Hose fittings connect your hoses to pumps, cylinders, valves, and other equipment on your equipment. They must be secure to help direct the flow of hydraulic fluid where it is needed to exert the force for the job. They also prevent leaks and maintain pressure.
You should not confuse a hose assembly from the hose. While the hose is very important and should be properly chosen the fittings are just as important. The wrong selection can cause a catastrophic and expensive failure.
Any hose assembly includes fittings that are ideal for the application. Different applications require different types of fittings. This can include material differences, chemical resistance differences, corrosion resistance, and more. Most fittings have a barbed end that inserts into the hose and an outer shell (ferrule) that attaches to the cover. Crimping is how most hoses are assembled. The crimp is a vital part of the process and should be executed properly to ensure the life and safety of your hose.
No-skive hoses are offered by most companies. Skiving is the process of removing part of the hose cover or inner tube before a hose end is attached. No-skive hoses do not require this step making hose assembly quicker and risking the chance that crimping will damage the hose.
Hoses come in many materials like rubber, plastics, elastomers, composites, PTFE and metals. Fitting are made of steel, stainless steel, brass, specialty metals and more. This wide range of materials creates fittings that are available for a wide range of applications and performance.
You must examine chemical capability and security of the connection for your fittings. Most fittings have designated pressure and temperature ratings. They all adhere to standards set by organizations like SAE. Different operating pressure ranges, flow capacities, and environmental and temperature ratings are to be considered.
The threads of a connection are an important consideration. Often connections from two different standards can appear to function together but this can create a serious problem.They may connect but they may not have a secure connection which can create a very dangerous situation. Fitting dimensions are not the only thing you have to consider for compatibility.
Can I use fittings from two different manufacturers in the same system?
The short answer is no.
Mixing and matching components from different manufacturers is not considered a good practice.
The right parts for a safe and long-lasting assembly are couplings, hoses, and crimping equipment and parts that are designed to work together. Coupling retention relies on consistency.
Mixing and matching can result in leaks, bursts, and blown of ends that can be the cause of a serious industrial accident.
I’m delighted you mentioned how hose fittings attach your hoses to your equipment’s pumps, cylinders, valves, and other components. To assist guide the flow of hydraulic fluid where it is required to apply the force for the task, they must be secure. They also maintain pressure and stop leaks. I think my spouse needs to hire a specialist to design a suitable installation at a later time. He intends to install a hydraulic system to open and close our garage door, therefore that is why I was interested in this post.
Thanks to you, I now realize that hydraulic hose fittings must be tight to ensure the seamlessness of fluid flow. One of the machines in my local workshop needs to be fixed due to some issues with its hydraulic system. I’ll ask the owner to consider this option when making a replacement.
It’s a good thing you specified that preventing leakages is one of the many reasons we need tight hydraulic hoses. The one in my neighbor’s garage seems a bit loose during my visit there yesterday. Oh well, perhaps it’s time for him to contact a supplier so he can get a better replacement.
Have him call the experts here at Force Flex! 919.295.0332