An apparatus and method for producing a hydraulic hose has ends of different internal diameters. An uncured hose is produced by conventional extrusion. The uncured hose is placed upon a mandrel having a reduced diameter end. That end of the uncured hose proximate the reduced diameter of the mandrel is covered by a heat responsive shrink tube. The shrink tube is heated to mold the end of the hose about the mandrel. Thereafter, the hose is vulcanized.This hydraulic hose provides a method of producing a hydraulic hose adapted to carry hydraulic fluid between nipples of different diameter. The method involves producing of an uncured hose of uniform diameter and placing the uncured hose over a mandrel of non-uniform crossection. The mandrel has a diameter at one end which is substantially the same as the internal diameter of the uncured hose and a diameter at the other end which is substantially less. The uncured hose is placed on the mandrel in such a manner as to span the length of the mandrel between the crossections of different diameter. After the hose has been seated on the mandrel, the end of the hose is fitted with a heat responsive shrink tube. The shrink tube is heated to mold the uncured hose about the mandrel. Thereafter, the hose is vulcanized, preferably with the tube still in place. Following vulcanization, the shrink tube may be stripped from the hose. Preferably the mandrel is coated with a suitable lubricant for reception of the uncured hose. Also, the end of the uncured hose preferably is covered by a lubricant so as to facilitate removal of the shrink tube following vulcanization.
This hydraulic hose relates to the production of elastomeric pressurized fluid conveying system hoses and more particularly to a method of producing a pressurized fluid conveying system hose having ends of different diameter. Such hoses are commonly used in automotive vehicles for carrying hydraulic fluid between a pump, a reservoir and a hydraulic device such as a power steering unit. These hoses, commonly called hydraulic hoses, are customarily of uniform internal diameter and are clamped or coupled at each end to a nipple having an external diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the hose. This creates a design constraint for the equipment being serviced by the hose. Oftentimes it is desirable to present the hose ends to nipples of different external diameter. This requires a hydraulic hose having ends of different internal diameter. Heretofore there has been no economical way of producing a hose having a reduced diameter on at least one end.
