Currently, many works are carried out using welding. For this reason, oxygen hoses have become quite popular material, and besides, they are easy to transport.
What is a sleeve?
An ordinary oxygen hose is a flexible long hose, which is made of a layer of cord thread, protected on both sides by several layers of rubber compound. This product is the most popular when working with welding. Of course, this material has a very narrow application, but despite this drawback, today it is one of the most popular rubber products. The main purpose of this hose is to fill or supply gas. Most often, this function is required when carrying out any industrial work.
Hose scope
Oxygen hoses, for example, in production, are indispensable in order to supply substances such as oxygen, propane, acetylene and atmospheric air, which come from stationary devices. Such stationary devices can be an oxygen line, an acetylene or propane cylinder. Delivery is carried out from these products to the place where industrial work is carried out. In addition, oxygen hoses are successfully used in the manufacture of medical equipment. Most often, you can see the use of such a hose in a medical life support system that supplies oxygen, or in a special suit whose main task is also to supply oxygen from the balloon to the mask.
Customer reviews about this item are very different. Some buyers are quite happy with the purchase, they say that the hose withstands loads, does not tear and does not crack. However, there are other allegations. For example, they say that a regular red acetylene hose, designed for 6 MPa, does not withstand pressure in some cases and breaks. If you look at reviews of ordinary rubber hoses, some buyers claim that they often crack.
Design
The oxygen sleeve consists of two components. The first element is the inner layer of rubber, the second element is the cord frame, which is made of cotton fiber or of impregnated or non-impregnated fibers of the outer rubber layer. It is also important to note that if any visible damage to the sleeve is detected, its use is strictly prohibited. It is worth noting that these products have different colors. Depending on the color of the hose, the scope of its application changes:
- the red sleeve is used for work with acetylene, propane, butane, as well as urban gas and has class 1;
- the second class is a yellow sleeve, which is designed to transport liquid fuel;
- The blue oxygen sleeve has a third class, and is used to transport oxygen.
But it is important to note that it is allowed to paint these products in black, regardless of which class they belong to. In this case, a colored risk (groove) is used, which determines whether this hose belongs to any class.
For designation are used:
- one dash is the first class;
- the second class is, accordingly, two dashes;
- third grade - three.
The standard specifications for these hoses are:
- the inner diameter of the oxygen sleeve is 9 mm;
- hose outer diameter - 22 mm;
- working pressure inside the product can reach 6.3 MPa;
- GOST, according to which this product is manufactured - 9356-75.
Sleeve Testing
In the production of this product, its passage through laboratory as well as production tests is mandatory. After a new product is developed and a complete testing of the technological process for its production takes place, the product is sent to undergo production tests. The program for these tests of oxygen hoses includes a check for compliance with the technical requirements that apply to this product. After the completion of the test phase, a decision should be made on whether to use this development, as well as whether to establish production of this particular type of product.
Laboratory tests
It’s worth starting with the fact that absolutely all materials that will subsequently be used to create an oxygen or oxygen-propane sleeve are subjected to laboratory tests. The ingredients that make up the rubber layer of the hose will be tested. All reinforcing materials from which the power part of the product is made will also be tested.
It is also important to note that after the manufacture of the rubber compound, glue or paste, before putting them into further production, one more laboratory test is carried out, the purpose of which is to find out whether the material obtained complies with all the norms and requirements contained in regulatory documents. The first thing that is evaluated is the elastic-strength characteristic. The physicochemical parameters of the resulting mixture are also evaluated. They must meet all the norms and requirements that are prescribed in GOST 270-75.
In addition to determining these characteristics, they also check the hardness and elasticity of the resulting rubber, its resistance to frost or heat. Another factor that is also tested is the resistance of the hose to the gas that will be the working one.
Production testing
It is important to know that in domestic production there is no standardized test procedure for this product. Most often, this type of check reduces to the fact that they evaluate the integrity of the resulting product, and also selectively control the size of the hose. For those products that will work under conditions of pneumatic or hydraulic loading, it is mandatory to pass a leak test and safety factor.
In order to check the functioning of the hose under pressure, it is filled with working fluid until the air is completely expelled. After that, under the influence of the desired pressure, the hose can withstand the required amount of time. Variants are allowed when, instead of the usual time check, it is brought up to the point of break. If we take into account fabric sleeves, then their tests are carried out in accordance with GOST 6867. It is important to determine the bond strength between fabric and rubber structural elements.
Sleeve of oxygen 9 mm, GOST 9356-75
This state standard establishes the norms and requirements for this type of product. From the technical requirements, the following can be distinguished:
- They should consist of either a rubber inner layer and a cotton frame, or be based on impregnated and non-impregnated chemical fibers, the outer layer is rubber.
- The same GOST also establishes the requirements for the colors of this product relative to its working environment.
- The height of the reefs at the hose should be from 0.2 to 0.3 mm, but their width - from 0.4 to 0.5 mm. The distance between the groups of dashes is from 3 to 4 mm.
- It can be noted that if the sleeve belongs to the third class, it works with oxygen, and it is painted black, then at a working pressure of up to 4 MPa, that is, 40 kgf / cm 2 , drawing color bars or dashes is optional.
Marking, storage, delivery
Marking those hoses that will be operated in cold climates is necessary taking into account the regulatory documentation that belongs to these facilities. For delivery or storage, all sleeves are connected and stacked in coils. The diameter of the resulting bay must be at least 300 mm. Such bays must be connected using a fabric tape, the width of which is from 30 to 40 mm. In addition, you need to fix such a tape in at least three places. The tape is made of calico or other material that can be used for dressing and ensures the safety of the sleeve packaging.