A hose which automatically expands longitudinally and automatically expands laterally upon the application of a pressurized liquid is disclosed. The hose can automatically expand longitudinally up to six times its unexpanded or contracted length. Upon release of the pressurized liquid within the hose, the hose will automatically contract to a contracted condition. The hose includes an inner tube made from an elastic material and an outer tube made from a non-elastic material. The inner tube is positioned concentrically within the outer tube in both a contracted condition and an expanded condition. The outer tube is secured to the inner tube only at a first end of the inner and outer tubes and at a second end of the inner and outer tubes. The outer tube moves laterally and longitudinally with respect to the inner tube when the tubes are transitioning between a contracted condition and an expanded condition.

A line element for compensating for expansions and/or relative movements within a line through which fluid can flow, comprising a ring-corrugation or helical-corrugation bellows 1 and a hose 3, which is arranged coaxially in the interior of the bellows 1 and is made of a dimensionally stable material, for flow-guidance purposes. The hose 3 has a number of individual, essentially dimensionally stable ring-form hose elements 4 which are plugged axially one inside the other so as to be retained such that they can be moved axially and/or angularly in relation to one another between a compressed position and an extended position. A method for producing such a line element is also provided.

A hose assembly with reduced axial stress including an underlying hose, such as a composite hose, and one or more elongate matrices extending over a portion of the hose along an axis of vibration. The elongate matrices can be an extruded, molded, or braided matrix formed of engineered fibers, metallic materials, and/or elastomeric materials formulated to impart a desired amount of rigidity along an axis of vibration to which it is applied. The elongate matrix can be a composite matrix including one or more rigid members, such as wire rods, embedded in an elastomeric matrix which is chemically and/or mechanically coupled to the underlying hose.

The present application discloses a hose that uses pressure to lock itself into a fixed position. The basic structure may comprise an internal flexible tube which contains a fluid and a mechanical exoskeleton. The mechanical exoskeleton may move freely without pressure, but may lock into place once the tube is pressurized.

A metal-shelled hose assembly includes a metal outer shell lined with a flexible, water-tight inner tubing integrated with a bendable strain-relief section that is configured to allow the metal-shelled hose to be pulled from a straight angle regardless of where it is attached. The bendable strain-relief section is provided at least at the faucet end of the hose, where it effectively changes the angle of the length of the metal hose relative to the faucet when the hose is pulled at an angle to the faucet.

A drainage system for connecting a rack drain on a mobile plant rack to a stationary building drain, wherein the plant rack is operable to slide between first and second positions wherein the building drain is proximate and distal thereto, respectively. The drainage system comprises at least one horizontal support proximate to the bottom of the mobile plant rack and a flexible conduit fluidically connected to the discharge end of the rack drain, extending arcuately between a receiving end fixed within the interior rack space and a discharge end fixed outside of the interior rack space, wherein the discharge end is fluidically connected to the stationary building drain. The receiving end of the flexible conduit is raised above the discharge end and the flexible conduit is supported by the at least one horizontal support to maintain a generally down slope grade.

A vertical pipe deployment system that includes a flexible pipe deployed vertically in a non-linear manner. A first clamp couples to and supports the flexible pipe. A second clamp couples to the flexible pipe. The second clamp laterally changes a direction of the flexible pipe as the flexible pipe descends vertically between the first clamp and the second clamp.

A vertical pipe deployment system that includes a flexible pipe deployed vertically in a non-linear manner. A first clamp couples to and supports the flexible pipe. A second clamp couples to the flexible pipe. The second clamp laterally changes a direction of the flexible pipe as the flexible pipe descends vertically between the first clamp and the second clamp.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing erosion protection to self-interlocking windings of a carcass layer of a flexible pipe. The method includes the steps of, via a wound sacrificial insert located over at least a portion of an inner facing surface of self-interlocking windings of a carcass layer, shielding at least a flow facing edge region of each self-interlocking winding from abrasive elements carried by a bore fluid flowing along a bore of the flexible pipe from an upstream to a downstream location.

A conduit for use in a pressure support system for communicating a flow of pressurized gas to the airway of a patient includes a first strip of a first material disposed helically about a central longitudinal axis such that subsequent helical convolutions of the first strip are disposed adjacent each other, and a second strip of a second material disposed helically about the central longitudinal axis along the first strip. The second strip is coupled between the subsequent helical convolutions of the first strip so as to form a hollow conduit. The first material is structured to prevent the passage of fluids therethrough. The second material is structured to allow passage of a liquid therethrough while inhibiting passage of gases therethrough.