While many utilities vehicles use fluid power for power and control, lift platforms and telehandlers especially rely on the reliability and safety of hydraulics. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor The utilities sector is any industry related to the delivery of essential infrastructure services to end use customers, and these services include water, sewage, electrical, […]
Mobile Hydraulics Blog
The practical side of mobile electrification
Manufacturers of construction equipment are falling over each other in the scramble to introduce electrified off-road vehicles that eliminate diesel engines and, in some cases, hydraulic drives. A number of such machines were on display at this year’s bauma, and predicting more of the same at Conexpo 2020 will be the safest bet in Las […]
How do I choose a joystick controller for my mobile machine?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor A joystick is a type of lever used to control multiple valves or functions with a single control. It can be tilted fore and aft, and also left and right, but is often also equipped with electric or electronic buttons, switches or proportional rollers. So how do you choose a […]
Progressive versus linear spools in Danfoss PVG mobile proportional valves
Contributed by Buck Schmitt, CFPS, Territory Manager – Eastern PA and Mid-Atlantic, Kraft Fluid Systems When designing hydraulic systems for mobile machinery, there are a variety of requirements that range from basic setup functions to extremely precise maneuvers. Let’s examine the more precise and critical functions. There are several ways to approach hydraulic system challenges. […]
We’ve come a long way, baby: the evolution of construction equipment hydraulics
Modern mobile machinery has changed quite a bit. Here is a look at how construction equipment hydraulics have changed over the last couple hundred years. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor On a road near my home, there exists a hand-laid stone fence, perhaps 4 ft high and a hundred times as long. Crafted from locally-sourced […]
Mobile hydraulics gets an unwelcome jolt
One unmistakable take-away from this year’s bauma show was the buzz surrounding electrification. The idea of massive mobile machines running only on batteries may seem far-fetched, but for smaller equipment it has become a reality. At every turn, major manufacturers like Cat, Kobelco, Komatsu and Volvo to niche players like Ecovolve and Giant featured electrified […]
Notes from bauma: 12 cool things on display at the show
bauma, which just wrapped up last Friday, April 12, is truly an eye-catching show, with massive construction machines and component manufacturers highlighting their new technologies and designs. Read on about 12 cool things that caught my attention throughout the week. Liebherr LH 110C gantry Reminiscent of a Star Wars At-At machine, this Liebherr LH 110C […]
Panel: The future of mobile hydraulics
Mobile hydraulics is often the elephant in the room when people talk about fluid power. This portion of the industry is one that’s fast moving, innovative and gets people’s attention. Even little kids dream of someday driving a backhoe or a huge hydraulic dump truck. But what’s new in the field today, and how will […]
Tough transducers ensure precise road maintenance while reducing machine downtime
Roadtec manufactures a variety of road building and asphalt paving equipment, relying on hydraulics for the power density and precision control it provides in cutting, paving and more. The company’s soil stabilizers and road reclaimers are well balanced and constructed with a sealed box frame to make them as durable and versatile as possible. Used […]
How do hydraulics ensure safety in mining machinery?
By their design, hydraulic components are explosion-proof, making the powerfully dense technology a natural choice in dangerous mining applications. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Hydraulics in mobile mining machinery is unique. Just as any intelligently designed hydraulic circuit must consider efficiency, performance and reliability, so too must the hydraulics within the mining industry. However, the […]
