Types of Air Hoses
An air hose is a length of industrial strength pipe used to transfer compressed air or other gases from a compressor to another location, most commonly the operating end of a tool.
Air hoses must be both strong and flexible to be effective. They must provide consistent pressure or power and be able to withstand high pressures without tearing or breaking the seal. They must also provide flexibility so that other components within the equipment or the operator of the tool can work without restriction. This flexibility allows the hose to be installed relatively easily and quickly around the work area - often without the need for brackets or corner connectors.
Air hoses, also known as pneumatic hoses, are used primarily in manufacturing and engineering applications, including
Aerospace engineering
Mechanical industry
Chemical production
Food manufacturing
Air Hose
Types of air hoses
Air hoses are available in a wide range of sizes and strengths, each suitable for different applications, pressures and operating temperatures. When selecting air hoses, it is important to ensure that you identify the correct variety for your project for safety reasons. This will minimise the chance of breakage and accidents, but will also help to ensure a good service life for the hose itself.
When looking for air hoses, consider carefully the nature of your project or product to answer the following questions.
Which type of hose is best?
What are the minimum and maximum atmospheric pressures required?
What is the best material for my needs? Consider, for example, whether food safety is required
How long do I need the hose to be, and what inner and outer diameter do I need?
Let's take a look at some of the main types of air hoses available.
Air hoses
Standard air hoses
Standard air hoses in the UK consist of straight tubes with no coils or twists. This makes them the best choice for layouts on flat surfaces and they are easy to store when circulating. They are usually mounted in a retractable reel that is operated using a crank that can be attached to walls and ceilings for storage.
Standard air hoses are ideal for hand tools such as paint guns as they do not resist when pulled, so the user can move them freely.
Air Hose
Retractable air hoses
Retractable or coiled air hoses feature stretched coils along their length, giving them the appearance of a traditional telephone cable. The coils are resistant so that once released, the hose reel will spring back to its original shape and length. This makes for easy storage and ensures that the hose is not a tripping hazard in busy areas such as factory floors.
High pressure air hoses
These hoses are used to handle higher maximum atmospheric pressures - around 20 bar and above. 50 bar hoses are a popular choice. Typically, these are made of reinforced rubber.
Heat resistant air hoses
The high temperature ratings of air hoses range from a relatively modest 40°C to an exceptionally resistant 260°C, more than two and a half times the boiling point of water. The higher maximum temperature air hoses are ideal for harsh industrial environments.
Air Hose Pressure
Air hoses are manufactured to operate at different gas or air pressures.
Gas pressure is usually measured in one of two units - bar or pascals. One bar is roughly equivalent to the air pressure at sea level. Meanwhile, the pascal is a much smaller unit, usually used to measure pressure and resistance in confined spaces. It replaced the old metric system of pounds per square inch. In engineering, the basic unit is usually the megapascal (MPa), which is one million bar, equivalent to 10 bar.
When calculating the pressure capacity required for a project, the key indicator is the maximum pressure tolerance you need. It is then wise to purchase a hose with a maximum value higher than the actual maximum required, as this will minimise the chance of potentially dangerous equipment failure.
