Selecting the appropriate hydraulic hose for an application is not always easy. The aspects that define the suitability of a hose include, among others, media compatibility, working pressure, abrasion resistance, the layability and flexibility of the hose and ultimately the bending radius. Application-specific certifications and standards must also be taken into account.
In addition to the technical properties of the hose, however, there are other factors that should be considered when selecting a hose.
- Product selection and sizing also depends on the supplier of the hose.
- The product meets all the technical requirements,
- Leading suppliers offer a high level of after-sales service, global availability of products and at the same time support in technical design (engineering).
- Manufacturers provide their own research and development departments, striving for continuous improvement of products and production processes, as well as constant quality testing of hoses.
All these factors ultimately define the service life of the hose and thus the quality of the equipment in which it is installed. Costly replacements, production downtimes and complaints can thus be minimized.
Hose service life
Hoses are often used under demanding conditions. These include temperature fluctuations, vibration and movement, various working pressures and different installation situations and bending radii. To demonstrate the suitability of a hose, minimum performance parameters are defined in EN and ISO standards. In reality, however, these minimum standards are not always sufficient, so they are often exceeded to provide maximum performance.
Bending radius and weight
Increasingly important in hose selection is the bend radius. This goes hand in hand with the trend toward electrification of vehicles to save fuel and the associated reduction in size and weight. The hose should not be a constraint in terms of size and weight in the design of the machine. Thus, a smaller bending radius supports the ability to use the hose in tight installation situations without affecting the overall design due to limitations in the hose.
Additionally, when reducing the weight of a hose, the use of high-quality compounds in the jacket is critical. With high-quality materials, the jacket can be made significantly thinner and weight can be reduced.
As a result, significantly more compact hydraulic systems can be designed overall. Watch our video on bend radius.
Bend Radius Graphic
Robustness in the form of abrasion resistance, fittings and media compatibility
Not only in terms of weight, a high-quality hose cover is crucial. Especially in dynamic applications, high abrasion resistance is also crucial for the reliability of the entire system. In order not to drive up costs unnecessarily, it is advisable to select different cover compounds tailored to the type of application. For example, a hose with a harder and more advanced compound with up to 100 times higher abrasion resistance can be used for demanding applications, whereas standard rubber coatings are suitable for less demanding applications. Not every manufacturer offers the same hose series in all variants.
In this context, it is also important to select a supplier that offers approved fittings for the hoses. To make the connection permanently secure and leak-free, the hose and fittings should be precisely matched and approved for joint use.
Media compatibility is also critical to selecting the right hose. Not every hose's material composition is equally suitable for every application. For example, while compatibility with mineral-based hydraulic oils may often have been sufficient in the past, there is an increasing need for compatibility with biodegradable oils. Here, too, expert advice is helpful.
Parker Hydraulic Hose Connection
Service and support
Often a hose is seen as a simple component that can be ordered from a catalog without any further contact with the hose manufacturer. Likewise, price is a criterion that should not be ignored, of course.
However, when selecting the right hose, other factors also play a role that should not be underestimated. For example, it can make sense to choose a manufacturer that has the resources and capacity in research and development to pass on technical innovations and improvements directly to customers. This is the only way to guarantee continuously high quality and up-to-date production and design of the hoses.
In addition, larger manufacturers often offer a global logistics network with extensive technical support. In addition to technical advice, this also allows customized solutions to be implemented.
Continuous quality testing, constant improvement of production processes and the associated compliance with standards and norms are also decisive criteria in hose selection.
Hydraulic Hoses Routing Example
462 EVO, the new all-rounder hose
Parker meets most of the requirements for a hose described here. The company is constantly working to improve production processes to optimize product quality. This process has resulted in the next generation of the 462 hose series, the 462 EVO. Improved quality standards and production processes have allowed the quality of the previous model to be tested with significantly better results. The 462 EVO hose offers 67% longer service life. In addition, the hose has a significantly smaller bending radius.
Parker 462EVO Hose
As before, the 462 EVO will be available in various cover options. The Super Tough cover offers 450 times greater abrasion resistance than the classic rubber cover. Depending on the requirements, the appropriate sheathing can therefore be selected individually.
The no-skive 462 EVO all-round hose series features excellent pressure and temperature resistance of up to 425 bar/ 42.5 MPa at -40 to 100°C.
With newly confirmed values that illustrate durability and compactness, even exceeding industry standards EN857-2SC and ISO 11237 type 2SC, the 462 EVO hose is suitable for the most challenging applications in many fields such as construction, transportation or industrial machinery.
Together with the matching 48 series hose fittings, the hose can be used flexibly wherever durability, reliability and adaptability are important.
Interested in learning about MCE hydraulic hose offerings, contact us today.
For more information on 462 EVO hose, visit Parker’s product website for Medium Pressure Parkrimp No-Skive Hose 462/ST/TC - EN 857 2SC - ISO 11237.
Source: https://blog.parker.com/site/usa/hydraulics-home/selection-criteria-for-hydraulic-hoses-us