For novices in the fluid power industry, lack of understanding between the fixed flow and variable flow pumping concepts is quite common. A hydraulic pump has one mission, and that is to transform incoming mechanical energy at its shaft into hydraulic energy capable of transferring force to actuators somewhere downstream. This transfer of force is […]
Engineering Basics
Telematics offers high-value solutions for industry
Telematics facilitates the exchange of rich data to and from mobile or remote machinery, helping to streamline maintenance and costs. Contributed by Carl Dyke, CD Industrial Group Inc. How can the owner of a fleet of cranes avoid the daily worries about whether the machines are being operated and maintained for safe performance? Is there […]
Hydraulic symbology 102: understanding basic fluid power schematics
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Back in August of 2017, you saw my article Hydraulic symbology 101: Understanding basic fluid power schematics (read it here first, if you haven’t already). I covered basic constituent lines, shapes and their respective symbols. Due to space constraints, I left out some of the major components represented by symbols […]
How do I specify standard hydraulic manifolds?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor The three most common ways to control hydraulic actuators are with lever valves, cartridge valves or sandwich valves. Lever valves are available as monoblock or stacked valves, and are primarily for directional control. Cartridge valves have nearly infinite possible combinations, but must be used with bodies or custom manifolds. Sandwich […]
What does pressure really mean?
Pressure is simply the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. However, there are many ways to reference and identify pressure, which is largely dependent upon the application. In many applications, there is a common misconception that all pressure measurement needs to be absolute. […]
How do you calculate HPU pressure and flow requirements?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Before you select a pump for your HPU, you must calculate your pressure and flow requirements. To calculate flow required by your hydraulic pump, you must know the size and velocity of the actuators it will power. It is important to calculate the maximum flow required during simultaneous actuator operation, […]
What components make up hydraulic power units or HPUs?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Nearly every single hydraulic system shares one thing in common — they’re run by a hydraulic power unit. Although some units are multitaskers, like the engine on a tractor, most often they’re purpose-built for the single task of converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy. The scope of a power unit […]
How do accumulators improve system performance?
Hydraulic accumulators are pressure vessels that store and discharge energy in the form of pressurized fluid. In essence, potential energy is stored in a compressed gas and released on demand to force oil from the accumulator and into the circuit. Here are some important benefits accumulators provide, and how they make hydraulic systems better. Energy […]
What is a linear position sensor?
Several technologies exist to provide position feedback or data of a cylinder’s position. Linear position sensors convert the position into a proportional analog or digital signal. LVITs—Linear Variable Inductive Transducers—are contactless position sensing devices, with sensing ranges up to 30 inches or more. Most designs feature an inductive probe surrounded by a conductive tube. This is […]
How does a hydraulic accumulator work?
Hydraulic accumulators are energy storage devices. Analogous to rechargeable batteries in electrical systems, they store and discharge energy in the form of pressurized fluid and are often used to improve hydraulic-system efficiency. An accumulator itself is a pressure vessel that holds hydraulic fluid and a compressible gas, typically nitrogen. The housing or shell is made […]
