A hydraulic machinery system’s hydraulic hoses are its vital components. Oil and gas, mining, construction, agricultural, rail, pharmaceutical production, automotive, manufacturing, food, and many more industries and equipment use them. Hydraulic hoses transfer fluid throughout a hydraulic system to create a flexible connection between two fluid ports. Usually, they have to work in a vacuum, at extremely high or low pressure, or both.

Hydraulic hoses are constructed from Teflon with a stainless steel braid or reinforced rubber or thermoplastic conduit wrapped in a flexible metal or fiber wire winding and covered in another material layer. The wire reinforcement, which is spiral-coiled or braided, gives the hydraulic hose strength and flexibility.

A hydraulic system’s basic components are a reservoir, pump, cylinder, and hose. In hydraulic systems, the hydraulic hose transports pressured hydraulic fluid, which transfers pump energy to a cylinder or motor, thereby operating a mechanical system. A simple example involves a pump that draws fluid via a return line and pressurizes it as it does so. The pressurized fluid operates on a cylinder after passing via a multi-wire hose. The liquid is sent back through a return line into the reservoir to cool before the subsequent cycle as the cylinder’s piston retracts.

There are many parameters that each manufacturer uses when it comes to choosing the right hydraulic hose for your application.

When developing for a specific use, precise specifications should be adhered to, but practically speaking, there are three alternatives for the material and structure of the hose:

• Rubber with metallic wires
• Thermoplastic textile reinforcement
• Teflon Stainless Steel Braid

When you identify which is necessary, the others fall into place. But first, confirm that you are aware of these three key points:

• Hydraulic hose part numbers give the internal diameter in sixteenths of an inch. As an illustration, a -6 has an interior diameter of 3/8″, a -8 is 1/2″, a -10 is 5/8″, a -16 is 1″, and so forth. Using the -6 example, the hose spec H280 with part number H28006 has a -6 size, or 3/8″ I.D. A two-wire braided hydraulic hose with numerous applications in the hydraulics industry is the H280 specification.
• A 4:1 safety factor is used to assess the majority of hydraulic hoses. As a result, a 3,000 PSI hose’s minimum burst factor is 12,000 PSI.
• The thermoplastic or reinforced rubber conduit inside the hose carries the hydraulic fluid.

Then, the pressure is supported, and strength is provided by the flexible metal or fiber wire winding reinforcement. The wire reinforcement is shielded from corrosion and wear by the final cover.

In Summary

A safe and dependable system requires careful consideration when choosing hydraulic hoses. To properly satisfy the application requirements, selecting the appropriate hydraulic fittings and correctly connecting them to the hose are equally crucial. Compared to hydraulic pipes and tubes, hydraulic hoses still have greater flexibility.