High-performance hose provides secure supply to Hexapod drives

22 March, 2019

 A more flexible rubber hose with low bend radii

Oelhydraulik Hagenbuch has been using the high-performance hoses in the Eaton Aeroquip Triple Crown range for years – starting with the first Hexapods. Rohrer again: “When we started developing the Hexapod, we sat down together with Eaton specialists and selected the best possible hoses for this application. Since then, we have generally been working with Type GH793 hoses.” The hose has a synthetic rubber inner core and dual wire weave, making it highly resistant to temperature and pressure. Additionally, the hose can be used in a temperature range of -40degC to +127degC.

The version used by Hagenbuch has an interior radius of 19 millimetres and is designed for operating pressures of up to 276 bar. The GH793 rubber hose is extremely flexible: the minimum bend radius for the 19-millimetre hose is 200 millimetres. The hose is designed for hydraulic systems based on mineral oil/water emulsions and for general industrial applications.

A synthetic Dura-Tuff rubber cover provides additional protection which is more wear-resistant than standard covers. The hoses need to prove their high-performance capacity before they reach the customer: instead of the 200,000 impulse cycles for standard hoses, Eaton tests the Aeroquip Triple Crown hoses with up to one million impulse cycles.

User friendly, one-piece fitting

However, a hose is only as good as its connection. The hydraulic experts at Hagenbuch therefore use TTC fittings for the GH793: This fitting is a one-piece, nipple and rim therefore on a single body and crimped without using shells. “The fitting is quickly crimped and very user-friendly,” said Rohrer. “We also experimented with a screw crimp in order to reduce torsion, but they are too large, and we couldn’t install them in the Hexapods. In addition, the resistance is too great by several magnitudes.”

Proven durability and seal integrity

The combination of Aeroquip Triple Crown GH793 and TTC fittings provide Hagenbach with a solution that can be installed in very compact spaces thanks to the flexibility of the hose lines. The automotive manufacturer can use the test bench constantly for a year. Rohrer's conclusion: “We have had very good outcomes in terms of service life and seal integrity. We have had no problems with the hoses despite the tough conditions.”

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