Hose Reels

About Hose Reels and Hose Reel Manufacturers Including: Air Hose Reels, Automatic Hose Reels, Cable Carriers, Cable Reels, Cord Reels, Extension Reels, Fire Hose Reels, High Pressure Hose Reels, Industrial Reels, Medical Cord Reels, Retractable Hose Reels & Water Hose Reels.

A hose reel is a cylindrical device around which any variety of hoses can be manually or mechanically wound. Most hose reels feature a side-mounted handle for winding and unwinding. Retractable hose reels and automatic hose reels use electric, spring or air (pneumatic) power to unwind and wind the hosing with minimum effort. The purpose of hose reels is to keep hoses neat when not in use and kink free when being used. Hoses lying out are a tripping hazard to employees and customers; hose reels prevent this danger and also prolong the life of the hose. Reel manufacturers design and fabricate solutions not only for hoses, but for electric cables, cords and ropes as well with air hose reels, cable reels, water hose reels, fire hose reels, which are high pressure hose reels made for hoses that spray water, air or heavy liquids, medical cord reels, extension reels and cable carriers. Retractable hose reels are automatic hose reels designed for convenient remote winding and unwinding in indoor or outdoor facilities. Industrial reels are specifically designed for continuous wear and tough applications in manufacturing and warehousing environments.
 
Hose reels are manufactured to meet requirements for a variety of applications. Smaller versions are able to house smaller diameter and lighter hosing such as garden hoses. A fire hose reel used for fire department and construction hoses will be built larger and more rigid to support the extra length and load. There are certain reels that are utilized solely for transportation and others that are used for transportation and storage. Some hose reels allow the use of the hose while it is still wound up. These hose reels provide easy access and storing efficiency, which is what draws consumers towards them.

Hose reels have different retraction options. A manual hose reel has no automatic retraction mechanism but is equipped with a hand-turned crank. A motor powers the retraction mechanism in electric, hydraulic and pneumatic hose reels. In a spring reel, an internal spring is used to retract the hose. In some spring hose reels, the spring motor is hermetically sealed to completely isolate it from dirt and moisture. Many hose reels come with a latching mechanism that assures positive extension stop and easy retraction at any length.
 
There are several reasons hose reels fail. If spring motors are exposed to the atmosphere, they will eventually rust and break. A latching mechanism made of thin sheet metal or cast aluminum doesn't wear well. Leaks often occur because of the improper design of sealing capabilities. Some reels have fairleads that do not reach the full width of the reel, causing hose buildup. Fairlead arms made of light material, such as pressed tin, will bend when the hose returns. A base made of pressed sheet metal with Tac-welds will soon crack from vibration. Cheek plates with an improperly formed rim or no forming will end up bending and cracking. 

Hose Reels and Hose Reel Manufacturers Images Provided by Reelcraft Industries, Inc.

Hose Reels and Hose Reel Manufacturers Images Provided by Hannay Reels®, Inc.

Hose Reel Types

• Air hose reels are designed to house air hosing, which is typically small in diameter.
  
• Automatic hose reels retrieve the hose by themselves with the use of batteries, electricity or water or air pressure.
  
• Cable reels are reels designed to hold cables for electrical or other industrial purposes.
  
• Cord reels store, pay out and automatically rewind electrical cable and are used to power mobile machinery from a stationary power source.
  
• Electric reels are reels that utilize electric power to wind and unwind hosing, instead of requiring mechanical power. They are useful in situations where heavy hoses are continually used and relocated, such as in airplane refueling applications.
  
• Fire hose reels are designed to give easy access to a plentiful supply of water. They provide ample protection in high risk areas that require more than a nine liter fire extinguisher, such as large schools, hotels, warehouses, factories, concert halls and theaters.
  
• Industrial reels are utilized in applications necessitating high product flow and/or longer hose length.
• Medical cord reels store, pay out and automatically rewind conductive cord or lifting cord that is used to power mobile medical machinery, such as crash carts, through contact with a stationary power source.
• Phone cord reels are self-retracting devices that reel the telephone cord into a small, portable storage container.
  
• Retractable hose reels have cranks to retract and store the hose.
• Spring reels are spring-driven retracting mechanisms suitable for industrial, farm, commercial and greenhouse applications.
  
• Static discharge reels are used to ground equipment that is operating in a hazardous atmosphere. When properly grounded, the reel gets rid of any static electrical buildup, which in turn decreases the chance of sparking and a potential explosion.
• Water hose reels are cylindrical cranks that a water hose can be manually or mechanically wound around.

Hose Reel Terms

Ball Stop - Also referred to as a "hose" or "bumper" stop, it is used to govern retraction length. When accessories such as drills and air guns are installed on hose reels, ball stops are frequently required.
 
Bracket - A simple L-shaped object, which has one arm fixed to a vertical surface, such as a wall. The other arm projects in a horizontal direction and is often used to support hose reels.
 
Bridge - A device placed over a section of hosing that allows traffic to pass over without damaging the hose.
 
Carcass - The fabric, cord and/or metal reinforcing section of a hose, which is different from the tube or cover.
 
Core Diameter - The diameter of the inside of the reel.
 
Coupling - A fitting that is attached to the end of a hose in order to connect two hose lines together or to connect the hose to an appliance, nozzle, discharge valve, fire hydrant, etc.
 
Cover - The outermost part of the hose that protects the hose reinforcement from physical and environmental abuse.
 
Fairlead - A square hose guide.
 
Guide Arm - A piece that usually projects from the side of the hose reel. Its purpose is to guide the hosing encased inside of it in a straight line, allowing for easier, less tangled hose retrieval.
 
Lift Height - The distance measured from where the hose is positioned to the centerline of the spool.
 
Pivot Base - A base that allows a hose reel to turn in different directions.
 
Pressure Rating - The maximum pressure capacity of hosing or cord. For air and water hoses, it is given in pounds per square inch (psi); for electrical cables and power cords, it is given in voltage (V).
 
Ratchet - A device used to hold hose reel spools in place at particular points of payout.
 
Reel Capacity - The maximum length of hosing, typically expressed in feet, that a reel is designed to efficiently house.
 
Reinforcement - The central part of the hose that gives it its strength. The hose working pressure depends on the type and amount of reinforcement used in the hose construction.
 
Safety Wrap - Hose that remains on the reel when the rest is completely unwound.
 
Spool Axial - The device upon which the hosing or wiring is wound. It rotates with the swivel, which in turn loads and unloads the hose.
 
Swivel - A supported pivot that allows the hose reel to rotate in a horizontal plane, enabling the winding and unwinding motions. The swivel also transfers gas/fluid from a fixed source to a rotating source.
 
Tie Rod - A part that keeps spool flanges connected rigidly to the drum.