Although generic, hose clamps are the quickest, most practical and adaptable tools for fixing flexible hoses (in rubber, PVC or other elastic materials) to hose connectors and fittings in general.
To be used correctly, a hose clamp should not be too tight to avoid cutting into or damaging the external surface of the hose and so as not to deform the hose’s diameter or the hose connector as a result of an excessive clamping force.
How does a hose clamp work?
The force (Nm) applied to the clamp screw is converted into a tension load that is exerted over the entire metal band. This tension load transforms into a radial force exerted on the circumference of the hose, tightening the band evenly around it and preventing a loss of pressure and/or of the product being transported within.
Hose clamp applications
It is common knowledge that hose clamps are used in the automotive industry; a number of different types can be found in all cars.
Hose clamps are also used in DIY, inside and outside the home, for small emergencies. For example, they are used to fix small faults in home plumbing systems, for pipes connected to bathrooms and for kitchen sinks.
Let’s not forget the use of hose clamps in gardening as well. Who hasn’t had a hose to water their lawn attached to the tap with a clamp?
But it is in an industrial setting where most opportunities exist to use clamps in a variety of ways. Even though different and non-reusable systems are used nowadays (crimping, pressing, etc.) for professional and long-term solutions, as well as systems that are more reliable in terms of sealing the hose to its fitting, coupling or installation, clamps are still the protagonists in all those situations where an agile, quick, inexpensive and reusable solution is needed… which is most of the time.
A good-quality hose clamp exerts a sufficient and proportional radial force on the external circumference of the hose. In this way, it prevents any loss (of product and pressure) between the hose and the connector.
Generally, to achieve a good connection between the hose and the connector, all you have to do is tighten the clamp by applying the tightening torque recommended by the manufacturer (ideally with a dynamometer). If the torque is too low, there may be a leak, with the added risk of the hose detaching from the connector (blowoff). On the other hand, if the torque is too high, the hose could be damaged in a number of ways, generating a leak as a result of excessive deformation or damage caused to the structure of the hose or connector.
