What are Hose Pipes and Tubing?
Within the realm of aviation, hoses may be used for a variety of systems and applications. From fuel lines to hydraulic systems, aircraft hoses are an important component for standard operations. In general, hoses are a flexible tube that may be used to transport fluids between two locations. Depending on their application, hoses may vary in their materials, pressure rating, flexibility, and other factors. Common hose materials that are used across standard applications include synthetic rubbers, natural rubbers, PVC, nylon, polyurethane, and polyethylene. In this blog, we will provide an overview of the aircraft tubing system, and how hoses benefit aviation and related activities.
One major example of the aircraft tubing system is within the hydraulic system. Hydraulics are the aircraft fluid system that provides for the actuation and movement of landing gear, brakes, flaps, and other components. Hydraulics provide for an ease of mechanical operations as a small amount of fluid may be enclosed within a system to easily transfer pressure due to fluids having high resistance to compression. Hydraulics can be fairly lightweight and very reliable in providing power assistance. To provide for their sealing and pressure capabilities, hydraulic aircraft hoses are often manufactured from synthetic rubbers that are reinforced with high tensile steel wire braiding. This also provides for a wide temperature range of operation, as well as working pressures ranging around 3,000 psi. Having a strong aircraft fluid system for hydraulics is critical, as a loss in pressure can result in inability to control certain systems.
An aircraft fuel hose, also known as a fuel line, is important for the transportation of fuel within a vehicle or from a storage tank to a vehicle. Such hoses are similar to those within hydraulic systems, utilizing reinforced rubber to withstand pressures and deter splitting and kinking. An aircraft fuel hose may feature some degrees of flexibility, and synthetic rubber and Teflon serve as the most common materials for manufacturing. To withstand the pressures of fuel, aircraft fuel hoses are engineered to withstand pressures ranging from 400 to 1,000 psi.
Beyond hydraulics and fueling, hoses and aircraft pipes may be used for flight instruments, expelling exhaust, and more. Soft rubber, nylon, or Tygon materials are used to produce the tubing for low pressure instruments such as the pitot and static system. For installation of instrument hoses, polyethylene fittings may be used alongside the hose. Scat hoses are another important type that are often silicone coated fiberglass tubings capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, avoid kinking, and are resistant to oils and corrosion. With these capabilities, the scat hose is implemented within an aircraft to direct exhaust away from the cabin.
Outside of the functionalities and operations of an aircraft, hoses may also provide for a variety of critical operations. When there is a fire emergency, firefighters rely on hoses for the disbursement of water and agents to both mitigate damage and stop spread. Metal and plastic hoses may also be used to move air and water throughout a building for both water supply and temperature control.
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