Crimpless Flexhose for Life-of-Ship Service

The need to isolate mechanical shock and vibrations between shipboard machinery and the ship hull requires the use of flexible hose assemblies (FHAs) and resilient mounting structures. Resilient mounting structures and FHAs, in particular, are ubiquitous on all U.S. Navy ships, serving as a leak-free conduit for fluids and gases between interconnected pieces of shipboard equipment. Typical shipboard FHAs consist of reinforced polymer hoses that utilize various combinations of polymer tubing; fabric and metal braiding; separation layers; and protective outer coverings. Unlike rigid metal conduit, which can typically withstand harsh service requirements for the life of the ship, polymer-based FHAs degrade over time and need to be replaced often. Creare plans to develop an FHA that is affordable (based on a total life cycle cost basis), durable, and can withstand extreme shipboard service environments for the life of the ship. In Phase I, we will complete a proof-of-concept demonstration of our system. In Phase II, we will fabricate and test a full-scale prototype system.