  may be a modification of the surface topography of a face  42 , such as, for example, annularly located triangular ridges of first anti-rotational element  26  (also see  FIG. 1 ). Second anti-rotational element  28  may be machined, injection molded, cast or otherwise formed in first end  22  of second couple member  14 . 
     The radially symmetric ridges of first and second anti-rotational elements  26  and  28  may allow for multiple angular orientations of first coupling member  12  relative to second coupling member  14 . It is considered that the ridges may be approximately the same size, and thus the number of angular orientations may be equal to the number of ridges. The number of ridges may be optimized depending on the desired application to have a finer or a courser selection of angular positions for first coupling member  12  relative to second coupling member  14 . The number of ridges may also be a function of the mechanical stresses applied to first and second coupling members  12  and  14 . For example, in applications where large torsional forces may be applied to first and second coupling members  12  and  14 , larger (and thus potentially fewer) ridges may be required to withstand the subsequent stresses. 
     Sealing member  30  may impede the passage of fluid between the interface of first coupling member  12  and second coupling member  14 . Sealing member  30  may embody, for example, a gasket, an o-ring, an adhesive substance, or any other sealing device or method known or used in the art. To seal the coupling member&#39;s interface, one end of sealing member  30  may be situated in a groove in face  42  of second coupling member  14 , while the opposite end of sealing member  30  may be compressed against a generally planar portion, referred to as a sealing surface  39 , of face  40  of first coupling member  12 . It is contemplated that a sealing member  30  may additionally or alternatively be located outside of the radially symmetric ridges of second anti-rotational element  28 , if desired. 
     Fixed fastening member  25  may be interposed between first end  22  and second end  24  of second coupling member  14  and may be integral with second coupling member  14 . Fixed fastening member  25  may have a plurality of planar surfaces upon which a tightening mechanism (e.g., a wrench or pliers) may clamp down to rotate or constrain the rotation of second coupling member  14  relative to other components of hose assembly  10 . In one embodiment, fixed fastening member  25  may have six equal planar sides (i.e., a hexagon). It is also contemplated that fixed fastening member  25  may be omitted or replaced with a knurled surface or otherwise roughened surface, if desired. 
     Second end  24  of second coupling member  14  may mechanically interface with the fluid system component. For example, second end  24  may have external threads (not shown) that may be received by internal threads (not shown) on the fluid system component. It is considered that second end  24  may alternatively interface with the fluid system component via a bolted flange connection, a welded connection, or any other connection known in the art. Second end  24  may also be integral with the fluid system component. It is contemplated that second end  24  may include a crimping element similar to crimping element  29 , such that two flexible hoses  17  may be joined via first coupling member  12  and second coupling member  14 , if desired. 
     Clamping ring  16  may secure first coupling member  12  to second coupling member  14  (i.e., control a relative axial separation between first coupling member  12  and second coupling member  14 ). Clamping ring  16  may include an internal shoulder  54  and a threaded portion  52 . Threaded portion  52  may be received by externally threaded portion  50  of second coupling member  14 . The outer surface of clamping ring  16  may be formed so as to allow interfacing with a tightening mechanism in a similar manner to fixed fastening member  25 . It is also contemplated that the outer surface of clamping ring  16  may alternatively be knurled to allow for hand tightening, if desired. Clamping ring  16  may be fabricated from steel, aluminum, brass, plastic, composite, or any other material used or known in the art. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The disclosed hose assembly may be implemented in any fluid transmission system where undesired loosening of couplings may be a consideration. Specifically, the disclosed hose assembly may contain anti-rotational elements to constrain the rotation of a first coupling member relative to a second coupling member. This rotational constraint may prevent loosening of the coupling members and subsequent leakage of fluid from the interface between the coupling members. 
     To prevent leakage, first and second anti-rotational elements  26  and  28  may be interlocked by rotating and thus tightening clamping ring  16 . Either hand or mechanical tightening (e.g., via a wrench or pliers) may be used. For example, threaded portion  50  may be threadingly received by externally threaded portion  52 , thus causing internal shoulder  54  to abut external coupling shoulder  48 . Further threading of threaded portion  52  relative to externally threaded portion  50  may force first anti-rotational element  26  to intermesh and interlock with second anti-rotational element  28  and may compress sealing member  30  against face  40 . After first and second anti-rotational elements  26  and  28  are interlocked, rotation of first coupling member  12  relative to second coupling member  14  may be inhibited. Clamping ring  16  may constrain the axial translation of first coupling member  12  relative to second coupling member  14 . 
     Several advantages of the disclosed hose assembly may be realized. In particular, the first coupling member of the disclosed hose assembly may accept a flexible hose via a crimping element, which may constrain the rotation and translation of the flexible hose relative to the first coupling member. Because only one non-rotationally constrained threaded connection may exist in the disclosed hose assembly (i.e., in the case of a threaded connection between the second coupling member and the fluid system component) the potential for loosening and leakage of the hose assembly joints may be significantly reduced. Furthermore, when a flange or welded connection is used between the second coupling member and the fluid system component or where the second coupling member is integral with the fluid system component, loosening may be eliminated. The constraint of rotation and translation of the disclosed flexible hose may be important for high pressure systems where the disclosed anti-rotational elements may prevent loosening caused by pressure induced changes in the trajectory of the hose (e.g., straightening). 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed hose assembly. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed hose assembly. For example, the disclosed first coupling member and/or second coupling member may embody a tee member, a tee-swivel member, an elbow member, or any other related member known in the art. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.