Stainless Steel Corrugated Hose Pipe

Product Details

Stainless steel corrugated hose pipes (commonly called Flexible Metal Hoses) are high-performance conduits designed for environments where rubber or plastic would simply melt, crack, or burst. They consist of a thin-walled, "convoluted" (wavy) inner tube that provides a leak-tight seal and immense flexibility.

The "waves" or ridges in the hose allow it to bend without kinking. There are two primary types of corrugation patterns:

• Annular (Standard): Each ridge is a complete, independent circle perpendicular to the hose axis. This is the most common design because it handles pressure without twisting (torsional stress).

• Helical (Spiral): The ridge is one continuous screw-like thread. These are slightly stiffer but offer better flow characteristics for certain high-velocity gases.

A professional SS corrugated hose is almost always a three-part assembly:

1. Corrugated Tube: The inner core made of SS 304, 316L, or 321. It holds the fluid/gas but has very little pressure resistance on its own.

2. Wire Braid: A "straitjacket" of woven stainless steel wire over the tube. It prevents the hose from elongating (stretching) under pressure.

   • Single Braid: Standard pressure.

   • Double Braid: Used for extremely high-pressure applications.

3. End Fittings: Connectors (Flanges, Camlocks, or NPT Threads) are welded to the hose. Unlike rubber hoses that use crimped clamps, these welds create a permanent, leak-proof bond.

The "pitch" refers to how close together the corrugations are.

• Standard Pitch: Good balance of flexibility and cost.

• Close Pitch: The ridges are packed tightly together. This makes the hose extra flexible and better at absorbing high-frequency vibrations from pumps or compressors.

• Torsion (The #1 Killer): Never twist a metal hose during installation. If you twist the hose while tightening a nut, the braid becomes unevenly loaded, and the inner tube will crack almost immediately under pressure.

• Flow Velocity: If you are moving gas at very high speeds ($>150$ ft/sec), the "whistling" vibration against the corrugations can cause the metal to fatigue. In these cases, a smooth-bore internal liner is required.

• Chlorides: If your environment has high salt or chlorine exposure, SS 304 will pit and rust. You must upgrade to SS 316L, which contains Molybdenum for superior corrosion resistance.

Are you looking to replace a vibrating pump connector, or do you need help calculating the "Minimum Bend Radius" for a specific installation space?

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 4445
• Delivery Time: ready
• Packaging Details: bundle