Lug Bead Hose

This invention generally relates to hose pipes and/or conduits and more particularly to large-bore hoses as may be used in material handling applications wherein a wide range of positive and negative pressures are experienced such as for example in suction and discharge applications.

More specifically, the invention relates to an improved terminal end configuration for a full flange beaded hose of the type that is conventionally hand-built for handling abrasive, corrosives or caustic materials. These type hoses are known and used in industry and generally comprise a reinforced elastomeric structure having terminal ends built over rigid steel bead rings and supported further by malleable iron retaining rings. The retaining rings effect a bolted coupling between two abutting ends of such hose.

A principal object of the present invention therefore, is to provide an improved bead configuration for coupling terminal hose ends that increases the load carrying capacity of such couplings while also reducing damage to the hose structural elements by reason of increased end loading.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully appreciated from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, in section, showing a portion of one terminal end of hose in solid lines while a second end is shown coupled thereto via a retaining ring assembly, the latter being indicated in ghost lines; and

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the lug bead in accordance with this invention.

Referring to the drawing, a terminal end of a large bore hose is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 and conventionally comprises a reinforced elastomeric hose structure 12 built over a steel bead ring 14. The structure 12 includes an inner elastomeric liner tube 16, multiple plies of elastomer-impregnated fabric or duck reinforcing material 18, at least one wire reinforcement ply 20, and an elastomeric cover ply 22. All of these elements are bonded into an integral structure upon being subjected to a vulcanization atmosphere.

Coupling of two terminal ends together is accomplished by means of a retaining ring assembly generally indicated by ghost lines at 24. The assembly conventionally comprises rings 26,28 which may be split rings for ease of mounting on the hose 12 and which have tapered bores for adapting to the taper of the hose end in the area of the bead 14. The assembly also comprises at least one pair of bolts 30 for drawing the terminal ends together in a full flange abutting relationship. It will be appreciated that upon drawing up the retaining rings 26,28 by means of the bolts 30, that compression of the abutting flange materials takes place to effect a leak-proof seal while the retaining rings also bear against the hose structure on the outward facing surface 14a of the bead 14 to effect a compression of the hose material at that point. In this circumstance, additional end-loading on the coupling may result in damage to the hose structure and the closure integrity of the seal is compromised.

Therefore, and in accordance with this invention, the bead 14 is modified by a plurality of lugs 32 that are attached to the bead in spaced locations around the bead so as to equalize stresses imposed thereon by the retaining rings 26,28. Any number of lugs 32 may be welded to the bead so long as the loading on the bead by a retaining ring 26 is equalized around the bead. For example, any even number of lugs may be affixed at spaced opposing positions around the bead or an odd numbered group may be affixed thereto at spaced equal angular positions to gain the same equalized loading. In any event, the lugs 32 transfer loading on the ring 26 directly to the bead 14 and thus eliminates any possibility of damage to the hose plies that are positioned between the outward facing surface 14a of the bead and the inward facing surface 26a of the retaining ring.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.