AIR HOSE

Abstract

An air hose, the air hose comprising a first component and a second, elastic component. The second component is fastened to the first component at a plurality of fastening positions along the axial direction of the air hose. The air hose is operable between a first condition in which the first component is slack between axially adjacent fastening positions and collapsible in a radial direction, and second condition in which axially adjacent fastening positions are separated against a biasing force of the second component.

Claims

1. An air hose comprising: a first component and a second, elastic component; wherein the second component is fastened to the first component at a plurality of fastening positions along an axial direction of the air hose, such that the air hose is operable between a first condition in which the first component is slack between axially adjacent fastening positions and collapsible in a radial direction, and second condition in which axially adjacent fastening positions are separated against a biasing force of the second component.

2. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein in the first condition the hose is flat or flattenable.

3. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein the fastening positions are also distributed around the circumference of the air hose.

4. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein in the second condition the first component is taut between axially adjacent fastening positions.

5. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein the second component comprises at least one elastic cord, at least one spring, an elastic material, or an elastic tube.

6. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a plurality of layers, and the second component is located between two layers of the first component.

7. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein the first component is tubular.

8. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fastening positions are evenly distributed along the axial direction of the hose.

9. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fastening positions are distributed around the circumference of the first component.

10. An air hose according to claim 1, wherein the air hose is a pre-conditioned air hose.

11. A pre-conditioned air hose according to claim 10, wherein a first end of the pre-conditioned air hose is configured for connection to an air supply.

12. A pre-conditioned air hose according to claim 11, wherein a second end of the pre-conditioned air hose is configured for connection to an apparatus or device which is configured to receive air.

13. A method of manufacturing the air hose according to claim 1, wherein the second component is extended before being fastened to the first component, and axial tension is applied to the first component to reduce the slack to below that present when the air hose assembly is in the first condition, before being fastened to the second component.

14. A The method according to claim 7, wherein the second component is extended to 150% before being fastened to the first component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Example embodiment(s) of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of an air hose in a deflated condition;

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates the air hose of FIG. 1 in an inflated condition;

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a second example of an air hose in a deflated condition; and

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates the air hose of FIG. 3 in an inflated condition.

DESCRIPTION

[0036] The illustrative embodiments relate to air hoses, which may be pre-conditioned air hoses.

[0037] The air hose is intended for use with an aeroplane. However, the air hose can be used with any suitable aircraft.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an air hose 1, hereinafter referred to as the hose 1. The hose 1 is shown in a retracted or deflated condition in FIG. 1, and in an extended or inflated condition in FIG. 2. The hose 1 has a first open end 13 and a second open end 14. The first end 13 is connectable to an air supply (not shown). The second end 14 is connectable to apparatus for receiving air (not shown). The hose 1 has a first component 11 and a second component 12. The first component 11 is a tubular material which is suitable for use in an air hose. In this example, the first component 11 comprises three, concentric layers. The first component 11 provides a conduit which is sufficiently air-tight to transfer air from the first end 13 to the second end 14 at the desired pressure and/or flow rate.

[0039] The second component 12, in this example, comprises a plurality of elastic cords 12. The elastic cords may be of any suitable diameter, for example 6 mm or 8 mm. The elastic cords 12 are substantially aligned with the axial direction of the hose 1. In this example four equally spaced elastic cords 12 are provided around the circumference of the hose (although only two are visible in FIGS. 1 and 2). However, any number of elastic cords 12 may be provided, for example two, three, five or six. In this example the elastic cords 12 are located between an innermost layer of the first component 11 and a middle layer of the first component 11. However, it will be appreciated that the elastic cords 12 may be located inside of the first component 11, on the outside of the first component 11, or between the middle layer and an outermost layer of the first component 11. The elastic cords 12 are fastened to the first component 11 at discrete, spaced fastening positions 15 along the axial direction X of the hose 1. In this example, the fastening positions 15 are spaced along the axial direction by 180 mm. Fastening is via any suitable means, such as stitching, pins, rivets, ties, zip-ties or staples. Between the fastening positions 15 the elastic cords 12 are not fastened to the first component 11. Between the fastening positions 15 the first component 11 is slack when in the retracted or deflated condition as shown in FIG. 1.

[0040] The elastic cords 12 have an unstretched length L1, as is shown in FIG. 1, in which the elastic cords are held in a straight configuration, immediately before any extension to the elastic cords 12. The first component has a length L2, as shown in FIG. 2, when the first component 11 is held taut. In the inflated or extended condition of FIG. 2 the first component 11 is taut, the elastic cords 12 are extended to a length L2, and the hose 1 is straight. However, it will be appreciated that in the inflated condition the hose 1 may be bent or curved, for example if the hose 1 is too long once it is fully unrolled for use.

[0041] The hose 1 is assembled by first holding the first component 11 at length L2, and by extending the elastic cords 12 to a length of L2. The elastic cords 12 are fastened to each of the fastening positions on the first component 11 when the elastic cords 12 and the first component 11 have a length of L2. Once fastened together, the elastic cords 12 are allowed to return to a length of L1 such that the slack is provided in the first component 11 between the fastening positions due to the biasing force of the elastic cords 12 contracting, or crimping, the first component 11. In this example, the elastic cords 12 are extended by 150% before being fastened to the first component 11. For example, to achieve a percentage extension of 150% in the second component 12 such that the length (L2) of the hose is 18 m, the length of the second component immediately before extension (L1) is 12 m using the following formula:

[00002]$\frac{L2}{L1}100=\%\mathrm{extension}$

[0042] In use, the hose 1 is operable between the deflated or retracted condition and the inflated or extended condition. When in the deflated condition the hose 1 is collapsible, such that it is flat or flattenable, and is able to be rolled, or folded, for storage. This means that the hose 1 can be stored compactly, easily and efficiently. The hose 1 is unrolled or unfolded, and inflated to the inflated or extended condition, by pumping air through the hose 1. When inflated the hose 1 is not collapsed and axially adjacent fastening positions are separated against the biasing force of the elastic cords 12. In this example, the elastic cords 12 are able to extend until the first component 11 is taut between fastening positions. In this example, the elastic cords 12 extend to 150% of the unstretched length, when the hose 1 is in a straight configuration in the inflated or extended condition. The second component 12 may, in some cases, also extend axially and/or circumferentially in the inflated condition. When the hose 1 is curved or bent, for example to travel or reach around other equipment, the biasing forces acting on the first component 11 by the elastic cords 12 reduce, or eliminate, the severity and likelihood of kinking of the hose 1. This means that the correct pressure and/or flow rate of air can be maintained.

[0043] When the supply of air to the hose 1 is stopped, the hose 1 deflates and returns to the deflated or retracted condition. The elastic cords 12 contract to introduce the slack into the first component 11, and the hose 1 returns to a length of L1. This means that the hose 1 offers no resistance to rolling, or folding, for efficient storage, for example on a reel on the passenger boarding bridge.

[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown a second example of an air hose 10. FIG. 3 shows the hose 10 in a deflated or retracted condition, and FIG. 4 shows the hose 10 in an inflated or extended condition. This example is the same as the hose 1 described with reference to FIG. 1, with the exception that the second component is an elastic hose (not shown). Like features between this hose 10 and the hose 1 of the previous example are denoted with like reference numerals with a succeeding 0. The elastic hose 10 is tubular in shape and is manufactured from an elastic material such as an elastic fabric. In this example the first component 110 comprises two layers, but it will be appreciated that the first component 110 could be the same as that in the previous example. The elastic hose is located between the layers of the first component 110 and is stitched thereto, the stitching being a spiral shape with respect to the axial direction of the hose. It will be appreciated that the elastic hose could be located on the inside, or outside, of the first component 11 instead. It will also be appreciated that multiple elastic hoses could be provided at different positions. For example, elastic hoses could be provided in any combination of being inside of the first component 110, outside of the first component 110, or between any number of a plurality of layers of the first component 110. The spacing of axially adjacent fastening positions is provided by the pitch of the spiral stitching. When the elastic hose is unstretched, the first component 110 is slack between any two axially adjacent positions on the stitching.

[0045] The hose 10 is manufactured in a similar way to the hose 1 of the previous example, whereby the elastic hose is stretched to a length of L20, the first component 110 is held taut at a length of L20, and the elastic hose is stitched to the first component 110 while both the elastic hose and the first component 110 are at a length of L20. The elastic hose is then allowed to return to an unstretched length of L10, thereby slackening the first component 110 between axially adjacent fastening positions 150. As in the previous example, the extension of the elastic hose is 150%, as provided by the following formula:

[00003]$\frac{L20}{L10}*100\%=150\%$

[0046] As with the hose 1 of the previous example, the hose 10 of this example is operable between an inflated or extended condition and a deflated or retracted condition. In the inflated condition the elastic hose is stretched, and the slack in the first component 110 between axially adjacent fastening positions 150 is reduced to reduce, or eliminate, the likelihood and severity of kinking of the hose 10. This enables the correct pressure and/or flow rate of air to be supplied. When the hose 10 is deflated, the elastic hose contracts and reintroduced slack into the first component 110 between axially adjacent fastening positions 150. In the deflated condition the hose 10 can be rolled or folded into storage, such that it can be stored efficiently on the passenger boarding bridge.

[0047] It will be appreciated that several variations of the aforementioned examples are envisaged. For example, springs may be provided instead of elastic cords. A plurality of springs may be located along the axial direction of the hose. By way of another example, the elastic tube may be stitched to the first component with parallel lines of stitching around the circumference of the hose, instead of spiral stitching.