Once upon a time, almost all hydraulic hoses used a braided construction style, in which the walls of the hose received reinforcement from a braided mesh of either textile or wire. While braided hoses still have a vital role to play in hydraulic systems, they don't always stand up as well as desired for heavy-duty applications.

In response to the demand for more resilient hoses, manufacturers developed a type of hose reinforced by multiple layers of spiraling flat metal. Unfortunately, many owners of hydraulic systems haven't yet caught up with the benefits of spiral hoses. This article takes a closer look at three compelling advantages of spiral hydraulic hoses.

The single most compelling argument for spiral hydraulic hoses has to do with their vastly superior strength. Manufacturers quantify the strength of a hydraulic hose in terms of the maximum amount of pressure it can safely withstand, as measured in psi. Simply put, spiral hydraulic hoses exhibit drastically higher pressure capacities than braided hoses.

Braided hoses do possess some variation in terms of pressure capacity, of course. The more wires used to compose the braid, the greater the strength of the hose. Yet no braided hose exists that can handle hydraulic pressures above 3,000 psi. Certain spiral hoses, by contrast, can accommodate hydraulic pressures well above 6,000 psi.
Certain heavy-duty hydraulic projects require the use of spiral hoses. The advent of spiral technology has, in turn, allowed hydraulic machinery to continue evolving into more and more powerful applications.

Braided hoses contain another key drawback relative to spiral hoses, one that lies in the limitations of braided design. As the interior diameter of a braided hose increases, the maximum pressure capacity of the hose goes down. If the pressure capacity cannot meet the needs of the application, a braided hose with a greater number of wires must be used.

This drop-off phenomenon can create lots of problems for owners of hydraulic equipment. For one thing, it means that you must keep a much wider variety of hoses on hand — a fact that can make it much harder to maintain an adequate inventory. Not only that, but with so many factors in play, it can be easy to accidentally install the wrong strength of hose.

Spiral hydraulic hoses do not experience drop-off at all. The maximum pressure capacity of a spiral hose made from a given number of wires remains constant no matter the diameter of the hose. This consistency greatly simplifies the number of factors involved in stocking and selecting appropriate replacement hoses.

Braided hoses incorporate a layer of mesh made from crisscrossing metal wires. These wires weave back and forth across one another. This construction method can become problematic when dealing with high-pressure impulse applications or applications that involve regular fluctuations in hydraulic pressure.

These fluctuations cause the walls of the hose to relax and then tense up according to a regular rhythm. For a braided hose, this rhythm causes the overlapping wires to rub against one another in a way that creates a lot of friction. Over time, the wires may begin to overheat and even break, greatly increasing the risk of a rupture.

Spiral hydraulic hoses avoid this common problem. Not only do they utilize wider strips of wire, but the wires often spiral in the same direction. As a result, hydraulic pressure fluctuations result in much less wire-on-wire friction, ensuring that the hose can enjoy a longer lifespan without developing problems.

Choosing the right hydraulic hose can be a difficult task since a variety of different factors must be taken into consideration. For more information about the right hose for your needs, please contact the hydraulic experts at KIMS International.