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Apr, 2019

Basic Mechanical Skills Can Serve as an Important Stepping Stone to a Profitable Career

Knowing your way around a garage, a car, or a wood shop comes in handy. In fact, when you understand the difference between the times when a heavy duty hose clamp and smaller stainless steel clamps are used, you can likely save yourself both time and money when it comes to work and repairs around your home. Heavy duty hose clamps, as well as different types of automotive hose clamps, play important roles in the lives that we live. Unfortunately, many people today are so focused on a college education and what they consider a professional career that they simply do not take the time to learn basic mechanical and home maintenance skills.
We live in interesting times. As the nation continues to encourage students to pursue classes in science, technology, engineering, and math, there are also an increasing number of people who believe that they have to have a four year college degree to make a living and live a comfortable life. In the middle of all of this focus, however, somethings g Read More

Choosing the Right Hose Clamp for Your Vehicle

Worm gear hose clamp

When taking your vehicle for maintenance, one basic but important thing that has to be inspected are the hose clips commonly know as hose clamps. Vehicles wear out with time. Even with proper care, your car will still show signs of mileage on its components. If you have a fragile, swollen, corroded or a clamp that becomes loose too often, consider replacement before it causes any damage.

An engine is a complex structure that controls virtually every part of a car. Most of these components are connected with hoses supplying them with different fluids. Meaning that any leakage or damage to the hose supply line can cause the vehicle to loose some of its functionality. As such, you need to ensure that the clamps connecting the hoses to vital vehicle’s components are in good condition. There are different types of hose clamps including the embossed clamp design. But they all perform the same function of attaching and sealing a hose onto a fitting such as a barb or nipple.

Screw Clamps
Also known as a worm clamp, screw clamp features a stainless steel band which consists of a screw thread pattern. At the other end of the band is the captive screw. The band tightens when the screw is turned, and the band can also be loosened when its screwed the other direction.

Worm clamps are easy to install and offer multiple applications such as fixing leaking pipes or alignment problems. They come in different sizes, but experts recommend to use screw clamps for hoses bigger than 1/2 inch.

Spring Clamps
Spring clamps feature a movable strip of spring steel with clamping jaws for adjustment. They are typically strong and look good on embossed clamp design due to their large band surface. Spring clamps are even more easy to install and remove than screw clamps. They are commonly used for securing radiator(or radiador) and heater hoses. Other small models are applied in vehicle’s pressure lines mostly to prevent drop-offs during pressure changes. Spring type clamps vary in gauges, and the thicker the gauge, the more clamping tension it has.

Wire Clamps
Wire hose clips don’t come in an embossed clamp design because of their thin surface area. Typically, they are made of steel and feature a U shaped, then twisted to form a ring shape with one end of the wire overlaying the other. Like screw clamps, they tighten and loosens when the screw is turned.

Oetiker clamps
This is an ear type of clamp made up of a stainless steel band that features closing elements “ears”. Oetiker clamps are commonly used for gas, oil, and transmission cooling lines. They can withstand constant expansion and contraction of hoses caused by forced induction and thermodynamic differences. This eliminates the need to retighten it now and then. Unlike most standard screw clamps, Oetiker clamps have been tamper-proof designed to protect the hoses from accidental tears.

Although these may seem like the main types of clamping tools, other tools such as compression fittings, push-it fittings or swage fittings can be used to secure hoses or tubing.

Great Inventions The Hose Clamp

Constant tension hose clamps

Were you aware that the hose clamp was invented by a former Royal Navy Commander? Lumley Robinson invented this clamp in 1921, and it continues to be used for a variety of purposes, such as aviation clamps. In general, however, hose clamps are used for hoses that can handle moderate pressures. This includes automative and household applications.

It’s important to note that these clamps are available in different materials and sizes. This is necessary because hose clamps are designed to provide even pressure, without any gaps, on all sides of the hose. Furthermore, the right size hose clamp needs to be used at all times, and should be composed of only quality material. When these measures aren’t in place, the hose’s seal may leak gas, liquid, or any other type of substance that may be passing through the hose.

Hose clamps are also referred to as hose clips. This device is used to attach and seal a hose to a fitting, which includes barbs or nipples. The spring clamp is 1 of the simples types of hose clamps. It consists of a strip of metal shaped like a cylindrical spring and has a number of protrusions. In addition to spring clamps, there are other types of hose clamps, such as worm gear and wire clamps.

Aviation clamps, like other types of hose clamps, are available in a variety of sizes. As a result, they can accommodate the fastening needs for any sized hose.

It’s interesting to note that these clamps are often used to replace duct tape. They can also be used as heavy-duty zip ties, which can be effective and convenient in many situations.

As aforementioned, typical and effective uses for hose clamps include using them to secure hoses in automative systems. They are also used to clamp household plumbing system lines.

When hoses become stuck, they shouldn’t be removed by cutting or slitting them. This is because the barb can become scratched, and they will leak as a result. A good seal is ensured when barbs are free of nicks and scratches as well as contaminants.

Thanks to the innovative thinking of Royal Navy Commander, Lumley Robinson, the hose clamp continues to be used today for a variety of vital purposes.