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History of The Hose

Everyday we use some type of hose in our daily lives, dishwashing, washing machine, garden,auto! But did you ever wonder where the hose came from? Just be glad this isn't the way itsdone now.

The first flexible pump & fire hose was from the intestines of an OX! With the stomach attached,Ancient Greeks ripped out the intestines of the Ox. The intestines were filled with water with thelarge bladder acting as a compressor, aiming it towards the fire. As you can imagine this didn’tlast very long.

In the 1600s, thanks to Jan van der Heyden, the Amsterdam Superintendent of Fire Brigade wehave fire and suction hose today. Let’s take a look back to the 17th century when he inventedthe first practical fire hose in 1673. It consisted of 50 foot lengths of leather sewn together withbrass screw threads attached to the ends to connect sections. He is also credited with an earlyinvention of the suction hose.

Over the next 300 years many advances came about to improve the function and use of thehose, from leather to cotton and canvas, all were heavy and prone to leaks. Rubber hose didn'tcome into the picture until around 1870.

Eventually synthetic hose was invented, think garden hose. Hose are continually beingrevolutionized to lighter and stronger versions. Hose have come a long way from the OXintestine.

Hose of South Texas has hose for virtually every application. Check out our website or call/textone of our experienced sales personnel at 361.884.9335.

9 Hose Maintenance Tips

Fact: All hose and hose assemblies will fail in time.
Fact: Misapplication is one of the leading causes of premature hose failure.
An unexpected hose failure while in service can result not only in unplanned downtime, but can also result ininjury to yourself or your personnel. In addition, hose failures can cause damage to property. Please, do notassume that the old hose laying around in your yard will work for your intended use. If you are unsure if thatold hose will handle the product you need to transfer with it, please contact our knowledgeable personnel forassistance, or inquire with manufacturer. Consider the following to extend the life of your hose and safety ofyou and your personnel.

  • Always ensure you select a hose that is appropriate for the application and meets or exceeds industrystandards. Misapplication is one of the most common reasons for hose failure. Hoses are designed for aspecific or related application. They should not be used for any other application without first contactingyour distributor. Do not modify hose fittings in order to connect a hose to a service for which it is notintended. Never connect two different types of hose together, one may be suitable for your applicationswhere as the other may not.
  • Store your hose properly when not in use. Hose reels and racks are recommended to keep your hose offthe floor and in a cool dry place.
  • Consider installing hose and thread protection to your hose to protect them from the extreme cold or heat.
  • Don’t put unnecessary stress on connection points. Do not put any stress on the hose ends (severe bendsat the hose fitting can damage the tube, or supporting the weight of the hose assembly and product cancause failure). Use of bend restrictors will increase hose life.
  • Unnecessarily kinking the hose can create weak spots in the hose wall. Hoses should bot be bent tighterthan the manufacturers recommended minimum bend radius.
  • Do not drag a hose over sharp or abrasive surfaces.
  • Cleaning hose assemblies used in petroleum or chemical service after each use will increase the service lifeof your hose assemblies.
  • Never exceed the rated temperature and working pressure.
  • Routinely inspect hose and fittings for wear and damage. A visual inspection should be performed beforeeach use to help prevent failure in service. While inspecting a hose look for any exposed reinforcement,check fittings for excessive corrosion, check that gaskets are in place and in good condition, check steamhose clamps for proper torque specification (21 ft. lbs.) and check for leaks at connections. If clamp halvesare touching remove from service for repair or replacement.

Giving careful consideration to hose selection, care, maintenance and storage can provide optimum life of yourhose. Following these tips will not ensure your hose will last forever, but preventative care can keep youroperations going and avoiding costly downtime and repairs. In the event of hose failure turn off equipment,release pressure, disconnect hose, avoid touching and bring in to Hose of South Texas to be replaced orrepaired.

Pneumatics and Pneumatic Systems

The majority of us will likely encounter some type of pneumatic system on a regular basis. We are all familiar with inflatables such as balloons and bounce houses, they are inflated with a gas- air, helium, nitrogen or hydrogen, the pressure of the gas is what keeps the structure inflated.

Pneumatics as an industrial term is the use of pressurized air used in various applications from inflating the air in your tires to the air impact wrench used to remove or install those same tires.Pneumatics (pressurized air) is used for maintenance on a daily basis in the petrochemical, oilfield marine, etc. industries.

How Does It Work?

Pneumatic systems in a fixed location, such as an assembly shop generally transfer the pressurized air from the air compressor to the workstations though piping which connects to an air hose to allow for flexibility at the workstation.For convenience works stations can be equipped with a hose reel, so the hose can be stored neatly and out of the way when not in use.All workstations of this manner should also be equipped with filters, regulators and lubricators (FRL’s).Filters are used to filter out any contaminants that may harm the air tool.Air compressors generally deliver air to pneumatic system anywhere between 150 psi and 200 psi, with some systems possibly be higher, so the use of a regulator is necessary. A Regulator regulates the pressurized air to optimal pressure suggested for a particular air tool, so as not to damage the tool due to be exposed to the higher than recommended pressures.Some air tools require lubrication, such as air tool oil to keep the air tool operating at its maximum potential and prolonging the tools life.

There are some situations where compressed air is delivered from a portable air compressor that provides pressurized air to air tools or equipment.These portable compressors, or portable pneumatic systems operate much the same as those in assembly shops but provide the pressurized air from air hoses connected directly to the air compressor using a manifold.This manifold allows multiple users to operate from the same compressor at once.Air hose from the manifold to the operator’s tool is generally called a Jackhammer hose.These jackhammer hoses can be 3/4” or 1” in inside diameter.The length can vary, but the standard is 50 foot long.The pneumatic couplings on a traditional Jackhammer hose are commonly called a 2-Lug Crowsfoot Coupling.Portable pneumatic systems also use air hose terms as Bull Hose.Bull Hoses are higher pressure hose assemblies (300psi to 600psi) with 4-Lug Crowsfoot Couplings.These assemblies range in size from 1-1/4” to 4” inside diameter and usually 50 to 100 feet in length.

Pneumatic System Maintenance

It is very important to properly maintain a pneumatic system; this includes regular checkups and inspections.With all pneumatic systems it essential to maintain the compressors regularly, visually inspect your air hoses for signs of wear and or abuse.In addition, make sure your connections are secure and do not leak.Leaking connections could result in reduced air tool performance. Without proper maintenance pneumatic systems can break down and become damaged, leading to a decrease in the system life and increased costs to repair and/or replace the system.When performing routine inspections on your pneumatic systems, make sure to look at the pipes, pneumatic valves, pneumatic timers and pneumatic cylinders.Anything that is not properly working should be attended to immediately.

OSHA-Compliant Products

OSHA-compliant products will help you meet several OSHA requirements concerningthe use of hose couplings and related accessories. Please visit hose-etc.com  for complete product descriptions and more information on the rest of Hose of SouthTexas, Inc.’s product line. OSHA regulations may be viewed at osha.gov.

Statement of Operating Importance

Since 1978, Hose of South Texas, Inc. has been supplying a complete line of hose and hose related products to a variety of industries. Our mission is to provide quality products that meet or exceed industry standards and those of our customers.

Health, Safety and Welfare

We provide essential services, repairs and products to the businesses and entities that are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the population of Corpus Christi and South Texas including:

  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • Other healthcare facilities

Critical Infrastructure

We provide essential services, repairs and products to critical infrastructure including:

  • Power generation
  • Public works construction
  • Residential and commercial construction
  • Airport operations
  • Water
  • Sewer
  • Gas
  • Electrical
  • Oil refining
  • Roads and highways
  • Public transportation
  • Solid waste collection and removal

Federal, State and Local Governments

We provide essential services, repairs and products to Federal, State and Local governmental entities to operate with minimal loss of down time when their vehicles, machinery or equipment suffers a failure.

Emergency Response

We are a priority account for AEP to reestablish electrical service after natural disasters. After hurricane Harvey we were able to provide services, repairs and products to aid emergency service organizations.