FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hose shroud.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known when using a number of hydraulic hoses and lines or the like are often formed into a bundle of hoses which are connected by clamps , or mounting brackets. Bundles are formed to keep the workspace clear and the hoses or lines untangled.

The clamps and mounting brackets used to fonn a bundle of hoses or lines can work to increase wear on the hoses or lines as the clamps and mounting. brackets may act as a friction point that rub against the outer casings of the hoses or lines. It is also known that rock fragments or swarf can become engaged with the bundle where they cause premature wear through damage to the outer casings of the hoses or lines.

It is known that hydraulic hoses or lines may also present significant danger to personnel. Failure of the outer casing may occur whereby the contents of the hose or line, which are kept under pressure, are explosively released. In industrial high pressure applications this has been known to cause significant injury and even death.

The present invention provides a hose shroud which attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose shroud arranged to cover and engage a bundle of hoses or lines, spaced apart inner and outer wall surfaces of the hose shroud being arranged to form a lumen to allow the passage of fluids contained within the hose shroud to the exterior of the hose shroud.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a hose shroud in accordance with.the present invention;

Figure 2 shows two hose shrouds in accordance with the present invention arranged to join together;

Figure 3 shows a cut-away view of the hose shroud in accordance with the present invention engaging a bundle of hoses;

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an hose shroud along the line A - A of Figure 3in accordance with the present invention; ^" and

Figure 5 shows two hose shrouds of the present invention being arranged to engage a large bundle of hose or lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown an elongated hose shroud 10 arranged to engage a bundle of hoses or lines. The hose shroud 10 comprises a plurality of expanded sections 12 which are separated by a plurality of relatively narrow clamping sections 22. The hose shroud 10 is preferably formed of a polymer material, more preferably the hose shroud comprises a thermoplastic polymer material, even more preferably a polyurethane material. The hose shroud 10 may be of any length. However^ the hose shroud 10 preferably starts and ends with a clamping section 22,

Each expanded section 12 comprises an outer wall 18 surface and a plurality of raised protuberances 16 formed on the outer wall 18. The raised protuberances 16 extend from the outer wall 18 for at least part of the circumference of the hose shroud. A web portion 30 may additionally be provided at the terminating portions of the outer wall surface 18 in each of the expanded sections 12 to prevent swarf or foreign material entering the lumen 14. The web portion 30 are arranged to prevent swarf or foreign material entering the lumen 14 by forming a physical barrier to entry, however, fluid travelling through the lumen 14 will pass the web portion 30.

Shown in Figure 1 the hose shroud 10 not engaging a bundle of hoses, the hose shroud 10 is arranged such that an opening between the inner edge 24 and the outer edge 26 allows the hose shroud to be slipped over a bundle of hoses or lines. Once engaged with the bundle of hoses or lines (as shown in Figure 3) the inner edge 24 is arranged to pass over the outer edge 26 thereby covering the bundle of hoses or lines.

The hose shroud 10 is arranged to engage a bundle of hoses such that when engaged the hose shroud 10 completely covers the entire bundle of hoses and an amount of the hose shroud 10 overlaps itself. In situations where a large bundle of hoses needs to be engaged, multiple sections of the hose shroud 10 may be employed to ensure that an overlap occurs (see Figure 5). Once engaged with a bundle of hoses an inner wall surface 20 and an outer wall surface 1 8 of the expanded section 12 engage, whereby an outer edge 26 of the hose shroud 10 passes under an inner edge 24 forming a reservoir 28 (see Figure 4), The arrangement of the inner wall surface 20 and the outer wall surface 18 define the lumen 14 (see Figure 3). The ^' reservoir 28 is defined by the clamping sections 22 that are held in close contact with the bundle of hoses or lines and the inner wall 20.

The lumen 14 is arranged to maintain fluid communication between the reservoir 28 and the exterior of the elongated hose shroud 10. As shown in Figure 2, the hose shroud 10 typically comprises a plurality of reservoirs 28 alternating with a plurality of clamping sections 22

Referring to Figure 3, shown is a cut away view of the hose shroud 10 in accordance with the present invention. The spaced apart inner wall surface 20 and outer wall 18 surface define the lumen 14. ^' The lumen 14 extends throughout the overlapping portions of the expanded section 12. The web section 30 is arranged to be in close contact with the outer wall surface 1.8. The web portion 30 acts to prevent swarf or foreign material from entering the lumen 14 from the exterior of the shroud.

Referring to Figure 4, shown is a cross-sectional view (taken along the line A - A shown in Figure 3) of the hose shroud 10 engaging a bundle of hoses or lines. The inner wall surface 20 and outer wall surface 1 8 are shown spaced apart defining the lumen 14. The lumen 14 extends throughout the overlapping portions of the expanded section 12 placing the reservoir 28 in fluid communication with the exterior of the hose shroud 10.

Figure 5 shows two hose shrouds 10 arranged to engage a larger diameter bundle of hoses or lines. In situations where larger bundle of hoses or lines must be engaged, two or more hose shrouds 1 0 may be overlapped to ensure that the bundle is covered.

In the event of the reservoir 28 filling with fluid, the l umen 14 will act as an escape path for the fluid, whereby the fluid contained within the reservoir 28 is released, without being able to reach high pressure. The raised protuberances 16 on the outer wall 18 engage the inner wall surface 20 of the inner edge 24 maintaining the lumen 14.

In use, the hose shroud 10 is arranged to be fitted over and wrapped around a bundle of hydraulic hoses (as shown in Figure 3 and 4). The hose shroud 10 is arranged to have the outer edge 26 pass under the inner edge 24. The hose shroud 10 is then securely clamped in place by clamps 29 engaging with respective clamping sections 22. Once fitted the hose shroud 10 acts as a physical barrier to prevent swarf or foreign material from passing into the bundle of hydraulic hoses.

The expanded sections 12 define reservoirs 28 once the hose shroud 10 is engaged with a bundle of hoses. The reservoirs 28 are arranged in such a manner that in the event of a hose contained within the hose shroud 10 bursting or beginning to leak, fluid will initially be trapped within the reservoir 28. Once the reservoir 28 is filled, the fluid contained there within will be able to exit through the lumen 14 to the exterior of the hose shroud 10 in a controlled manner.

Although the inner wall surface 20 and the outer wall surface 18 are in close contact the lumen 14 will be maintained due to inter-engagement of the protuberances 16 and the inner wall surface 20. The protuberances 16 engage the inner wall surface 20 of the inner edge 24 in such a manner that regardless of the pressure applied in engaging the hose shroud 10 around the bundle of hydraulic hoses, the lumen .14 may be partially reduced in cross section it will be maintained.

In _. the event of the reservoir 28 filling with liquid under pressure, liquid will be forced along the lumen 14 to the exterior of the hose shroud 10 and discharged. Due to the increased area of release, the resulting spill of fluid will be at a greatly reduced pressure in comparison to that of the puncture point, thus reducing the danger of injury to personnel as a result of a leak.

Further, the action of the reservoir may enable personnel to notice a problem prior to the expulsion of liquid through the lumen 14. Once the operating pressure of the hydraulic fluid drops as fluid is lost through the damaged hose or line, the operator of whatever machinery that is currently being powered may have a greater time to respond, prior to hydraulic fluid escaping into the work area. Thus, there is provided an opportunity to power the machinery down before leakage out of the hose shroud 10 occurs. Although the hose shroud 10 may be of any length it may still in certain circumstances be necessary tojoin additional sections of the hose shroud 10 together to engage a bundle of hoses or lines as shown in figure 2. Individual sections of the hose shroud 10 may be interconnected by arranging a first clamping section 22 of a first piece of hose shroud 10 to come into close contact with a second clamping section 22 of a second piece of hose shroud 10, such that when clamps or mounting brackets are placed over the clamping section 22, the clamping sections 22 of both pieces are brought into close contact with each other. It may be necessary to use known abrasive resistance components in areas where the bundle it likely to rub against a foreign body. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.