Crystal CPF High Pressure Hose and Fittings - Manual (Page 10)

Crystal Safety Guide for Using Hose Assemblies and Fittings  8
Visual Inspection - All Other
The following items must be tightened, repaired, corrected or replaced as required:
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Leaking port conditions;
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Damaged, cracked, cut or abraded o-rings (internal or external);
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Excess dirt buildup;
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Worn clamps, guards or shields; and
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System fluid level, fluid type, and any air entrapment (hydraulic applications).
Functional Test
Operate the system at maximum operating pressure and check for possible malfunctions and leaks. Personnel must avoid potential hazardous areas while
testing and using the system.
Replacement Intervals
Hose Assemblies and elastomeric (o-ring) seals used on Hose Assembly Fittings and adapters will eventually age, harden, wear and deteriorate under thermal
cycling and compression set. Hose Assemblies and elastomeric seals should be inspected and replaced at specific replacement intervals, based on previous
service life, government or industry recommendations, or when failures could result in unacceptable downtime, damage, or injury risk.
Hose Assembly Inspection and Failure
Hydraulic power is accomplished by utilizing high-pressure fluids to transfer energy and do work. Hose, Fittings, and Hose Assemblies all contribute to this
by transmitting fluids at high pressures. Fluids under pressure can be dangerous and potentially lethal and, therefore, extreme caution must be exercised
when working with fluids under pressure and handling the Hose Assemblies transporting the fluids. From time to time, Hose Assemblies will fail if they are not
replaced at proper time intervals. Usually these failures are the result of some form of misapplication, abuse, wear, or failure to perform proper maintenance.
When Hose Assemblies fail, generally the high-pressure fluids inside escape in a stream which may or may not be visible to the user. Under no circumstances
should the user attempt to locate the leak by “feeling” with their hands or any other part of their body. High-pressure fluids can and will penetrate the skin
and cause severe tissue damage and possibly loss of limb. Even seemingly minor hydraulic fluid injection injuries must be treated immediately by a physician
with knowledge of the tissue damaging properties of hydraulic fluid. If a Hose Assembly failure occurs, immediately shut down the equipment and leave the
area until pressure has been completely released from the Hose Assembly. Simply shutting down the hydraulic pump may or may not eliminate the pressure
in the Hose Assembly. Many times check valves, etc., are employed in a system and can cause pressure to remain in a Hose Assembly even when pumps or
equipment are not operating. Tiny holes in the Hose Assembly, commonly known as pinholes, can eject small, dangerously powerful but hard to see streams
of hydraulic fluid. It may take several minutes or even hours for the pressure to be relieved so that the Hose Assembly may be examined safely. Once the
pressure has been reduced to zero, the Hose Assembly may be taken off the equipment and examined. It must always be replaced if a failure has occurred.
Never attempt to patch or repair a Hose Assembly that has failed. Consult the nearest Crystal Engineering distributor or Crystal Engineering for Hose Assembly
replacement information. Never touch or examine a failed Hose Assembly unless it is obvious that the Hose Assembly no longer contains fluid under pressure.
The high-pressure fluid is extremely dangerous and can cause serious and potentially fatal injury.