Choosing the right hydraulic hose is critical to the safety and lifespan of your hydraulic system. It also requires considering many different factors at once, so the S.TA.M.P.E.D. method is designed to help customers with this process. Learn what this method is and how you can use it to choose the ideal type of hydraulic hose for your application.
What Is the S.T.A.M.P.E.D. Process?
The S.T.A.M.P.E.D. hose acronym represents all the hose attributes you need to know to purchase the right hoses for your hydraulic system. The seven key attributes are:
- S: Size
- T: Temperature
- A: Application
- M: Material/Media
- P: Pressure
- E: Ends
- D: Delivery
The best hose accommodates all seven characteristics. Below, you’ll learn more about each property.
Size
The size of your hydraulic hose consists of four different measurements:
- Inside diameter (ID): The inner diameter of the hose is the measurement of the straight distance between the two furthest points on the inside of the hose. ID determines the fluid flow rate and the total volume of fluid that can travel through the cross-section of the hose.
- Outside diameter (OD): OD is the measurement of the straight distance between the two furthest points on the outside of hose, including wall thickness.
- Overall length: Measure both the length of the hose itself and the attached fittings to determine the total length.
- Tolerance: Tolerance is important to determine how much variation is allowed for the hose. Some applications or hydraulic systems have stricter tolerance limits than others.
Temperature
Consider both the temperature of the fluid that will move through the hose and the ambient temperature outside the hose. Your chosen hose must be able to handle both the lowest and highest temperatures that your system will experience. If the material cannot withstand the anticipated temperature extremes, it may become brittle, start to break down, or chemically react to the fluid or the outside environment. For example, proximity to hot manifolds can jeopardize the integrity of hose materials not rated for such high heat levels. Depending on the maximum temperatures of the application, you may need to use heat shields as additional protection.
Application
Identify the conditions under which your hose assembly will be used. There are four main categories of applications your specific use case may fall under:
- High impulse applications: There are frequent pressure spikes that the hose needs to accommodate.
- Low impulse applications: There are few pressure spikes.
- Flexing applications: The hose will frequently need to bend or flex.
- Non-flexing applications: The hose assembly will remain relatively still, with no bending or flexing during operation.
Material
Material refers to the compatibility of the hose material with the fluid being conveyed, including its type and concentration. If your hose needs to convey specialized chemicals or oils, the inner hose tube and cover material must both be compatible with the fluid. All other components in the hose assembly, such as the O-rings and hose ends, must also be compatible with the fluid being conveyed or the environment that the components will come into contact with. Additional considerations include the need for flame resistance (MSHA certification), static wire, nonconductivity, abrasion resistance, and more.
Pressure
Identify the internal and external pressure levels the hydraulic hose assembly will be subject to, including details regarding anticipated pressure spikes or changes. Determine the system’s maximum operating pressure, which will be based on the relief setting. All elements of the hose, including the hose connections/ends, should not be rated below this maximum pressure.
However, sudden pressure spikes can surge above that relief setting and the maximum operating pressure, reducing the overall service life of the hose assembly. So account for those spikes in pressure when choosing a hose.
Ends
The ends refer to the hose’s termination style, type, attachment method, or orientation. Select the right terminations based on your system’s working pressure, required vibration resistance, and other requirements. Always use manufacturer-approved ends and couplings for hose assemblies.
Delivery
Finally, consider any quality, testing, cleanliness, packaging, and delivery requirements you may have. Along with any manufacturer recommendations for maximum fluid velocity, carefully select your hose based on any other special requirements.
Contact Jason Industrial for Hydraulic Hoses
At Jason Industrial, we’re committed to giving our clients the high-quality hydraulic and industrial hoses they need for their unique systems. We offer a wide selection of hoses with different materials, end connectors, certifications, and delivery options, and our expert team is available to answer your questions. Contact us today to learn more about our different products and service options, or request a quote for pricing details.