HOSE, SPECIFICALLY FOR REFRIGERANT APPLICATIONS

Abstract

A hose which has at least the following plies in the following order: an innermost layer (A4) which is based on thermoplastic material or thermoplastic elastomer material; an internal layer (A5) which is applied to the innermost layer (A4) and which is based on elastomer material; at least one reinforcing element ply (B, B1, B2), wherein the reinforcing element is arranged at an angle smaller than the neutral angle of 54.7?, and possibly an external layer (C) which is based on polymer material. The hose is suitable in particular as a pressure carrier hose for refrigerant lines, in particular for CO.sub.2, for use as a pressure carrier of corrugated pipes.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A pressure carrier hose for refrigerant lines comprising at least the following plies in the following order: an innermost layer (A4) which is based on a thermoplastic material or a thermoplastic elastomer material; an internal layer (A5) which is applied to the innermost layer (A4) and which is based on a second elastomer material; at least one reinforcing element ply (B, B1, B2), wherein the reinforcing element is arranged at an angle smaller than a neutral angle of 54.7?; and, an optional external layer (C) which is based on a polymer material.

14. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein the thermoplastic material or the thermoplastic elastomer material of the innermost layer (A4) is selected from at least one member of the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyamide, fluoropolymer, silicone polymer and a combination thereof.

15. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 14, wherein the polyamide is a polyolefin-modified polyamide.

16. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 14, wherein the polyamide is an elastomer-modified polyamide.

17. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein the thermoplastic material or the thermoplastic elastomer material of the innermost layer (A4) consists of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

18. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein the thermoplastic material or thermoplastic elastomer material of the innermost layer (A4) comprises a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPC), in particular bond-modified TPC.

19. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 18, wherein the thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPC) is a bond-modified thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPC).

20. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein the innermost layer (A4) has a wall thickness in the range of from 0.05 to 0.6 mm.

21. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 20, wherein the innermost layer (A4) has a wall thickness in the range of from 0.08 to 0.15 mm.

22. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one reinforcing element ply comprises two reinforcing element plies (B1, B2), and wherein an intermediate layer (D) based on a third elastomer material is located between each of the two reinforcing element plies (B1, B2).

23. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 22, wherein the polymer material of the external layer (C) is present and formed of a fourth elastomer material, and wherein the third elastomer material and the fourth elastomer material, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylate rubber (AEM), acrylate rubber (ACM), fluoro rubber (FPM), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM), hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), brominated copolymer of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene (BIMS), ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber (EVM), silicone rubber (VMQ) or any combination thereof.

24. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 23, wherein the third elastomer material and the fourth elastomer material are both ethylene-acrylate rubber (AEM).

25. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 24, wherein the ethylene-acrylate rubber (AEM) is crosslinked by diamines.

26. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reinforcing element is formed from metal wire.

27. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reinforcing element is present in woven or spiralized form.

28. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reinforcing element is arranged at an angle in the range of from 15 to 53.6?.

29. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 28, wherein the reinforcing element is arranged at an angle in the range of from 30 to 37?.

30. The pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, wherein a corrugated pipe is arranged inside the hose, and wherein CO.sub.2 refrigerant at a temperature of 160? C. flows through the corrugated pipe.

31. A method for producing the pressure carrier hose as claimed in claim 13, the method comprising: applying a first material comprising the thermoplastic material or the thermoplastic elastomer material to a mandrel, to form the innermost layer (A4); applying a second material comprising the second elastomer material to the innermost layer (A4), to form the internal layer (A5) on the innermost layer (A4); applying the at least one reinforcing element ply (B, B1, B2), over the internal layer (A5) by weaving or spiralizing, wherein the reinforcing element is arranged at an angle smaller than the neutral angle of 54.7?; and, optionally applying a third material containing the polymer material, preferably elastomer material, over the at least one reinforcing element ply, to form the external layer (C).

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the innermost layer (A4), the internal layer (A5) and the optional external layer (C) are each formed by extrusion.

Description

SCHEMATIC DRAWINGS

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerant hose in the form of a veneer hose from the prior art having a woven reinforcing element ply B, having a two-ply structure of the inner layer A, in which the thermoplastic ply A1 of the inner layer A consists of polyamide and, in the form of a barrier ply, forms the innermost ply of the inner layer A, having a further second ply A2 of the inner layer A, and having an external layer C.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a refrigerant hose in the form of a veneer hose from the prior art having two spiralized reinforcing element plies B1, B2, having a two-ply structure of the inner layer A, in which the thermoplastic ply A1 of the inner layer A consists of polyamide and, in the form of a barrier ply, forms the innermost ply of the inner layer A, having a further second ply A2 of the inner layer A, having an additional elastomer intermediate layer D, and having an external layer C.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a refrigerant hose in the form of a barrier hose from the prior art having a woven reinforcing element ply B, having a three-ply structure of the inner layer A, in which the thermoplastic ply A1 of the inner layer of polyamide is embedded in the form of a barrier ply between two further plies A2, A3 of the inner layer A, having a further second ply A2 of the inner layer A, having an additional third ply A3 of the inner layer A, and having an external layer C.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a refrigerant hose in the form of a barrier hose from the prior art having two spiralized reinforcing element plies B1, B2, having a three-ply structure of the inner layer A, in which the thermoplastic ply A1 of the inner layer A of polyamide is embedded in the form of a barrier ply between two further plies A2, A3 of the inner layer A, having a further second ply A2 of the inner layer A, having an additional third ply A3 of the inner layer A, having an additional elastomer intermediate layer D, and having an external layer C.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a hose according to the invention having a woven reinforcing element ply B, having a two-ply structure of the inner layer A, in which the first ply, in the form of an innermost layer (film) A4 of the inner layer A, is based on a thermoplastic material or thermoplastic elastomer and the second ply (the internal layer) A5 of the inner layer A is based on an elastomer material. The external layer C is optional and is likewise polymeric.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a hose according to the invention having two spiralized reinforcing element plies B1 and B2, having a two-ply structure of the inner layer A, in which the first ply, in the form of an innermost layer A4 of the inner layer A, is based on a thermoplastic material or thermoplastic elastomer and the second ply A5 of the inner layer A is based on an elastomer material, having an additional optional intermediate layer D, and having an optional external layer C.

[0061] FIG. 7 shows a hose, not according to the invention, for comparison purposes, having a woven reinforcing element ply B, and just one internal ply or layer A5 which is based on an elastomer material. The external layer C is again optional and is likewise polymeric. The hose does not have an internal layer A4 based on a thermoplastic material or thermoplastic elastomer.

EXAMPLES

[0062] A hose (C1) without an innermost layer and multiple hoses (I1, I2 and I3) according to the invention were produced. In this respect, the hose structure of the hoses was as follows (the internal layer, the reinforcing element and the external ply are the same in all of the examples):

[0063] Innermost layer A4 (film): TPC (Arnitel CM622 from DSM), ply thickness 0.06 mm (I3); TPC (Arnitel CM622 from DSM), ply thickness 0.1 mm (I2); polyamide PA6 (Orgalloy LT5050 from Arkema), ply thickness 0.1 mm (I1); no internal ply A4 (C1)

[0064] Internal layer A5: AEM, ply thickness 1.3 mm

[0065] Reinforcing element layer B: Steel wire, woven, weave angle 34?

[0066] External layer C: AEM, ply thickness 1.4 mm

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

[0067] Table 1 shows various physical test results on the basis of the hose produced without the innermost layer C1 and the hoses I1, I2 and I3 according to the invention that were produced. Before the function tests, the hoses were respectively installed on a corrugated pipe of the same nature.

[0068] The test results were ascertained in accordance with DIN Spec 74106. The evaluation + means that the test was passed; the evaluation ? means that the test was not passed; the evaluation +/? means that the test was partially passed.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 C1 I1 I2 I3 Impulse testing ? + + +/? 0 to 165? C./50 to 170 bar/150 000 cycles/DIN Spec 74106 Heat resistance ? + + 1000 h/165? C./DIN 53508 - 6.2 innermost layer 168 h/180? C./DIN 53508 - 6.2 Heat resistance + + + + 1000 h/165? C./DIN 53508 - 6.2 AEM 168 h/180? C./DIN 53508 - 6.2 [0069] as a pressure carrier hose for use in the high-temperature range (at present, temporarily at most 180? C.) and with CO.sub.2 as the refrigerant. It is distinguished by sufficiently good heat resistance and good cold flexibility. In addition, the hose in combination with the corrugated pipe has good impulse behavior. The hoses I1 and I3 according to the invention have limited suitability for use as a pressure carrier hose in the high-temperature range.

[0070] The comparative hose C1 without the innermost layer fails even after a brief impulse output and the corrugated pipe is more difficult to install. In the case of the hoses I1, I2 and I3 according to the invention, the installation of the corrugated pipe is easier.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

Part of the Description

[0071] A Inner layer [0072] A1 Barrier ply of the inner layer [0073] A2 Further second ply of the inner layer [0074] A3 Additional third ply of the inner layer [0075] A4 Innermost layer [0076] A5 Elastomer layer (inner layer) [0077] B Single reinforcing element ply [0078] B1 First reinforcing element ply [0079] B2 Second reinforcing element ply [0080] D Elastomer intermediate layer [0081] C External layer