A hydraulic hose is a synthetic rubber tube surrounded by metal or fibre winding. It is used in any hydraulic system that requires a flexible connection between two fluid ports. According to SAE Australasia (Society of Automotive Engineers), the life expectancy of a hydraulic rubber hose is about ten years.
Companies like Hydraulic Online have different hydraulic hoses, but the most frequently used are SAE standard hose, standard high-pressure hose, low-pressure hose, steel wire braided hose, and thermoplastic hydraulic hose.
If you talk about hydraulic hose fittings, they connect conductors, such as hoses to pumps, valves, cylinders, and other components, used for the hydraulic system. These fittings secure the connection, direct the flow of fluid, prevent leaks, and safely maintain the pressure.
Now, let’s see how to choose the best hydraulic hose fittings.
Common Types of Hydraulic Fittings
JIC (Joint Industry Council): These fittings are used where high-pressure fluid runs through the systems. They are mostly used in the fluid power industry in a test-point setting and diagnostic setting.
BSP (British Standard Pipe): These fittings are usually measured in inches. It has a tapered nose/flareless swivel (female), which seals the cone seat (male).
ORFS (O Ring Face Seal): Here, the female fitting has a straight thread and a flat face. Whereas, the male fitting has a straight thread and O-ring in the face. The O-ring is compressed onto the flat face of the female, which then seals the opening. The connection is held by the threads mechanically.
Metric Series: Metric L series or S series are measured in millimetres. The size refers to the outside diameter.
Factors That Matter When Buying Hydraulic Hose Fittings
The following are the factors that help choose the hydraulic hose fittings.
Fitting Configuration
As mentioned above, there are different types of hydraulic fittings and configurations. Companies like Hydraulic Online offer various options in hydraulic hose fittings that improve connectivity and prevent leakage.
You may buy the hydraulic hose fittings based on metric series, ORFS, BSP, or JIC hydraulic fittings.
Material of the Conductor
The top three types of fluid conductors used in hydraulics are steel tubing, flexible hose, and schedule pipe. Also, based on the material, the fittings can be classified as stainless steel, aluminium, brass, and plastic.
Most industries prefer stainless steel, aluminium, and brass as they have anti-corrosion properties. Stainless steel has a high resistance to heat, aluminium when alloyed with copper, manganese, or silicon becomes more robust & durable, and brass has high-temperature ductility and conduction properties.
Flow Rate
The hydraulic flow rate is the speed at which the fluid flows within the hydraulic tubes and pipes. Various industries use intensifiers to increase the flow rate in hydraulic systems.
Since a higher flow rate requires more pressure, the hydraulic hose fittings must be durable and have higher tensile strength.
Working Pressure
The regular hydraulic systems or cylinders have a maximum working pressure of 70 bar. The pressure keeps increasing to 140 bar, 210 bar, 320 bar, or 350 bar. A pump installed in the hydraulic system creates the necessary flow of the fluid.
The flow or movement of the fluid within the valves increases the pressure. Hence, the hydraulic hose fittings need to be well-equipped within the system for a systematic flow process.