Plumbing mystery

[blumob]

I was winterizing my trailer and disconnected the intake hose from the water pump in order to pump antifreeze through system. about a foot away from the pump intake port is a cooper pipe with a spring inside spliced between the intake hose. I was concerned that I was reconnecting properly because the spring just sticks out. Anyone know what this is? I know a photo would help,if necessary I will post one.

[Wabbiteer]

A coil spring inside a flexible hose would keep it from gradually folding instead of bending where it became serpentine which could/would block or restrict flow.

If you are seeing it in straight copper the spring has traveled from where it it needed, generally having spring in straight hose and then fitting it into where it gets permanently installed to provides enough friction at the bends that it never travels, sounds like prior maintenance remembered the spring as an afterthought....

[idroba]

The stainless steel spring was originally in the rubber suction hose on the intake side of the pump. It was there to eliminate any chance that the suction hose would collapse when "sucked" on. Also, as noted above, to eliminate any chance of collapse due to a kink in the hose.

[blumob]

Thanks, but take a look at these photos and see if it still makes sense.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89974969@N02/10294902315/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89974969@N02/10294902615/

[Wabbiteer]

I see a new section of hose patched in that already is displaying a fold - the copper is/was a on-the-fly revision... spring to go into the tight radius curve section...

[TG Twinkie]

It doesn't appear that the spring is large enough. Even if it were in the black hose, if the water flows to the left in the pic. The spring would probably slide down the hose.
Looks like a good opportunity to do a serious upgrade.

[Wabbiteer]

Thats just where the decreasing inner diameter of the hose while 'folding' is used against itself, so to speak... straighten hose - insert spring - return hose to resting curve and that visible fold snubs spring movement. Still looks like afterthought to replace spring after prior repair.