The two most important things to consider when using hydraulic hoses is safety and performance. You will need to ensure that they are installed correctly to guarantee suitable productivity and prevention of any potential hazards in their environment.
We have put together some helpful tips which will help you the best efficiency and lower the chance of failure when routing your hydraulic hose assemblies:
Leave hose allowance for slack.
You will want to allow slack for changes to the length when the hose is full and pressurised. A hydraulic hose can actually elongate up to 2% and contact up to 4% depending on how they are constructed.
The lifespan of the hose will be greatly reduced if there is not enough room for flexing and length changes. When pressurised, it may full fittings loose if not long enough. However, do not allow too much slack in case the hose snags on other components.
Don’t exceed the minimum bend radius.
Bending a hose beyond the recommended radius can create huge stress on the reinforcement – risking holes developing and limiting the maximum pressure capacity. The recommended bend radius should be stated somewhere in your catalogue.
Don’t twist the hose.
This movement can misalign/damage any reinforcement the hose has within its structure, again, lowering the maximum pressure capacity. An easy way to see if a hose has been twisted is to check the information printed on the hose, and see if its twists around like candy cane. If it does, your hose has been twisted in installation and may fail prematurely.
Avoid damage from abrasive influences.
Keep your hose away from sharp objects or abrasive materials. Direct contact could cause damage to the outer cover, which then leaves the reinforcement open to risk. However, if such contact cannot be avoided, there are a selection of anti-abrasive hose covers which can be used.
Do not mix hoses and fittings.
Don’t mix and match different hose fittings from different manufacturers – this will ensure your hose lasts as long as possible. The hose and the fitting manufacturer will need to be the same in order for the hose to work efficiently. Incorrect fittings will cause strain to the hose.
Remember the temperature effects the hose too.
You will want to keep hydraulic hoses away from external high temperatures – these can lower the lifespan of a hose. High temperatures can cause cracking on a hose.
If your hose needs to be subject to extreme temperatures, whether it be hot or cold, there are appropriate hose covers on the market. The more extreme the exterior temperature is, the more durable your hose cover will need to be.
Plan for maintenance in the future.
Avoid having to take apart multiple adjoining hose assemblies by using a combination of fittings and hose ends. This will make access to a particular hose for periodic maintenance easier in the future. This will also reduce any downtime from maintenance routines.
