DELPHI FITTINGS
SAE J1231 Beaded Hose Fittings Manufacturer & OEM Supplier
Steel hose-bead adapters for low-pressure automotive, industrial and hydraulic return circuits.
Steel Beaded Hose Ends for Clamp-Retained Low-Pressure Lines
Delphi Fittings manufactures steel beaded hose fittings in Zhejiang, China for North American OEM, distributor and private-label supply programs. These SAE J1231-style connections are used with flexible hose retained by a correctly selected clamp. The catalog covers straight, 45°, 90° and tee configurations with male NPTF or SAE O-ring boss transition ends.
Delphi controls CNC machining, standard zinc plating, dimensional verification, final inspection and export coordination; forging operations, where required by an approved part design, are outsourced to qualified suppliers. Brennan catalog geometry is our default commercial reference when a buyer requests a standard cross-reference, subject to confirmation of the complete dash-size combination and drawing.
Beaded Hose Barb Fitting Catalog (Steel)
Beaded Hose Barb x NPTF Pipe Male Adapter
Part #: 4404Straight adapter connecting a low-pressure hose (secured with clamp over bead) to a female NPTF port. Beaded barb x Male NPTF ends.
Beaded Hose Barb x NPTF Pipe Male 90° Elbow
Part #: 450190° elbow adapter connecting a low-pressure hose to a female NPTF port. Beaded barb x Male NPTF ends.
Beaded Hose Barb x NPTF Pipe Male 45° Elbow
Part #: 450345° elbow adapter connecting a low-pressure hose to a female NPTF port. Beaded barb x Male NPTF ends.
Beaded Hose Barb Tee
Part #: 4504Tee fitting for branching low-pressure hoses. Features beaded hose barb connections on all three ends.
Beaded Hose Barb x ORB Male 90° Elbow
Part #: 460190° adapter elbow connecting a low-pressure hose to a female SAE O-Ring Boss (ORB) port. Beaded barb x Male ORB ends.
Beaded Hose Barb x ORB Male 45° Elbow
Part #: 460345° adapter elbow connecting a low-pressure hose to a female SAE O-Ring Boss (ORB) port. Beaded barb x Male ORB ends.
Beaded Hose Barb x ORB Male Adapter
Part #: 4604Straight adapter connecting a low-pressure hose to a female SAE O-Ring Boss (ORB) port. Beaded barb x Male ORB ends.
SAE J1231 and Brennan Beaded-Hose Series Guide
SAE J1231 provides general and dimensional requirements for beaded ends used with low-pressure hose retained by clamps. For standard commercial inquiries, Delphi uses the Brennan J1231 catalog family as its primary reference. A series match identifies the basic configuration; final approval still requires the complete hose and thread sizes, material, coating and customer drawing requirements.
| Brennan reference family | Connection pattern | Delphi catalog starting point |
|---|---|---|
| 4404 | Beaded hose end to male NPTF, straight | Delphi 4404 |
| 4501-FG / 4503-FG | Beaded hose end to male NPTF, 90° or 45° elbow | Delphi 4501 and Delphi 4503 |
| 4504-FG | Three beaded hose ends, tee | Delphi 4504 |
| 4601-NWO-FG / 4603-NWO-FG | Beaded hose end to male adjustable ORB, 90° or 45° elbow | Delphi 4601 and Delphi 4603; confirm locknut, washer and O-ring requirements. |
| 4604-O | Beaded hose end to male ORB, straight | Delphi 4604 |
| 4506 | Two beaded hose ends plus male NPTF, tee | Not shown among the seven standard cards above; submit the complete Brennan number or drawing for manufacturing review. |
Brennan, Parker and legacy brand numbers are not automatically equivalent
Brennan publishes the 4404, 4500 and 4600 SAE J1231 families used in this catalog. Parker also publishes beaded-barb families such as 68HB, 685HB and 1695HB, but many Parker listings are brass and use different part-number logic and dimensional combinations. Aeroquip, Eaton and Weatherhead numbers should therefore be treated as buyer-supplied cross-reference inputs—not proof of interchangeability.
Information required for an OEM or distributor quotation
- Complete manufacturer and part number, or a controlled drawing/sample.
- Hose inside diameter and the approved hose construction.
- NPTF or ORB thread size, straight or elbow geometry, and elbow orientation.
- Clamp or ferrule specification, dynamic impulse conditions, fluid and temperature range.
- Material, zinc-plating requirement, inspection level, packaging and annual quantity.
Reference basis reviewed September 4, 2026: SAE J1231 scope and revision history, Brennan SAE J1231 adapter catalog, and Parker beaded-hose barb catalog.
Brennan, Parker, Aeroquip, Eaton and Weatherhead are trademarks of their respective owners. Delphi Fittings is an independent manufacturer and is not affiliated with or endorsed by those companies. Brand references are used only to interpret buyer-supplied sourcing requirements.
Where Beaded Hose Ends Fit in a Hydraulic System
Beaded ends provide a clamp-retained transition between flexible hose and a hard port. They are commonly considered for cooling, drain, return and general fluid-transfer circuits after the complete hose assembly has been approved for the application.
- Bead to NPT/NPTF: 4404, 4501 and 4503 connect a hose end to a tapered pipe port. The NPTF side and the hose side use different sealing mechanisms and must be specified separately. See the related NPT/NPTF fitting catalog.
- Bead to SAE ORB: 4601, 4603 and 4604 transition into an SAE O-ring boss port. The ORB side seals at the port O-ring; the beaded side depends on the approved hose and clamp. See the SAE ORB fitting catalog.
- Steel compared with brass: material selection depends on fluid compatibility, corrosion exposure, mechanical loading and the equipment specification. Brass push-lock and hose-barb fittings are a separate product family and should not be substituted solely by hose size.
- Clamp-retained compared with crimped hose: a beaded end is not a replacement for a qualified high-pressure hydraulic hose coupling. Use the connection system specified by the hose and equipment manufacturers.
Beaded Hose Assembly Control Points
How the connection is retained
The formed bead provides a retention shoulder while the specified clamp or ferrule compresses the hose around the tube end. Hose material, inside diameter, wall thickness and clamp geometry all affect retention and sealing; the fitting cannot be evaluated independently of those components.
When not to use this connection
- Do not use a clamp-retained beaded end in a high-pressure circuit unless the complete assembly has been specifically designed, tested and approved for that duty.
- Do not infer a catalog-wide rating from one competitor part; verify the specific assembly qualification standard for each application.
- Do not mix hose, clamp and fitting dimensions without verifying the approved assembly specification.
- Do not assume fuel, refrigerant, brake, potable-water or aggressive-chemical compatibility from the fitting material alone.
Installation and inspection checklist
- Confirm the hose I.D., bead dimensions, mating thread, material and complete assembly rating.
- Cut the hose square and inspect it for hardening, cracks, contamination or internal damage.
- Install the specified clamp or ferrule and fully seat the hose to the drawing-defined position.
- Position and tighten the retaining hardware according to the hose/clamp manufacturer's procedure—not a generic torque value.
- Pressure-test and inspect the completed assembly under the buyer's approved production and maintenance procedure.
Factory Supply for Beaded Hose Fitting Programs
Delphi Fittings supplies zinc-plated steel beaded hose components from China for North American distributors, OEM buyers and private-label programs. Send the complete part list, drawing or competitor numbers so our team can review the hose I.D., thread, orientation, material, finish and inspection requirements.
For repeat programs, include forecast quantity, packaging method and delivery schedule. Quotations are based on the approved component specification and do not assign a pressure rating to an unverified hose-and-clamp assembly.