HOSES AND HOSE ADAPTORS

Abstract

A hose end adaptor for holding an inner component to be nested within an outer tube of a hose includes a first support portion for receiving the outer tube and a second support portion on which a component to be nested within the outer tube is mountable.

Claims

1. A hose end adaptor for holding an inner component to be nested within an outer tube of a hose, the adaptor comprising: a first support portion for receiving the outer tube, and a second support portion on which a component to be nested within the outer tube is mountable.

2. A hose end adaptor according to claim 1, in which the adaptor comprises an insertion portion for introduction in and clamping by a hose connector portion.

3. A hose end adaptor according to claim 2, in which the insertion portion comprises the first support portion which is arranged such that in use the first support portion of the adaptor and carried outer tube are introducible together in and clampable by a hose connector portion.

4. A hose end adaptor according to claim 1, in which the adaptor comprises a hose connector portion.

5. A hose end adaptor according to claim 1, in which the first support portion is the same portion as the second support portion.

6. A hose end adaptor according to claim 1, in which the second support portion is arranged to receive and support a tube as the inner component.

7. A hose end adaptor according to claim 6, in which the adaptor comprises a fluid communication passage for allowing fluid communication between an interior of an inner tube mounted on the second support portion and the exterior.

8. A hose end adaptor according to claim 1, in which the second support portion projects longitudinally from the first support portion so that, in use, the second support portion extends further within the outer tube than the first support portion.

9. A hose end adaptor according to claim 1, in which the adaptor defines a receiving bore for receiving a spigot of a respective connector portion.

10. A hose end adaptor according to claim 9, in which a seal is provided for sealing between the spigot and the adaptor.

11. A hose end adaptor according to claim 1, which is dimensioned and arranged so that when in position at an end of a hose assembly, that end of the hose assembly may be introduced into a standard hose connector portion, for example, a standard garden hose connector portion.

12. A hose end adaptor arrangement comprising a hose end adaptor according to claim 1, and a clamping member for clamping the inner component to the adaptor.

13. A hose end adaptor arrangement according to claim 12, in which the clamping member is deformable into position to clamp an inner component onto the second support portion of the adaptor.

14. A hose end adaptor arrangement according to claim 12, in which the clamping member is threadingly engageable with the adaptor to clamp an inner component onto the second support portion of the adaptor.

15. A hose end adaptor arrangement according to claim 12, in which the clamping member has a supporting surface for supporting the inner component in the region of the adaptor.

16. A hose end adaptor arrangement according to claim 12, in which the clamping member has a flared, for example cone shaped or trumpet shaped, supporting surface.

17. A hose end adaptor arrangement according to claim 12, located in an end of a length of outer tube.

18. A hose assembly according to claim 17, further comprising an expansion retainer for controlling expansion of an inner tube mounted on the adaptor.

19. A hose arrangement comprising a hose assembly according to claim 17, and a first hose end component comprising a first connector portion mounted on a first end of the hose assembly and a second hose end component comprising a second connector portion mounted on a second end of the hose assembly.

20. A hose assembly according to claim 17, which is a watering hose assembly or a watering hose arrangement.

21. A method of making a hose assembly according to claim 17, comprising the steps of: providing an inner component within a length of outer tube so as to be nested therein; locating a first end of the inner component on the second support portion of a first hose end adaptor; locating a second end of the inner component on the second support portion of a second hose end adaptor; locating a first end of the outer tube on the first support portion of the first hose end adaptor; and locating a second end of the outer tube on the first support portion of the second hose end adaptor; clamping the first ends of the inner component and outer tube to the first hose end adaptor; and clamping the second ends of the inner component and outer tube to the second hose end adaptor.

22. A method of making a hose arrangement according to claim 19, comprising the steps of: i) making a hose assembly by the steps of: providing an inner component within a length of outer tube so as to be nested therein; locating a first end of the inner component to the second support portion of a first hose end adaptor; locating a second end of the inner component to the second support portion of a second hose end adaptor; locating a first end of the outer tube on the first support portion of the first hose end adaptor; locating a second end of the outer tube on the first support portion of the second hose end adaptor; and ii) locating and clamping a first end of the hose assembly in a connector portion of a first hose end component; and locating and clamping a second end of the hose assembly in a connector portion of a second hose end component.

23. A hose assembly comprising a hole end adaptor according to claim 1, located in an end of a length of outer tube.

24. A hose assembly according to claim 23, comprising an expansion retainer for controlling expansion of an inner tube mounted on the adaptor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0136] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0137] FIG. 1 schematically shows a garden water supplying hose arrangement in a contracted state;

[0138] FIG. 2 schematically shows the hose arrangement of FIG. 1 in an extended state;

[0139] FIG. 3 is a section through a first hose end component of the hose arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 mounted on the end of a hose assembly of the hose arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0140] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section showing the adaptor and clamping collar of the arrangement of FIG. 3 in isolation;

[0141] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section showing part of an alternative adaptor and clamping collar; and

[0142] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-section showing a first hose end component and one end of a hose assembly of an alternative hose arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0143] FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show a hose arrangement comprising a hose assembly 1 provided at each end with a respective hose end component 2. The hose arrangement is a garden watering hose arrangement for use in, for example, domestic gardens watering plants and/or washing surfaces. FIG. 1 shows the hose arrangement in a contracted state which will tend to be adopted when there is no water within the hose assembly 1. On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows the hose arrangement of FIG. 1 in an extended state which will tend to be adopted when water flows through the hose assembly 1.

[0144] Whilst the present description is directed to this particular type of garden watering hose, it is noted again that the ideas of the present invention are more generally applicable than this. They may be used, for example, in other types of watering hoses in non-domestic situations and moreover in other applications, for example industrial applications including say spraying. Such hoses, for example, may not be retractable and/or may have an inner component other than an inner tube—for example an inner elastic cord.

[0145] FIG. 3 shows one of the hose end components 2 and one end of the hose assembly 1 in more detail. In the present embodiment the other hose end component 2 is identical. In alternatives, however, there may be some differences between the respective hose end components 2. Indeed in some cases a completely different type of hose end component may be provided at one end of the assembly—say like that described in GB2490276A.

[0146] In the present embodiment each hose end component 2 is in the form of a hose fitting which is arranged to allow the hose arrangement to be connected to other components. In particular, for example, one of the hose fittings 2 may be connected to a tap or other source of water and the other hose fitting 2 may be connected to a spray gun, nozzle, or other outlet device.

[0147] In the present embodiment each hose fitting 2 is an industry standard female push fit hose fitting which is arranged to allow connection to a complimentary male fitting provided on another component.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 3, the hose fitting 2 comprises a fitting portion 3 and a connector portion 4. The fitting portion 3 is arranged for connecting to the complimentary male fitting portion provided on another component. Since this part of the fitting 2 is a standard piece of garden watering equipment and is not of particular pertinence to the present invention, further description of it is omitted.

[0149] Further note that in other cases, different forms of hose end component may be used in the hose arrangement. Thus, for example, in fact the type of hose fitting 2 shown in FIG. 3 is of a slightly different type than that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, the hose end component 2 might be a nozzle, spray gun, watering lance, or some other component. Provided that this hose end component 2 has a connector portion 4 of the type described in more detail below, the hose end component 2 may be connected to the hose assembly 1 and used to form a whole hose arrangement.

[0150] To put this another way, the hose assembly 1 of the present invention, as will be explained in more detail below, is suitable for use with many different hose end components 2. In general terms, if the hose end component 2 is designed to allow the connection of a standard piece of garden hose to the hose end component 2 it should be useable with the present hose assembly 1. In particular, the present hose assembly 1 should be useable with any hose end component 2 having a connector portion 4 of the general type described below.

[0151] The connector portion 4 comprises a spigot 41 which is arranged to be received in the internal bore of a piece of hosepipe to be connected to the connector portion 4. Further, the connector portion 4 comprises a plurality of deformable gripping fingers 42. A locking nut 43 is provided to drive the deformable fingers 42 into the outer surface of a piece of hose received on the spigot 41 as the locking nut 43 is tightened onto the main body 44 of the connector portion 4. In this embodiment the deformable fingers 42 are provided with teeth 42a for biting into the outer surface of the hose and, as will be appreciated, the locking nut 43 and main body 44 of the connector 4 have interengaging threads 43a for allowing tightening of the nut 43 onto the main body 44.

[0152] The hose assembly 1 is arranged to be received in the connector portion 4 and is shown so received in FIG. 3. Similarly of course, the hose assembly 1 is arranged to be received in any similar hose connector portion, in particular one comprising a spigot, a plurality of gripping fingers and for use with a locking nut.

[0153] The hose assembly 1 comprises a first outer tube 11 of non-elastic and flexible material, for example a woven plastics material, and a second inner, elastic, tube 12 which is for carrying water through the hose assembly 1 and hence whole hose arrangement.

[0154] Note that in alternatives the outer tube may be of a material with elasticity to some degree in one or more direction provided that it acts to retain the inner tube. The outer tube may be termed an outer retaining tube. For example, the outer tube may be elastic in the longitudinal direction and non-elastic in the radial or circumferential direction. In another case the outer tube may be elastic but less elastic than the inner tube.

[0155] Each end of the hose assembly 1 is provided with a respective adaptor 5. Of course, only one of these adaptors 5 may be seen in FIG. 3.

[0156] The adaptor 5 is generally tubular with a through bore through which water may flow between the interior of the inner tube 12 and an internal bore of the fitting portion 3 or more generally an internal bore of the hose end component 2 which comprises the connector portion 4. Thus this through bore forms part of the water flow path through the hose assembly 1 and whole hose arrangement.

[0157] The outer tube 11 and inner tube 12 are both mounted on the adaptor 5. However, the tubes 11, 12 are mounted at different and spaced locations on the adaptor 5. The outer tube 11 is mounted on the adaptor 5 at a first support portion 51 and the inner tube 12 is mounted on the adaptor 5 at a second support portion 52. The first support portion 51 is provided with a projecting rib 51a for helping to retain the outer tube 11 on the adaptor 5. Similarly, the second support portion 52 is provided with a plurality of retaining ribs 52a for helping retain the inner elastic tube 12 on the adaptor 5. The inner elastic tube 12 is clamped onto the adaptor 5 at the second support portion 52 via a metal ferrule 53. The ferrule 53 is pressed onto the adaptor 5 over the inner tube 12 to tightly clamp the inner tube 12 to the adaptor 5.

[0158] In general terms the adaptor 5 comprises an insertion portion I which is arranged to be received in and clamped by the connector portion 4 of a standard hose end component. In the present embodiment, the insertion portion I comprises the first support portion 51. In other embodiments the first and second support portions 51, 52 may be separate from/spaced from the insertion portion I.

[0159] A rim portion 54 is provided at an end of the adaptor 5. This rim portion 54 projects longitudinally and transversely away from the first support portion 51 and serves to protect the end of the outer tube 11.

[0160] During manufacture of the hose arrangement in the present embodiment, the hose assembly 1 is first produced by fitting respective adaptors 5 at each end of the inner and outer tubes 11, 12. First, the inner tube 12 is clamped onto the adaptor 5 by the metal ferrule 53. Then the outer tube 11 is loosely mounted on the adaptor 5, in particular on the first support portion 51, by being a push fit over the retaining rib 51a and with the end of the outer tube 11 abutting against the rim portion 54. Note that once assembled with an adaptor 5 at each end, due to the retracting effect of the inner elastic tube 12, the outer tube 11 will tend to be pushed onto each adaptor 5. The rim portion 54 has a shoulder 54a against which the end of the outer tube 11 abuts in this state.

[0161] The hose assembly 1 may then be separately introduced into the respective connector portions 4 to complete the assembly of the hose arrangement. This assembly step may be taken separately, both in time and place, from the production of the hose assembly 1.

[0162] Further, this approach facilitates the production of hose assemblies 1 as one process for use in producing hose arrangements of different types having different hose end components without the need for dedicated tooling for each type of hose arrangement.

[0163] The rim portion 54 has an internal chamfer 54b and an external chamfer 54c for assisting in assembling the hose assembly 1 onto the connector portion 4. In particular, the inner chamfer 54b can help location of the hose assembly 1 onto the spigot 41 as can the outer chamfer 54c. The outer chamfer 54c can also help to drive apart the deformable fingers 42 should these be in an inwardly deformed position at the time when the hose assembly 1 is introduced into the connector portion 44.

[0164] When the hose assembly 1 is introduced into the connector portion 4 as shown in FIG. 3, the spigot 41 of the connector portion 4 is received in a receiving bore 55 of the adaptor 5. This receiving bore 55 is within the first support portion 51. The rim portion 54 surrounds an open end of the receiving bore 55 and in this embodiment is a continuous annular portion. The internal chamfer 54b faces the axis of the bore 55 and the external chamfer 54c faces way therefrom.

[0165] As the locking nut 43 is tightened onto the main body 44 of the connector portion 4, the deformable fingers 42 deform inwardly driving the outer tube 11 and adaptor 5 (in particular the first support portion 51) toward the spigot 41. This firmly secures the outer tube 11 to the adaptor 5 and the connector portion 4. Thus, at this stage, the outer tube 11 and inner tube 12 are firmly connected to the connector portion 4.

[0166] In the present embodiment, an o-ring seal 56 is provided in the receiving bore 55 of the adaptor 5 for helping seal between the spigot 41 and the adaptor 5. This o-ring 56 may be provided as part of the hose assembly 1 if required.

[0167] In alternatives, other sealing means may be provided. In particular, the material of the adaptor 5 in the region of the receiving bore 55 may be pliable enough to provide the required seal against the spigot 41. Thus, for example, the adaptor 5 might be made of two different materials. A first harder material in the region of the first support portion 52 to facilitate clamping of the inner hose 12 onto the adaptor 5 and a second softer material in the region of the first support portion 51. Alternatively, the softer material may be provided as part of the adapter 5 at at least some portions in the receiving bore 55 to provide a seal. Thus, for example, a projecting ring of softer material may be provided on the surface of the adaptor 5 that defines the receiving bore 55 to surround and seal to an inserted spigot 41. In either such case, the adaptor 5 might be a two shot injection moulded component moulded using a first harder plastics material and a second softer plastics material. These alternatives may be preferable than the provision of an o-ring since they remove the risk of the o-ring being lost if the hose assembly 1 is disconnected from the connector portion 4.

[0168] In some embodiments the hose arrangement may comprise at least one mid-line connection which serves to connect the outer tube 11 to the inner tube 12 at a location part-way along the length of the hose assembly 1. There might be say two such mid-line connections.

[0169] As will be appreciated, when the hose arrangement is used water will pass through the inner elastic tube 11. If water is fed into the hose arrangement and the outlet of the arrangement is shut off, for example by a closed valve in a spray gun attached to the hose assembly, the inner tube 11 will expand longitudinally and transversely whilst the thickness of its side walls will tend to decrease. This will lead to a longer hose. Expansion is then contained by the outer tube 12 when its full natural diameter and length are reached. A similar effect is obtained during water flow where there is a constriction at the outlet of the hose arrangement, in say the hose end component or something connected thereto. When the applied pressure is removed, and the hose is not shut off, it will tend to expel carried water and contract.

[0170] FIG. 4 shows the adaptor 5 and the clamping collar or ferrule 53 in isolation and before the ferrule 53 is deformed into position to grip the inner tube 12.

[0171] It will be noted that in the present arrangement the adaptor 5 forms a barrier between the interior of the inner tube 12 and the interior of the outer tube 11—that is, the annulus that exists between the inner tube 12 and outer tube 11 when the arrangement is assembled. In the present embodiment this is useful as the hose arrangement is arranged so that water is to be carried by the inner tube 12 and the outer tube 11 is not necessarily waterproof.

[0172] However, as alluded to above, in a different situation, a different type of hose arrangement may be used. In such a situation, for example, the hose arrangement may be arranged so that fluid can flow both within the inner tube 12 and within the outer tube 11—specifically in the annulus between the inner tube 12 and the outer tube 11. In such a case, both the inner tube 12 and outer tube 11 may be fluid proof (in particular say liquid proof, or waterproof).

[0173] In some such situations neither of the tubes 11, 12 may be particularly elastic and the matter of interest may be the fact that there are two tubes nested one within the other which are able to carry different fluids. In such a circumstance, the adaptor 5 may be still constructed as described above if there is no desire to access the fluid in the annulus between the inner tube 12 and outer tube 11. Alternatively, the adaptor 5 may be differently constructed so as to allow the fluids to flow independently through the adaptor 5 and onwards—that is to say the adaptor may be arranged to keep the fluids separate whilst allowing both to flow out of the hose. Alternatively, the adaptor 5 may be arranged to allow mixing of the fluids in the region of the adapter 5. In order to achieve this one or more fluid communication passages may be provided through the material of the adaptor 5 such that fluid in the inner tube 12 may be mixed with fluid in the annulus between the two tubes 11, 12 in the region of the adaptor 5. It will be appreciated that such a construction will more likely be useful in an industrial application where differing fluids are caused to flow through the inner tube 12 on the one hand and the annulus between the outer tube and inner tube 11, 12 on the other hand.

[0174] FIG. 5 schematically shows an alternative adaptor 5′ and clamping collar 53′ which may be used in an arrangement such as that shown and described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3 or indeed in an alternative arrangement for example when the inner and outer tubes 11 and 12 have a different nature and function as discussed immediately above.

[0175] In the alternative shown in FIG. 5, the clamping collar 53′ is in the form of a nut which is threadingly engageable with the adaptor 5′. In this alternative the inner tube 12 is still mounted on a second support portion 52 but it is held in place by virtue of the threaded nut 53 being tightened onto the adaptor 5′. In this embodiment the remainder of the adaptor 5′, in particular the first support portion 51, the rim portion 54 and receiving bore 55 are substantially the same as those of the adaptor 5 shown in and described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 4. The threaded nut 53′ has an internal bore which is profiled so as to support the inner tube 12. In particular, the profile of the inner bore of the nut 53′ is arranged to relieve stress on the clamping of the inner tube 12. The threaded nut 53′ thus has a support surface 53a′ which supports the inner tube 12. This support surface has a flared portion at the distal end of the nut 53′ against which the inner tube 12 rests. This is in a region where the diameter of the inner tube 12 expands from a diameter at which it is clamped to an expanded diameter which it adopts when it contains fluid under pressure. Thus, it will be seen that this supporting feature of the threaded nut 53′ is particularly relevant where the inner tube 12 is flexible and/or elastic as is the case, for example, in the embodiment described in relation to FIGS. 1-3.

[0176] In the present example, the cross section of the sidewall of the nut 53′ bulges inwards from the location at which the inner tube 12 is held against the second support portion of the adaptor 5′. Thus, the support portion 53a′ projects inwards before flaring outwards towards the distal end of the nut 53′. Thus the inner tube 12 follows a convoluted path between where it is clamped against the second support portion 52 of the adaptor 5′ and where it leaves the distal end of the nut 53′. This can help guard against failure of the clamping of the inner tube 12.

[0177] Where the clamping member used for securing the inner component is threadingly engaged on the adaptor 5 as, for example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, this leads to advantages as the inner component, for example the inner tube 12, can be demountably mounted on the adaptor 5. This means, for example, that the inner component may be replaced or interchanged in desired.

[0178] Note that in another alternative, rather than the adaptor being a separate component this may be part of the connector, or more generally part of the hose end component. Thus rather than a spigot fitting in an internal bore of the adapter and being sealed. These portions may be moulded together as one piece. Thus you would end up with a hose end component which is adapted to mount onto two nested components—that is, an inner component within an outer tube.

[0179] Note that in further alternatives the inner component may be something other than a tube. It might for example be a length of solid elastic, wire or similar. Typically it will be an elongate member running through the length of the outer tube.

[0180] FIG. 6 shows part of an alternative hose arrangement which has similarity to that shown in and described reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 but has some differences in the way that the outer tube 11 and inner tube 12 are mounted on the adaptor 5. Detailed description of the alternative shown in FIG. 6 is omitted where the components and operation are the same as that shown in the embodiment described above in relation to FIGS. 1 to 4 and the same reference numerals are used for the parts which are common between these two embodiments.

[0181] FIG. 6 shows one end of a hose assembly 1 mounted on a hose fitting 2 to form a garden water supplying hose arrangement. Again a similar fitting 2 may be provided at the other end of the hose assembly 1.

[0182] As in the embodiments above the outer tube 11 and inner tube 12 are mounted to the adaptor 5 and the insertion portion I of the adaptor 5 is received in the connector portion 4 of the hose fitting 2 and secured there by the clamping mechanism of the connector portion 4.

[0183] However, in this instance both the inner tube 12 and outer tube 11 are clamped to the adaptor 5 by the metal ferrule 53. (Note that the metal ferrule 53 adopts a crenellated or castellated form when deformed into its clamping position, as shown in FIG. 6, and the section shown in FIG. 6 is taken through one of these crenellations such that one can see a section through a top of one the crenellations and then a side wall of the crenellation descending down into contact with the clamped tubes 11, 12.)

[0184] Thus in the present embodiment the first and second support portions 51, 52 are located at substantially the same place such that there is in effect a common support portion 51, 52 on the adaptor 5 at which both the tubes 11, 12 are clamped.

[0185] Thus in this embodiment the insertion portion I of the adaptor 5 is clamped directly by the deformable fingers 42 of the connector portion 4. That is to say, in contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the outer tube 11 does not run over the insertion portion I in the present embodiment and so is not trapped by the fingers 42 in this embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the insertion portion I is still arranged to have most of the features described above where it also constitutes the first support portion. Thus for example the rim portion 54 is still present and provided at the end of the insertion portion I and the rim portion 54 still comprises the respective chamfers 54b, 54c.

[0186] Note that in this embodiment rather than an o-ring seal 56 being provided within the receiving bore 55 a softer material portion 56′ is moulded with the main body of the adaptor 5 to provide the desired seal to the spigot 41.

[0187] In the present embodiment two additional components are provided to help ensure good performance of the hose assembly 1 and in particular the connection of the inner tube 12 and outer tube 11 to the adaptor 5.

[0188] First a sleeve of elastomeric material 6 is provided around the inner tube 12 in the region where the tube 12 is clamped. In particular this elastomeric tube is captured by the ferrule 13 and clamped between the inner tube 12 and outer tube 11 at that region. Furthermore the elastomeric sleeve 6 runs for a selected distance around the outside of the inner tube 12 axially inwardly of the clamped region. Thus the elastomeric sleeve 6 has a clamped region 61 and an extension region 62.

[0189] The provision of the elastomeric sleeve 6 can help protect the inner tube 12 against failure due to stresses put on the inner tube 12 by the clamping of the ferrule 53 as well as stresses put on the inner tube 12 when the inner tube is subjected to water pressure in use and therefore expands.

[0190] In this embodiment the hose assembly 1 also comprises an expansion retainer 7 which is provided to control expansion of the outer tube 11 and hence inner tube 12 in the region where these are clamped to the adaptor 5. Thus similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the expansion retainer 7 comprises a support surface 71 for supporting the inner tube 12 against expansion in the region of the ferrule 53.

[0191] The supporting surface 71 of the expansion retainer 7 is flared outwards to allow a gradual increase in diameter of the inner tube 12 when subjected to pressure. The support surface 71 defines a flared bore in the retainer 7.

[0192] In the present embodiment rather than the expansion retainer 7 being directly mounted to the adaptor 5 it is captured by the locking nut 43 and as such is indirectly mounted to the adaptor 5. Further it will be noted that this expansion retainer 7 also serves to support the inner tube 12 against expansion even though the outer tube 11 lies between the inner tube 12 and the expansion retainer 7.

[0193] In the present embodiment as mentioned above the expansion retainer 7 is retained by the locking nut 43. In alternatives the expansion retainer could be formed as part of the locking nut 43. An advantage of it being a separate component yet captured is that this allows the use of a standard locking nut 43 into which the expansion retainer 7 may be located for capture.

[0194] During assembly the locking nut 43 and expansion retainer 7 will first be located onto the inner and outer tubes 11, 12 after which the inner and outer tubes 11, 12 are clamped onto the adaptor 5. At this stage the locking nut 43 and expansion retainer 7 are captured as part of the hose assembly 1. As will be appreciated the resulting hose assembly 1 can then be mounted on to a standard connector portion 4 of for example a fitting 2 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0195] Whilst in the present embodiment the elastomeric sleeve 6 is shown between the outer tube 11 and inner tube 12 more generally a protective sleeve may be provided in the region of the clamp for clamping along with the inner tube 12. Thus for example the protective sleeve may be provided outside of the outer tube 11 as well as outside of the inner tube 12. The aim is to protect against damage to the inner tube 12 during clamping and also to protect it during expansion which can help prevent hard and/or sharp parts of the ferrule 43 instigating rupture of the inner tube 12.