Chafe or fire sleeve for hose

Abstract

A chafe or fire sleeve for a hose is an integral coaxial structure having an inner layer of silicone and an outer layer of urethane in the range of 80%-20% urethane and 20%-80% silicone, respectively. The inner hose structure preferably comprises an elastomeric hose covered by braid, with the silicone bonded onto the braid. Five examples of materials are given, ranging from pure urethane to pure silicone and including three exemplary mixtures thereof. Pure urethane provides excellent antichafe, but not fire retardant, qualities; and pure silicone provides excellent fire retardant, but not necessarily as good antichafe, qualities. This particular invention is primarily directed to the fire retardant or fire resisting qualities of silicone, which is an ablative material that forms a refractory ash. The fire sleeve is an ablative material which tends to flake off the hose as it burns. This flaking is a disintegration of the hose which is one of the primary causes of the ultimate hose failure. The invention provides a wire braid which encapsulates or contains the ablative material as it tends to flake, thereby holding the ablating material against the hose and retarding the disintegration of the hose.