The present invention is directed to an improved hose structure; formulations for a rubber tube used therein, and method of making the hose structure. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a rubber formulation utilizing chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) for making a tubular portion of a hose and to a method of making a hose using that tubular portion.
Rubber formulations which are resistant to both relatively high temperatures and relatively low temperatures, as well as to fluids which come into contact with rubber made of the formulations are needed for oil cooler hose used with transmissions, such as but not limited to, transmissions for motor vehicles. Oil coolers are used extensively in trucks, wherein oil cooler hoses are subject to both high and low temperatures and to synthetic transmission fluids which tend to degrade the hoses.
There is also need for improvement in hoses used for fuel delivery systems, such as fuel delivery systems which convey heated diesel oil, as well as in hoses used for power steering systems. Other articles, such as gaskets and seals which utilize CPE rubber, wherein the articles are subjected to thermal stress and fluids that may degrade CPE rubber, may benefit from improvements initially directed primarily to hoses, such as transmission oil cooler hoses.
In view of the above-identified considerations, the present invention is directed to a rubber article such as a tube made of chlorinated polyethylene polymer (CPE) which has been peroxide cured and includes antioxidants and plasticizers to improve heat stability.
In a more specific aspect, the CPE polymer comprises a blend of two different plasticizers, one being polymeric based and the other being ester based, wherein the polymeric portion gives added protection to high temperatures and the ester portion provides improved low temperature properties.
In still further aspects of the invention, resistance to chemical degradation is provided by a blend of quinoline materials, while heat stabilization is provided by a blend of metal oxides and silicates.
The present invention is also directed to a hose for transmitting liquids wherein the hose comprises an inner tube made of the aforediscussed CPE which has been peroxide cured; a ply of metal wire braided directly over the inner tube, a thin layer of rubber covering the wire; a layer of polyester yarn braided over the rubber layer, and a dye containing urethane deposited over the layer of yarn.
In a further aspect of the invention, the polyethylene polymer is a vulcanized blend of peroxides and cross-linking coagents which is plasticized using a blend of polymeric and ester based plasticizers and is heat stabilized by using a blend of metal oxides and silicates.
In still a further aspect of the invention, the hose is used as transmission oil cooler hose, fuel line hose or power steering hose.
In accordance with a method for making the afore described hose, the aforedescribed rubber compound is mixed until the ingredients are in a homogeneous state, then cooled and perhaps stored. A hose tube formed of the rubber compound is extruded through an extruder at an elevated temperature and metal wiring reinforcement braided thereover. A thin layer of rubber is then applied over the wire braid and an outer textile braid is applied over the thin rubber layer. After a polyurethane layer is placed over the outer textile braid, the hose is vulcanized and cooled.
Referring now to
A coating 22 containing a polymeric material, preferably polyurethane, is applied over the textile yarn layer 20. The coating 22 may be black or any other color. The coating 22 provides the hose 10 with improved abrasion resistance due to its polyurethane content. Moreover, the coating 22 provides improved surface characteristics because the strands of the textile yarn layer 20 are sealed so that fiber does not hang from the hose 10 and catch on rough surfaces that the hose may be dragged over.
The present invention uses a polymer rubber formulation for the tubular portion 12 of the hose 10 which has both high and low temperature resistance and is resistant to fluids such as synthetic transmission oil. The base polymer is chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), which allows for higher temperature resistance than compounds such as acrylonitrile butadiene or polychloroprene, conventionally used for transmission oil cooler hose.
In order to allow the tubular portion 12 of the hose 10 to remain flexible after extended exposure to aggressive fluids at elevated temperatures, an antioxidant system having a blend of peroxides and cross-linking coagents are used as vulcanizing agents.
By having a blend of two different plasticizers, one being polymeric based and the other being ester based, substantial high and low temperature resistance is provided. The polymeric portion provides added protection against high heat exposures and the ester-based portion provides improved low temperature properties to prevent the hose from cracking at temperatures that would cause traditional oil transmission oil cooler hose to fail.
The hose 10 of the present invention may be manufactured with a range of parts by weight. In one application, the hose 10 may be 90 parts by weight of chlorinated polyethylene polymer, and have a total of 320 parts by weight. As a result, the percentage, by weight, of chlorinated polyethylene polymer is approximately 28%.
The resulting rubber compound is mixed using an internal mixer as a temperature which rises from room temperature to about 250° F. and is held at the 250° F. level for about one minute. In the mixer, the ingredients are sheared until they reach a homogeneous state. The mixed ingredients are then dumped from the mixer, quickly cooled and stored for making the hose 10.
After applying the coating 22, the hose 10 is optionally wrapped with a nylon strip 24 to smooth the surface of the hose even further.
Referring now to
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the nylon strip 24 is wrapped by a wrapper. 54 around the hose 10 to produce a hose 10′ prior to vulcanization in order to smooth the surface of the hose further. If this is not deemed necessary, the nylon strip 24 is not utilized.
The hose 10 or 10′ is then vulcanized by a vulcanizer 62 in steam, at approximately 300° F. for a period in the range of 60-120 minutes. Thereafter, the hose 10 is placed in a water shower 64.
By the aforementioned process, a hose 10 is produced which is particularly useful as transmission oil cooler hose that withstands both high and low temperatures as well as resistance to degradation by synthetic transmission oil. Since the hose 10 has enhance heat resistance and can withstand temperatures in excess of 300° F., it is useful in power steering systems and for fuel return lines in fuel delivery systems which handle heated diesel fuel.
From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing form the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3866631 | Chudgar | Feb 1975 | A |
3953270 | Ford | Apr 1976 | A |
4130139 | Haren | Dec 1978 | A |
4190088 | Lalikos et al. | Feb 1980 | A |
4196754 | Payne | Apr 1980 | A |
4366746 | Rosecrans | Jan 1983 | A |
4431031 | Ettlinger | Feb 1984 | A |
4585035 | Piccoli | Apr 1986 | A |
4806182 | Rydell et al. | Feb 1989 | A |
5022459 | Chiles et al. | Jun 1991 | A |
5085905 | Beck | Feb 1992 | A |
5158113 | Ozawa et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
5182147 | Davis | Jan 1993 | A |
5655572 | Marena | Aug 1997 | A |
5683773 | Kemper | Nov 1997 | A |
5957164 | Campbell | Sep 1999 | A |
6024133 | Kodama et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6112771 | Aoyagi et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6142189 | Bhattacharyya | Nov 2000 | A |
6179008 | Kawazura et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6237641 | Niki et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6302150 | Martucci et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6397894 | Leray et al. | Jun 2002 | B2 |
6656552 | Crouse | Dec 2003 | B1 |
20010001395 | Shifman et al. | May 2001 | A1 |