Composite Hose - The Flexible Connection

Composite Hose can provide the vital flexible connection to compensate for vibration, movement or misalignment in a fluid transfer system.

Composite hose has a spiral internal metal supporting wire which can be galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum or polypropylene coated steel with a spiral external wire which is generally galvanized or stainless steel. In between the wires there are layers of thermoplastic fabrics and film.

The functions of the various components are basically as follows:

Internal wire spiral supports the hose wall and provides resistance to vacuum for suction applications.

External wire spiral armors the hose against abrasion and impact damage and binds the layers of fabrics and films tightly together.

Fabric layers act as strength members against internal pressure. It is also a common feature of many composite hoses to have as the external layer PVC coated fabric. This provides an easily cleanable color coded surface and gives additional abrasion resistance.

Film layers act as a sealing medium to ensure that no product escapes from the hose. Films and fabrics can be polypropylene, polyamide, PTFE, polyester polyaramid or glass. By combining these alternative components in various ways it is possible to produce hoses with a wide range of chemical resistance, working temperatures and pressures.

End fittings as with all types of hose, composite hose assembly depends on the strength and reliability of its coupling system. Accord has developed its own unique fitting configuration and swaging system, which uses high quality rubber seals; steel or stainless steel ferrules and couplings to ensure that when prototype tests are conducted, the hose will burst before the end fitting is expelled. This ensures the maximum strength of the hose is fully achieved. Our swaging system gives superior results to wire whipping or clamping methods of attachment, and guarantees electrical continuity to ensure static electricity is fully discharged.

The inner wire is permanently in contact with the coupling. The outer wire is normally in electrical contact but should either of the wires be broken Accord uses electrically conductive seals to guarantee continuity. In order to provide the widest range of chemical resistance Accord swage seals are available in nitrile, butyl or Viton® elastomers.

All the composite hoses in our catalog are available as complete assemblies with a wide variety of end fittings such as flanges, quick couplers, NPT nipples and dry break couplings. Common end fitting materials are carbon steel, stainless steel, bronze, aluminum and polypropylene, although many other materials are also available.

Unless otherwise specified all Accord composite hose assemblies are swaged with carbon steel ferrules and nitrile rubber seals. Stainless steel ferrules and Viton or butyl seals are supplied on request.

Temperature versus Pressure. Working pressures are calculated on a minimum safety factor of 5:1 burst pressure to working pressure as specified in USCG 154.500 for heavy duty 4” ID and larger hose assemblies. Composite hose is manufactured from thermoplastics and accordingly its working pressure will be reduced at elevated temperatures. Consult Accord personnel for advice on use at high temperatures.