PRESSURE-ACUATATED LINEARLY RETRACTABLE AND EXTENDIBLE HOSE

摘要

A linearly self−actuated hose for use in transporting fluids (liquids, gases, solid particles, and combinations of these three). Hose (30b) has a biasing spring (36) extends along the full length, and can comprise single or multiple springs and/or multiple diameter spring coils. Spring (36) is covered with hose cover material (32) on the outside and hose cover material (34) on the inside to form a sealed hose and are bowed inward or outward radially between the individual spring coils depending on the intended use of hose (30b) to give the cover materials room to move out of the way when the hose retracts and the coils of spring (36) are forced close together. Hose (30b) is designed with a source end (26) and a output end (68). A pressure control mechanism is used on output end (68) to control the extending and retracting of hose (30b). The Linearly Retractable Hose is operated by changing internal pressure within the hose relative to the ambient pressure on the exterior of the hose. Control of fluid pressure within hose (30b) is what allows the hose to operate as an automatically extendable and retractable hose. The biasing of spring (36) depends on the type of use for the hose. For hose (30b) which will be used as a vacuum hose then the biasing spring (30b) must exert an extending force on the cover material (opposite that for a pressure hose). If the hose is to be used as a pressure hose (garden hose, etc.), spring (36) will need to have a bias that exerts a retracting force on cover materials (32) and (34).