TRAILER HOSE CARRIER TUBE LINER

A liner for hose carrying tubes fitted to semi-trailers to decrease friction and physical effort of transport personnel required for removal and insertion of the removable hoses from the hose carrying tubes fitted on trailers used for transfer of liquid or pneumatically conveyed material transported in the trailers.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a liner for hose carrying tubes fitted to semi-trailers to decrease friction during insertion and removal of hoses therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is specific for lined hose carrying tubes on transport trailers which contain hoses that must be removed from the hose carrying tubes and connected to the trailer to transfer product from the trailer to a holding tank such as silo containing plastic pellets.

In the United States, companies spend over one billion dollars a week on worker compensation claims. One major cause is for shoulder injuries. The instant invention provides a solution to help prevent shoulder injuries in the pneumatic and tanker truck transport industries. These workers are required to remove one or more hoses on a daily basis from hose tube carriers mounted onto semi-trailers and connect the hoses to the rear, side, or bottom discharge ports on the trailers to pump fluids or pneumatically convey flow materials such as powders, granular material, or pellets. These hoses are typically two to four inches in diameter and as long as the semi-trailer or tank truck, often 10 to 60 feet in length or an effective length. A plurality of hoses may be connected end to end to provide the necessary length. The hose carrier tubes typically comprises a pipe or pipe rack including a plurality of hose carrying tubes fabricated from metal of a larger diameter than the hose carried therein, and typically one to four inches larger in diameter to facilitate hoses which may have a slight curvature or end connectors. They are typically fitted with quick connect couplings and are attached together to provide the required length to transfer the material from the truck to the holding tank, silo, or receiving container. The hoses are typically multi-ply construction and heavy often weighing between twenty to fifty pounds or more. The driver must pull the hoses out of hose carrying tubes fitted to the frame of the trailer. Due to the height of the trailers typically at least four feet high, the hose tubes are fitted about four to eight feet off of the ground and usually around shoulder height of the workers. The worker must pull these long hoses from the tubes often above their head from an awkward position maximizing the strain on their shoulders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a polymeric liner disposed within the hose carrier tube or a low friction coating that allows the hose to slide from the hose carrier tube more easily than a conventional metal surface of a hose carrying tube reducing the strain on the worker. A liner for hose carrying tubes is fitted to hose carrying tubes of semi-trailers to decrease friction and physical effort of transport personnel required for removal and insertion of the hoses from the hose carrying tubes fitted on trailers used for transfer of liquid or pneumatically conveyed material transported in the trailers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hose carrying tube liner whereby installation can be done by one person using simple hand tools.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hose carrying tube liner comprising a sleeve disposed within and affixable to the internal surface of a hose carrier tube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hose carrier tube liner which protects the hose carrier tube and the hose from wear and tear.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a polymeric non-sticking surface to prevent the hose from freezing to the hose carrier tube surface in freezing weather.

It is another object of the present invention to reduce injuries associated with insertion and removal of hoses from the hose tubes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a low friction coating or low friction polymeric sleeve for applying to the interior surface of a hose carrier tube to minimize friction between a rubber hose and the hose carrier tube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a low friction coating or polymeric sleeve extending a selected portion from a selected distal end of said hose carrier tube inward and effective length to reduce friction between said hose and said hose carrier tube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hose tube carrier liner having at least one flanged distal end affixed to a distal end of the hose carrier tube.

It is another object to provide a polymeric sleeve or a low friction coating which is self lubricating having a non-stick surface.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A liner for hose carrying tubes fitted to semi-trailers to decrease friction and physical effort of transport personnel required for removal and insertion of the removable hoses from the hose carrying tubes fitted on trailers used for transfer of liquid or pneumatically conveyed material transported in the trailers.

As used herein, the term “about” can be reasonably appreciated by a person skilled in the art to denote somewhat above or somewhat below the stated numerical value, to within a range of ±10%.

As shown inFIGS.1-10, the present invention comprises a hose tube liner10disposed within the hose carrier tube12that allows the hose14to slide from the tube more easily reducing the strain on the worker. The hose tube liner for hose carrying tubes is fitted to semi-trailers to decrease friction and physical effort of transport personnel required for removal and insertion of the hoses from the hose carrying tubes fitted on trailers used for transfer of liquid or pneumatically conveyed material transported in the trailers. It is affixed to the frame of a trailer by bolts and typically includes an end cap22on opposing ends. It may be mounted in a stacked vertical arrangement.

The hoses14generally comprise a polymer or polymer blend with fiber and/or steel reinforcement and may include a rubber, elastomer, polyblend or other flexible polymer outer coating or outer layer which often tends to be a high friction type of material. The hose may include end caps and/or couplings16,18for cooperative engagement with the trailer discharge port20, receiver ports, or additional hoses.

The hose liner can comprise a synthetic material having a low friction surface compared to the conventional inner surface of a hose carrier tube, comprising of a low friction coating or a polymeric material, for example, a polyvinyl chloride material, polyethylene, nylon, or other polymers including ABS, CA, EVA, LCP, LDP, EPA, PA666, PBT, PC, PCT, PE, HDPE, TEFLON, HMWPE, and UHMWPE.

The hose liner may be an effective thickness typically ranging from 1 mm for a disposable sleeve affixed to the inner surface of the hose tube with an adhesive to 1 inch thick if formed from a polymer such as a gas filled polymer or solid polymer. It is contemplated that the tube liner could comprise a thin film or compressible polymer so long as the inner surface contacting the hose is composed of a lower friction material than the tube hose so that the hose slides more easily thereover. It is contemplated that a tube hose liner could comprise a tubular film packaged as a roll, wherein the tube liner could be unrolled and inserted into a hose tube and affixed thereto for a temporary lining. As shown inFIG.2, a hose tube liner10having a flared distal end24is disposed within a hose tube carrier12.

The hose liner may10may comprise or consist of a coaxial tube having a low friction interior surface defining a circumferential sleeve as shown inFIG.8inserted into and affixable to the internal surface of a hose carrier tube.

Method of Installation of Hose Tube Liner Sleeve

Installation of the tube hose liner in a tube hose can be accomplished by one person using simple hand tools in five to ten minutes. The tube hose liner should be sized and shaped to conform to the size and shape of the inner diameter of the hose tube contiguous therewith. First the hose is removed from the hose tube and any debris is cleaned from the hose tube. To install a hose tube trough liner, insert one side of the liner into the hose tube and push evenly to prevent the liner from becoming tangled. After the liner is fully inserted into the hose tube, a bit can be used to pre-drill hoes at the end of the hose tube at the desired mounting location. A button head bolt can then be inserted from inside of the tube liner and secured to the hose tube with a lock nut. Other means of fastening such as rivets, screws, or adhesives may also be used to affix the tube liner to the hose tube.

A plurality of liner segments can be affixed to the hose tube in the same manner.

The pull weight comparison date shows a reduction in friction is evident when the hose tube liner is used in the hose tube.

The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made upon departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be limited by the specific exemplifications presented herein above. Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.