Heat Shields for Tubing, Hose and Cable

In this month’s blog from Thermal Control Products, we will be discussing Heat shields for tubing, hose and cable applications. The body of the article will focus on tubular designed heat shields.

By definition; tubing, hose and cable applications are very generic terms utilized in the Automotive and Truck Industries to cover a broad spectrum of definitive applications for tubular heat shields. Applications include brake lines, fuel lines, coolant lines, A.I.R. and E.G.R tubes, E.F.I. tubing and the associated wire harness set.

In addition, to the tubular type heat shield application category, wiring harnesses, battery cables, air hose and spark plug boots would also be inclusive.

Tubular heat shields are utilized for a variety of applications which include, but not limited to, excellent protection from radiant heat sources, significantly reducing component surface temperatures.

Tubular heat shields are also utilized as an excellent means of insulating components from significant temperature drop, loss and/or temperature increase. An example of this would be a fuel line, which has been exposed to too much heat throughout the length or surface of the fuel system, surpassing recommended operating temperature for fuel, thus creating vapor lock. In the racing industry, there is a focused effort to maintain a constant fuel temperature thus avoiding vapor lock and any incident of horse power loss due to hot fuel.

Tubular heat shields come in two different forms, a solid form, which when installed is slid along the length of the component to apply. Assembly aids, include the utilization of a device called a “bullet” which is a cone shaped assembly aid tool simplifying the assembly process.  

Tubular heat shields are normally included in the design phase of a component thus avoiding the possibility of having to install a tubular heat shield over an end fitting or an electrical connector. When this situation exists, the tubular heat shield has to be oversized correctly to make allowance for the end fitting or the electrical connector

The second type of tubular heat shields, are of a wrap design. This type of design includes various closure mechanisms to achieve the tubular shape of the heat shield. Closure mechanisms include several types of Hook & Loop, snaps, zippers, straps with d-rings, hook and wire, tape and finally, heat- set.

The obvious benefit of a wrap-type heat shield is its ability to be installed after a component has been previously assembled. In addition, another benefit of a tubular wrap type heat shield is its serviceability, being able to be removed and then reinstalled once a component has been serviced.