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Hydraulic Fittings
 
Photo of Stainless Steel fittings and hose on white background

The hydraulic hose fittings are the pipe fittings that are used to connect hoses, pipes and tubes to the cylinders, valves, pumps, and other components of the hydraulic applications and systems. Fittings are really small parts but can have a great impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of the hydraulic systems as well as safety and reliability.

Materials Used to Make Hose Fittings

Photo of stainless steel hose barb and brass barb

Hoses and fittings are available in different styles and materials depending on the type of application they are used. The most commonly used fittings are available in steel, brass, plastic, and stainless steel. The hydraulic fittings are also available in aluminum as well but they are not used commonly.

Steel Fittings:

Steel fittings are made by a combination of iron with other elements to make it more durable and heat resistant, for instance, carbon steel can tolerate a temperature range from -65°F to 500°F.

Brass Fittings:

Brass has greater strength and durability as compared to stainless steel. They provide a leak-proof seal and can operate under pressure up to 3000 psi, however, lower pressure is recommended for the fittings made from brass.

Plastic Fittings:

They are usually not considered suitable for hydraulic systems because they have lower strength and durability. It has good resistance to corrosion and is lower cost.

Stainless Steel Fittings:

They are great and considered suitable for high pressure, as well as high-temperature applications. They can operate in temperatures ranging from -425°F to 1200°F. They have excellent resistance to corrosion in extreme environmental conditions and are durable.

Aluminum Fittings:

They are corrosion resistant and lighter in weight as compared to steel. They are usually used in automotive industries.

Categories of Hydraulic Hose Fittings:

Image of three hydraulic hoses with layers shown

There are two categories of hydraulic hose fittings:

  1. Permanent/Fixed Crimp Fittings - They are the most commonly used fitting but they require the use of a crimping machine in order to connect them to the hose.
  2. Field Attachable Fittings - They are suitable if it is difficult to get hold of a crimper and they are compatible with the hose.

There are a few things that need consideration when selecting the hydraulic hose fittings:

  1. Application

It is important to consider the type of hydraulic application it is to be used.

  1. Size

Determining the size required for the hydraulic system is important because the wrong size will not be able to connect to the hose.

  1. Pressure Tolerance

It is a very important factor to consider. How much pressure can be tolerated by the fitting you are selecting? In case of wrong selection, it can result in cracks, and leaks. O-ring seals are highly recommended to provide a leak-proof and reliable seal.

  1. Vibration

Vibration can affect the operation and can result in damage and leakages. If the hydraulic system has a pressure that is expected to cause vibration it is important to check and inspect areas that might be prone to damage and leakages frequently.

  1. Temperature

Another important factor to consider is the temperature tolerance. The temperature range for tube fittings is dependent on the material and seal. It is important because there are hydraulic systems that are operating at extremely high temperatures or extremely low temperatures, so, if the fitting is not recommended for extremely high temperatures or low temperatures, it can cause breakdowns and leakages.

  1. Chemical Compatibility

The fittings should not only be compatible with the hose but also with the liquid, fluid, or gas that is to be transmitted from the hydraulic system because if this fact is not considered it may result in explosion, fire, or toxic fumes.

So, it is important to consider all the above-mentioned things in order to make the right choice and avoid any mishaps. Also make sure to check and inspect the hydraulic system frequently.

Different types of Hydraulic Fittings available in the market are:

Crimp Fittings:

Image of multiple Hydraulic Fittings

The hydraulic crimp fittings are mostly easy to attach and are widely used in a permanent or fixed installation. The hydraulic crimp fittings include U Series, Parker Series, W Series, and JJ Style Hose-ends. They are designed precisely according to the industrial standards, these hydraulic hoses and fittings are suitable to work in a high-pressure environment.

  • Crimp U series/Standard- The crimp "U" Series hydraulic hose end fittings are lightweight hydraulic hose fittings that tightly crimp on to the cover of hydraulic hoses to form a secure compression connection.
  • Crimp "P" Series - The Parker series hose end fittings include the hydraulic hose fittings for Parker’s 43 Series and 71 Series that is considered ideal for use on any variable crimper or Parker brand crimper.
  • Crimp "W" Series (Bite to Wire) - Crimp "W" series hose end fittings are designed to work well with braided as well as spiral hoses. These fittings include flareless compression male hose ends, NPTF female pipe rigid hose ends, NPSM female pipe swivel hose ends, and many more.
  • Spiral Hose Ends - "JJ" Style Series (Skive) - The Spiral hose ends are high pressure "JJ" style series (skive) hose ends which includes JIC female swivel hose ends, JIC male rigid hose ends, and O-ring face seal (ORFS) hose fittings. These hose ends are corrosion resistant and promise great performance for years down the line.
  • Stainless Steel Hose Ends - They are high-quality stainless steel fittings including HY series crimp, 43 series crimp, BW series crimp, quick connect fittings, and more, which makes them highly corrosion resistant.
    • Stainless Steel 43 Hose Ends - The 43 Series hydraulic fittings are bite to the wire stainless hose fittings that can be used with a large number of braided hydraulic hoses. These hoses include SAE 100R2, R1, R16, R17, and 2SC.
    • Stainless Steel BW Hose Ends - The BW Series is a highly versatile bite to the wire fittings that can be used on both braided hydraulic hoses as well as some spiral hoses.
    • Stainless Steel HY Hose Ends - The HY Series fittings are cost-effective and permanent fittings that are easy to install and allows quick hose assemblies with Parker’s crimpers. The HY Series fittings are conveniently connected in a shorter time.

    Reusable

    Photo of reusable hydraulic fitting

    The reusable hose ends used in different kinds of hydraulic hose assemblies allow secured transmission of the hydraulic fluid in the piping system and the high-pressure hoses and hose connectors handle the pressure generated during this process. These hydraulic hose ends employ an easy installation mechanism and, unlike other fittings, they do not demand crimping. The reusable hose ends are available in different models like SAE 100R2AT Reusable Hose Fittings, SAE 100R5 Reusable Hose Fittings, SAE 100R1AT Reusable Hose Fittings and many more.

    Barbed Hose Ends

    Image of Hydraulics Direct Hose Barb

    The high-quality push lock hose ends are easy to attach with assembly hoses and are appropriate for high, medium, as well as low-pressure applications in oil and water lines. There are Push Lock Barbs and Beaded (Barbed) Hose Ends.

    Cam & Groove

    Photo of Cam & Groove fitting

    The cam & groove fittings are available in aluminum, stainless steel, polypropylene, and brass materials. These hose fittings and adapters are of high quality and durable.

    Specialty Hose Ends

    photo of stainless steel swivel fitting on white background

    The specialty hose ends are used for less common hose applications such as for beaded, ultra-high pressure (no skive), refrigerant, Teflon stainless, suction, and JJ style skive high-pressure hose ends. They include Ultra High-Pressure No Skive, Textile Cover Hose Ends (R5), Thermoplastic Hose Ends, and Hose Ends for Stainless Hose.

    Hose Clamps

    Photo of hydraulic hose clamp on white background

    Hose clamps are used to seal a hose and a fitting together. They are used to attach a hose on a barb or nipple.

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    Hydraulic Hose
     

    Photo of Titan Fittings Hose assemblies

    • Application – What kind of an application?
    • Size – What is the inner and outer diameter? What is the required length?
    • Pressure – What is the exerted system pressure?
    • Temperature What are the liquid or fluid and surrounding temperatures?
    • Material to be conveyed – What is kind of material is transferred? Is it compatible with the tube of the hose?
    • Ends or Couplings – What are the other parts or hydraulic fittings required?
    • Delivery – What is the delivery time and place?

    Important Facts:

    Image of hydraulic hoses with layers exposed
    • Hydraulic hoses and hose assemblies are made of different materials to be used in different applications such as
        • Elastomeric or rubber hoses are extremely flexible and recommended for low as well as high pressure applications.
        Fluoropolymer hose is considered suitable for transmission of harsh chemicals and better corrosion resistance as well as high temperature applications.
        Thermoplastic hoses are considered suitable when the main concern is kink resistance.
        Metal hoses are recommended for high temperature material transmission as well as ultra-high pressures. They are either flexible or hard.
    • Image of hydraulic hose with layers exposedHydraulic hoses usually consist of three parts including
        • The inner tube is usually flexible and allows the smooth transfer of the liquid or fluid it carries.
        The reinforcement layer is a braided or spiral wire of fabric or metal. The braided wire is a crisscross pattern that allows flexibility and the spiral wires are parallel to each other wound around the hose.
        The outer layer is weather or abrasion-resistant. It is designed to tolerate adverse environmental conditions. It is a cover for the hose.
    • The hose is better than a tube because it provides better resistance to corrosion and heat. It is more flexible and can be easily fabricated. It is available in longer lengths, easy to install in small areas, and heat resistant.
    • Hose durability is dependent on several characteristics such as temperature, environment, application, pressure, etc.
    • The inner diameter of the hose is also called "Dash Size."
    • The spiral hose is considered stronger and suitable for high-pressure applications as compared to a braided hose.
    • Waste and dirt in a hydraulic system can damage the hose very quickly so in order to make it last longer oil and filter need to be changed regularly.

    Types of Hydraulic Hoses

    There are several standards that any type of hydraulic hose is required to meet in order to be considered suitable for high-pressure applications, and twisted hose assemblies. A standard hose is not considered suitable for hydraulic systems. Hydraulic hoses are used for high-pressure applications either on mobile or fixed machinery. They are used by oil & gas drilling companies, for mining or construction purposes, waste or recycling purposes, power generation, and repair and maintenance.

    Hydraulic hoses are required to withstand an average internal pressure of 3000 psi and extremely high temperatures.

    There are standards developed by SAE, the engineering organizations for manufacturing of the hoses in order to ensure efficient and effective operation, and human safety and security. There are standards that provide general requirements as to the dimensions and performance of hydraulic hoses that are to be used in mobile or fixed machinery.

    The hose consists of three layers as mentioned above; the inner layer must be flexible and should be able to withstand the pressure and high temperature of the fluid. It is usually made of synthetic rubber or PTFE or thermoplastic material. The reinforcement layer is a fabric wired around to allow flexibility and resist high pressure in the hydraulic systems and the outermost layer is like a cover that protects the hose from external environmental damage and abrasion. It is also very important to consider hose fittings, their size, and whether the hydraulic fittings will be able to resist the pressure and temperature to which they are exposed.

    The five most common types of hydraulic hoses that are used for different purposes are listed below:

    1. SAE Standard Hose:

    Image of SAE standard hose with layers shown

    SAE 100R2 -S is a high-pressure hose that is used for petroleum or fluids having a water base. The reinforcement layer has two high tensile steel wire braids and the outer cover is abrasion, ozone, and weather resistant synthetic rubber, which is MSHA approved. The temperature ranges from -40F to +212F (+248F max.)

    2. Standard High-Pressure Hose:

    Image of Standard High-Pressure hose with layers shown

    This type of hose is flexible and is commonly used for transmitting mineral oils as well as water-oil blends. They are highly in demand by construction, mining and oil refining industries, and agricultural purposes.

    3. Low-Pressure Hose:

    Image of Low Pressure hose with layers shown

    This type of hose is highly flexible and is used in lighter applications, for instance, return lines, lube lines, etc. The reinforcement layer usually consists of two synthetic textile braids and the outer cover is abrasion, ozone, and weather resistant synthetic rubber, which is MSHA approved. The temperature resistance ranges from -40F to +212F.

    4. Steel Wire-Braided Hose:

    Image of Steel Wire-Braided hose with layers shown

    It is available either in a single or double braided steel wire. It is durable and is suitable to be used in extremely high pressure or high-temperature applications. The double braided steel wire hose is also known as a hydraulic jack hose.

    5. Stainless Steel PTFE Hose:

    Image of Stainless Steel PTFE hose with layers shown

    They are used by oil & gas drilling companies, for mining or construction purposes, for waste or recycling purposes, power generation, and repair and maintenance. The reinforcement layer is one braid of high tensile stainless steel braided wire and the tube is an extruded white PTFE. The temperature resistance ranges from -65F to +450F.

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