Interlock Hose

Interlocked metal hoses are made for a variety of specialized industrial applications and are available in a wide range of metals, styles and sizes. Interlocked hose is manufactured by helically winding preformed metal strip over a sizing mandrel and folding together the adjacent edges forming the interlocked convolutions. A packing material may be inserted into a preformed groove within the interlock to make the hose pressure tight or to minimize leakage. This packing forms a continuous gasket seal throughout the entire length of the hose. Flexibility is achieved through the sliding action which is provided by the slip-space within each interlocked convolution. The limits of axial elongation or compression are established when the convolutions are all fully opened or are all fully closed. Similarly, the minimum bend radius is achieved when the convolutions on the outside of the bend are fully opened, and those on the inside of the bend are fully closed. Considerable force is required to exceed these limitations. However, if the hose is forced beyond these limits, it will be permanently deformed. Certain styles of non- pressure hose are designed to minimize metal to metal contact within the interlocked convolutions, and are therefore very flexible. Conversely, pressure hose is considerably less flexible since the forces necessary to compress the packing material produce a greater resistance to the sliding action.