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›Flexibles Hoses & Couplings

Flexibles Hoses & Couplings
Flexibles Hoses & Couplings
Flexible vacuum connections are typically made by using edge welded bellows, hydroformed flexible couplings and hoses or PVC hoses. Flex hoses are available with a variety of flange types or with butt weld fittings. A variety of finishes are available as well.

› Subcategories

Metric NW and CF Flexible Hoses
Braided Stainless Steel Flexible Hoses
PVC Hoses & fittings
Flexible Couplings
Flexible Stainless Steel Hoses
Specifications: 

Materials:

Bellows: 316L or 321 stainless steelPVC Hose: Wire reinforced polyvinyl chlorideFlanges: 304 stainless steel (316L available on request)

Vacuum range:

Metal seal: >1 x 10-10 mbar - UHVElastomer seal: >1 x 10-8 mbar - High vacuumPVC Hose: >1 x 10-2 Rough vacuum

Temperature range:

Metal seal: -200ºC to 450ºCElastomer seal: -20ºC to 150ºCPVC Hose: -4ºC to 65ºC

Flange Types:

NW, ISO, CF, ASA

Options:

Protective braided sleeving

All dimensions are in inches (mm) & weights are in pounds (kg), unless otherwise noted. Spring rates are called out in pounds/inch.

Flexible Vacuum Connections

Flexible vacuum connections are typically made by using edge welded bellows, hydroformed flexible couplings and hoses or PVC hoses. Edge welded bellows provide the greatest stroke and flexibility, but are the most susceptible to damage. Edge welded bellows are also more expensive than the other flexible connections. Nor-Cal Europe products offers flexible couplings and flexible hoses as standards. Edge welded bellows assemblies can be provided in a variety of materials as specials. PVC hose offers a low cost alternative to stainless steel flexible hoses.

Flexible Hoses

Flexible stainless steel hoses are available in 3/4 to 4 inch (19.05-101.6mm) diameters in standard lengths of 12, 18, 24 and 36 inches (304.8, 457.2, 609.6 and 914.4mm) with NW, ISO, CF and ASA flanges. Hoses with NW and ISO flanges are also available In 10, 20 and 40 Inch (metric equivalent) lengths. CF and ASA flanged hoses have one rotatable and one nonrotatable flange for ease of bolt hole alignment. ASA flanged hoses may require an O-ring groove on one flange for proper installation. Be sure to specify. NW to CF adapter hoses provide a flexible transition between components with NW and CF flanges. NW hoses are available in medium wall “FH-” (0.010 Inch (.254mm) wall thickness), heavy wall “TH-” (0.017 Inches (.432mm)), and thin wall “LH-” (0.006 Inches (.152mm)).Thin wall hose is the perfect choice for applications requiring increased flexibility. Protective braiding is offered as a standard for NW and CF medium wall tubing “FHB-” in diameters up to and including 4 inches (101.6mm).

Flexible Couplings

Pressurising the inside of thin wall stainless steel tubing inside a mold forms convolutions in flexible couplings and hoses. Generally speaking, when comparing flexible couplings to hoses, they are thinner walled, have more convolutions per inch resulting in greater flexibility and stroke, and are used for alignment or vibration isolation rather than as roughing lines. Being thinner, flexible couplings are more susceptible to mechanical damage than hoses. Nor-Cal’s flexible couplings have more convolutions than comparable products, resulting in greater flexibility and lower spring rates. Maximum compression for flexible couplings is typically 20% of the convolution (flexible) length. Extension is typically 10%. Couplings are available in 321 or 316L stainless steel in various lengths with NW, ISO, CF and ASA flanges.

PVC Hoses

Plasticized PVC hoses can be used as a low cost rough vacuum line. An embedded spiral wire prevents the wall from collapsing under vacuum. Unlike edge welded bellows, flexible couplings and hoses, which are UHV compatible, PVC hoses should be used for rough vacuum due to their higher outgassing rate. Although it can be bent relatively easily, it cannot be compressed or extended. Order by the foot with or without NW flanges. Each length includes two hose clamps for installation.