12 inch flex hose

Types of 12 inch flex hose

Flexible tubing is an important installation component since it can sustain bending even under high temperatures and pressures. It's primarily utilized in hard and complicated areas to reach. A 12-inch flex hose comes in various types for special applications. They range from the most popular, stainless steel flex hose, to PVC. Each comes with distinct features, merits, and demerits.

Here are the main flex hoses available:

• Stainless steel flex hose

  SS hose is made by braiding steel wires over a metallic tubing, giving it immense tensile strength. It does not corrode or rust over time. That's why it is used in cars and planes. It can carry hydrogen, natural gas, and oxy-fuel for critical jobs. With high durability, it bends easily without breaking. The braiding makes it an elite quality flexible pipe, although costly, lasting over 40 years.

• Rubber flex hose

  A rubber flex hose is made of different grades of durable synthetic rubber, and it straddles steel wire reinforcements, which make it soft and durable. The waterproof property makes it good for transporting water and slurry. However, it can't carry hot substances like steel hoses and isn't used in technical applications. It's cheaper. So, it's worth buying for light duties.

• Brass flex hose

  Brass flex hose is used for fuel lines and plumbing. Its resistance to corrosion makes it last many years, quite like SS flex hose, but less robust. Its flexibility helps in repairs and installation. While it's softer. so it cannot withstand much wear and tear when used in heavy industries. Its function is primarily in home or light commercial plumbing.

• PTFE flex hose

  PTFE hose is made from polytetrafluoroethylene, which is a thermoplastic. It has a steel wire reinforcement which makes the tube withstand numerous chemicals, including strong acids and alkalis, that can easily degrade rubber or cotton. Its non-stick nature makes it good for many uses, including food handling. Although it is costly, it's long-lasting and very versatile.

• Copper flex hose

  The copper flex hose originates from thin copper pipe flattened in a machine called a crimping tool into a flexible and soft pipe. The crimping process preserves the pipe's overall rigidity but the copper is still very malleable, allowing easy bending without breaking. Therefore, copper tubing is frequently used in tight spaces or for complex designs. Its lightweight, corrosion-free property makes it ideal for many applications, including automotive and plumbing. Copper flex pipe can last 50 years or more.

Industrial applications of 12 inch flex hose

Industrial-grade flex hoses come with greater tensile strength and are made from tougher materials like SS, PTFE, or Inconel. These materials increase pressure ratings and can even carry highly corrosive chemicals. A 12-inch flexible hose finds numerous uses, including:

• Machine tool wiring

  These wiring machines apply coolant to flexible tubes while the machine tool is cutting the chip and thus makes it an integral machine part. Without this tube, part overheating and damage may occur. It provides some flexibility, which allows the hose to transfer fluids, gases, and slurries even though the subject is rigid. This is crucial, especially in cramped areas.

• Engine compartment wiring

  Hoses transfer coolants, fuel, and exhaust gases through different engine compartments. Because of the 12-inch hose's flexibility, it beats the rigid piping because it retains the needed space in the engine bay and allows the components to move without breaking the line. The engine generates a lot of heat and pressure, but a flexible hose can carry such fluids and gases easily.

• Tube bending

  Tube bending refers to bending metal tubing into appropriate shapes without affecting the tubing's material integrity. Flex hose makes close bends that rigid tube can't accommodate. Flex hoses are widely used in automotive fuel systems, HVAC, and other industries requiring fluid transport through complex routes. Inflexible tube can't easily make the bend without kinking or cracking the metal. That's why flex hose is a crucial tube bender in many industries.

• Equipment wiring

  Flex hose is commonly used to transfer fluids and gases. Because of the equipment used in the industry like pumps, compressors, and heat exchangers subject to vibrational stress, the wiring needs flexibility. Equipment wires allows movement without breaking the line and enabling the equipment to function well despite regular physical changes of substances. Their corrosion resistance also allows them to carry various fluids safely.

• Automotive applications

  Flexible hoses are used in different parts of a vehicle to transport fluids such as air conditioning systems, flexible fuel lines, and brake systems. Due to the limited space and shape of engine compartments, flex hoses make it easy to route the lines around other components. Those areas of the vehicle experience a lot of movement due to engine vibration, flex tubing. which absorbs shock and prevents crack or leakage.

• Heat exchangers

  Heat exchangers are used to transfer heat between two or more fluids. Flex hoses connect the different parts of the exchanger, allowing the fluids to circulate. They withstand different temperatures and pressures and maintain seal integrity. Because of their flexibility, they allow the components to expand and contract without risking hose detachment. They also isolate vibrational energy from one fluid to the next.

Function, Feature, and Design of 12 inch flex hose

Function

The flex hose main function is to convey fluid or gas from one part to another withstanding pressure based on the material and application it is made for. Flex hoses are known for their flexibility to be used in rigorous conditions unduly hard for other piping systems.

• Conveying fluid: Flex tubes transport liquid, gas, and slurry. They can pass chemicals, fuels, and even high-temperature steam due to their different materials and designs. Flexible pipes provide pathways for various substances to flow from one process to another.
• Allow movement: Due to flexibility, they allow the relative movements between components without risking breakages, which rigid pipe lines can't accommodate when there's mechanical stress.
• Withstand vibration: Most of the modern machines produce noise due to sound propagation. Flexible hoses absorb this vibration and carry along the medium, which is good for plumbing as it reduces noise. It dampens the vibrations from one point to another.
• Compensation: Compensating elements help accommodate misalignment or angular changes between two connected parts. Flex hose can absorb the offset angle between mechanical parts.

Features

• Corrosion resistant: Many flex hoses are made with corrosion-resistant materials. A standard SS hose is a great example. It can carry water that might corrode ordinary tubing. Stahl flex hose is ideal for marine and chemical plants exposed to moisture and chemicals.
• Temperature resistant: Some flexible tubing, such as PTFE and SS hoses, can carry cryogenic to very high temperature substances, such as steam, oils, and gases. They don't lose their integrity under extreme thermal expansion, unlike rubber tubes dissolving in less heat.
• Pressure rating: Most flex hoses are designed to carry high pressure. Stainless flex hose has the highest pressure rating of all, 1500 PSI.

Design

A flexible water pipe has two main design elements; the body and the end fittings. The materials and design of these two components are determined by the application in which the flex tubing is used. Here are the principal designs:

• Fittings: The fittings are attached permanently by crimping, swaging, welding, or via threads. Unlike other tubing, flexible hydraulic hose fittings can swivel to ease installation. Swivel ends can reduce torsional forces on tubing during assembly and destine it for mobile equipment. Fixed ends provide a tighter seal, hence better use where movement isn't an issue.
• Braided: Some flex hoses, such as wire braids, provide strength like reinforcement. Braid tension works in the direction of the inner pressure. Braided hose can't bend or twist as much as the hose. Spiral-covered hoses are mostly used in industrial applications requiring the hose to withstand more pressure. Whereas a standard single-braid hose is for normal use where belts are commonly employed.
• Liner: Liners are used to separate the hose from the environment. They belong to the PTFE hose group, which makes the hose frictionless and can't be easily degraded by chemicals. Here, the material of the liner determines the hose's compatibility with chemicals.
• Cover: The cover is the external layer of the hose, which protects it from external damage, like abrasion, cut, heat, and chemical attack. Different materials are used to make the cover, including rubber, PVC, and SS. Each has its own advantage according to external hazards that apply in different environments.

How to Choose 12 inch flex hose

Flex pipe is an important system due to its flexibility for conveying substance, but choosing the right one among many is crucial, and several factors come in handy to get the right one for the condition:

• Material

  The material of the flex hose determines its usage and longevity. Generally, materials are selected based on the intended use.

  Stainless steel flex hose is durable and stronger. So, it is used in automotive and industrial applications where long-term chemical resistance and strength are needed. PTFE flex hose is inert and non-reactive. Hence, it's versatile for most chemicals, including very hot or cold substances. Rubber flex hose is softer than metal but tougher. It is used under mechanical strain and pressure. Brass flex pipe is softer than others but very much resistant to corrosion. It's used for light-duty plumbing work.

• Length

  Flexible hose length varies, too, depending on the application. Standard lengths are 10, 12, and 18 inches, up to 5 feet. Longer flex hoses are ideal where fluid needs to be conveyed over larger distances. Shorter ones are mostly used in tight spaces. A standard-length hose can be cut down to the desired length. But cutting too short might affect the believability of the hose.

  The effective length of a flexible hose can be shortened simply by installing bends into it. But unnecessary tight bends can increase flow resistance. Conversely, the extra-long hose will require additional supports and bends, too, making installation harder. The right length strikes the balance between proper fluid conveyance and easier installation.

• I.D. size

  Inner diameter size, or I.D. size, significantly affects the hose's flow capacity. Larger I.D.-sized hoses provide less flow restriction than smaller ones. But wider hoses are harder to install due to space constraints. Conversely, narrower hoses are easier to fit in tight spaces or maneuver around obstacles. But they offer more friction than a larger pipe, which reduces flow rate - unless the I.D. size is greater than the line size. The appropriate I.D. size offers a seamless balance between constraint and greater flow rate.

• Working pressure

  The working pressure is the maximum pressure a hose can withstand during normal service. It's important not to exceed this limit, as doing so could compromise the hose's integrity. It's vital to choose a hose with a working pressure rating that meets or surpasses the maximum pressure of the application. So, assess the application requirements carefully to determine the suitable pressure.

• Braiding

  Braiding comes with one or two tiers of braid for flex hoses and is added for strength. Single-braided hoses are doubled with braiding in applications that need less pressure. Double-braided hoses are used in industrial applications requiring greater strength because the more braids, the stronger the structure becomes.

Q & A

Q1: What is a flex hose made of?

Flex hose comprises various materials, including rubber, stainless steel, PTFE, and copper, depending on the intended application. Flex pasties convey different substances and withstand diverse pressures and temperatures. Each material comes with its unique properties for specific uses.

Q2: How is a flexible hose manufactured?

Flexible hose is manufactured by first making the inner tube from rubber, metal, or plastic, depending on the service. Then braiding wire or fabric is applied to reinforce the tube. After that, a cover is applied to protect the assembly and bond. Each material and design is chosen based on the intended application.

Q3: Can flex hose be cut to length?

Flexible tubing can be cut to length. In fact, they can be adjusted precisely and set up in any configuration. Flex hose offers great flexibility. It can be cut at any point and bent to make desired angles. But special tools, such as sharp tubing cutters or pipe hacksaws, are needed to ensure a clean cut without damaging the pipe. A precise length cut flexible pipe can be easily configured into the required installation.

Q4: What's the difference between a flex conduit and a flex hose?

Flex conduit and flex hose are different in purpose even though they sound similar. Flex conduit is used for wiring protection. It provides electrical insulation. Flex hose is primarily used for transferring fluids and gases. It provides a flexible path for movement. Conduit is made from PVC, aluminum, or galvanized steel, while flex hose is usually rubber, stainless steel, PTFE, or copper. Conduits have less flexibility compared to hoses, which bend easily. Hoses are designed to withstand pressure and temperature, but conduits don't.