Most hose types can be supplied with a REFLEX construction.
A REFLEX hose does not have any helical wire reinforcement. Instead, the construction utilizes separate groups of reinforcement separated by a thick rubber filler block. This arrangement serves to provide a good level of crush and kink resistance in normal service, but should a REFLEX hose be accidentally kinked through over-bending, then the full circular shape and performance characteristics will be regained once the kink initiating force is removed.
When a standard helix wire reinforced hose is crushed or over-bent to the point where the hose wall is flattened or kinked, the helical wire will be permanently deformed. The hose will then need to be retired from service. A REFLEX hose will regain its shape and performance characteristics after such an event.
Specifications
REFLEX is available in both single and double carcass forms. The properties of a REFLEX hose are different from those of a standard helical wire reinforced hose (tensile strength, bending stiffness, torsional stiffness etc.), so advice should always be sought from Continental when considering the REFLEX option.
Features & Benefits
REFLEX hoses can be particularly beneficial to systems where there can be a high risk of over-bending such as in a CBM system. Other systems can also benefit from REFLEX designs.