ANTICOLLAPSE MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE HOSES

Abstract: Device for flexible hoses of the kind, which internally and/or externally are reinforced by means of a coil spring (11, 19) or the like for preventing the hose (10) from collapsing at flexure. The spring (11, 19) is attached to an internal socket-shaped nipple (12) and/or an external socket (17) only at one end. The socket is arranged to be connected to one end portion of the hose through forced fitting. The spring (11, 19) is provided freely movable in and/or on the hose. The spring (11) is screwed firmly on the nipple and compressed before insertion in the hose (10), and it is inserted in the hose in compressed condition, after which the spring is decompressed.

Description: ANTICOLLAPSE MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE HOSES The present invention refers to a device for flexible hoses of the kind, which internally and/or externally are rein- forced by means of a coil shaped spring or the like for preventing the hose from collapse when bending. Background of the invention Problems arise when piastic hoses are exposed to heat, in particular shower hoses. When hot water passes through the hose, it expands (approximately: 20%) and loses its sta¬ bility, which causes the hose to fold at bending, ie. it collapses so that the water is choked or completely blocked. Through US-3889717 and SE-57563 is known to provide a flexi¬ ble hose with a coil, so that the hose does not collapse, if for instance, vacuum is built up in the system or the hose is exposed to twists and bends. The coil spring can even be introduced externally on the hose. According to these patents the coil spring is loosely provided, and if' the hose is warmed up it expands, which results the coil spring to lose its hold and be displaced and not achieve the pro¬ tection, which the spring is intended for at the exposed locations. In most cases abrupt flexures occur only at one end portion of the hose, where the hose is attached, for instance to a water tap, and therefor the hose only needs to be reinforced at this position. Objects and essential features of the invention The object of this invention is by simple means and with ease be able to mount the device, which protects flexible hoses from collapsing when these are flexured. These tasks have been solved by means of a spring, which is attached to an inner socket-shaped nipple and/or an outer socket only at one end, which are arranged through force fitting to be connected to one end-portion of the hose, and that the spring is provided freely movable in and/or on the hose and that the spring before insertion in the hose, is screwed firmly on the nipple, compressed, and inserted in the hose in a compressed condition, after which the spring is decom¬ pressed. Specification of the drawings The invention will be described in closer detail with refe¬ rence to accompanying drawings, which show some embodiments of the invention. Fig. 1 discloses an end portion of a partly sectioned hose, equipped with an anticollapse means according to the inven¬ tion. Fig. 2 discloses the anticollapse means in a front view. Fig. 3 discloses a second example of mounting an anticol- lapse means on a hose. Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment, with double anticollapse means. Description of the embodiments The anticollapse means according to the invention consists of a socket-shaped nipple 12 insertable in a hose 10 and a coil spring 11 attached to one end of it. The spring 11 is attached to the nipple 12 by screwing it onto a screw-threa- ded section 13 provided on the nipple, the thread pitch of which corresponds to the pitch of the coil spring 11. By letting the end of the spring be freely movable, the hose's 10 mobility and flexibility is not impeded. The length of the spring 11 is arbitrary, but since the hose is bent and folded mostly at its end portions, in particular the end part that is connected to the tap, the springs with a longi¬ tudinal axis of 10 - 20 cm are used protecting the end por- tions from collapsing. Before the nipple 12 and on it firmly mounted spring 11 is attached to the hose 10 through force fitting, the spring is compressed and inserted in the hose in compressed condition, after which the spring is decompressed. The nipple 12 and the spring 11 firmly screwed on it, is fixed in the hose 10 by means of barbs 16, which are formed on the part 15 of the nipple attachable to the hose 10 and an antiexpansion socket 17, which is inserted on the hose 10 according to fig. 1. An end plate 14, the radius of which is preferably larger than the external radius of the expansion socket 17, is arranged radially on the end of the nipple 12 situated, which is off the spring-hold end, to prevent the nipple from dislocation axially. It is not required that the spring should be mounted inside the hose 10, but the assembling can occur on the external surface of the hose, which is shown in fig. 3. In this case the spring 19 is screwed to a threaded spring-hold 18 on the antiexpansion socket 17. The spring-hold 18 of the socket forms a threaded-portion, the thread pitches of which co¬ rrespond to the coil shaped pitch of the spring. When the hose 10 is exposed to an extreme load, the hose can be additionally reinforced by using two anticollapse means according to fig. 4, at which a nipple 12 provided with a spring is force fitted into the hose 10 and a socket ar- ranged with a second spring 19 is mounted externally on the hose. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and other embodiments can occur, eg in one end-section of the hose, short spring-parts can be moulded at certain dis¬ tances from each other when manufacturing, whereby the hose is cut at the spring-holds in desired lengths. Referencal numerals.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for flexible hoses of the kind, which internally and/or externally are reinforced by means of a coil spring (11,19) or the like for preventing the hose (10) from collapsing at flexure, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i , that the spring (11,19) is attached to an internal socket- shaped nipple (12) and/or an external socket (17) only at one end, arranged to be connected to one end portion of the hose through force fitting, and that the spring (11,19) is provided freely movable in and/or on the hose. 2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the nipple (12) at its one end, situated off the spring-hold is provided with a radially arranged end plate (14) intended to be placed outside the said end portion of the hose. 3. Device according to claiπ 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the spring-hold (13) of the nipple is constituted by a threaded portion, the thread pitch of which corresponds to the pitch of the coil-shaped spring. 4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d_ in, that to the hose attachable part (15) of the nipple (12) (10) is arranged with barbs (16). 5. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that on the outside of the end portion of the hose, where it is provided with the nipple, a hose antiexpansion socket (17) is arranged. 6. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that the spring-hold (18) of the socket (17) is constituted by a threaded portion, the thread pitch of which corresponds to the pitch of the coil-shaped spring. 7. Method of manufacturing a device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that the spring (11) before insertion in the hose (10) is screwed firmly on the nipple, compressed and inserted in the hose in compressed condition, after which the compression is revoked. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 13 September 1993 (13.09.93); original claim 3 cancelled; original claim 1 amended; claims 4-7 unchanged but renumbered as claims 2-6 (2 pages)] 1. Device for flexible hoses particulary shower hoses of the kind, which at least internally are reinforced by means of a coil spring (11,19) or the like for preventing the hose (10) from collapsing at flexure, which spring is connected to a socked - shaped nipple insertable in the hose, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the spring (11,19) is attached to exterior of an internal socket-shaped nipple (12) at one end, the the spring-hold (13) of which is constituted by a threaded portion, the thread pitch of which corresponds to the pitch of the coil-shaped spring, that the part (15) of nipple (12), which is connectable to the hose (10) is arranged outside the spring-hold (13) of the nipple, arranged to be connected to one end portion of the hose through force fitting, and that the spring (11,19) is provided freely movable in and/or on the hose. 2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, that the nipple (12) at its one end, situated off the spring-hold is provided with a radially arranged end plate (14) intended to be placed outside the said end portion of the hose. 3. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that to the hose attachable part (15) of the nipple (12) (10) is arranged with barbs (16). 4. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that on the outside of the end portion of the hose, where it is provided with the nipple, a hose antiexpansion casing socket (17) is arranged. 5. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that the spring-hold (18) of the casing socket (17) is shaped with a threaded portion, the thread pitch of which corresponds to the pitch of the coil-shaped spring mounted on the casing socket. 6. Method of manufacturing a device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that the spring (11) before insertion in the hose (10) is screwed firmly on the nipple, compressed and inserted in the hose in compressed condition, after which the compression is revoked.

Inventors: LARSSON NILS, LARSSON, NILS
Applicants: ARROW AB, LARSSON NILS
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F16L11
IPC codes: F16L11, F16L33