Hydraulic fluid is the energy transfer medium in all hydraulic systems. However, the job of hydraulic fluid goes beyond simple transmission of power. Although transmitting hydraulic energy is the core purpose of hydraulic fluid, it is useful in four secondary functions—heat transfer, contamination removal, sealing, and lubrication. Hydraulic machines produce a lot of excess heat […]
Engineering Basics
Bar stock and its use in hydraulic components
Bar stock is used in various applications of fluid power, either as a mounting for other valve systems or simply for consolidation of plumbing. The bar stock itself is typically an alloy of either aluminum or ductile iron, and is manufactured in billets suitable for machining finished product. The most popular use is the bar […]
Pump cavitation: 7 ways to avoid in mobile hydraulic systems
Pump cavitation is one of the most searched topics on fluid power, which is justified, because cavitation is unfortunately an all-too-common cause of pump failure on mobile equipment. Liquids are able to hold dissolved gasses in solution, and the gas saturation level within any liquid is dependent upon the pressure, the temperature and the type […]
Maintaining reliability with hydraulic filters
By Josh Cosford Fluid conditioning is the top priority for those intending to keep their hydraulic machines happy and reliable. Control of the various forms of fluid contamination ensures components will run within their design criteria efficiently and dependably. Major forms of fluid contamination include water, air, heat and particle. Particle contamination is often highest […]
Hydraulic fittings and flanges in mobile equipment
By Josh Cosford Few, if any, fluid power applications would exist without a method to join the “non-standardized standards” of the plumbing requirements of the components in a system. Like an evolved species of the same genus, separated through generations and geography, the long-lost cousins constituting the fittings family tree are as varied as any […]
Hydraulic motors for mobile equipment
By Josh Cosford Hydraulic motors are used in any application where the output of mechanical rotational energy is required, such as augers, wheel drives, fans, mixers, and grinders. Their execution is just as varied as their application, coming in motor types such as orbital, vane, gear and the major piston types—bent-axis, radial and axial. Motors […]
Measuring pressure with transducers
The measurement of pressure had once been a monopoly of Bourdon tube pressure gauges, and if you wanted to check the pressure at any location in a fluid power circuit, you had to go right to the source to install a pressure gauge at the location you wished to measure. The invention of test points […]
Fluid power seals on mobile machinery
By Josh Cosford Seals are the unsung heroes of the fluid power industry; they work hard in nearly every conceivable pump, valve or actuator, providing function, efficiency and reliability far exceeding their cost or complexity. For such a simple invention, the seal exists in countless configurations, often with nearly imperceptible differences, but different all the […]
Hydraulic valves on mobile machinery
Hydraulic valves, in addition to the force density advantage of actuators, are what help make hydraulics unique in their control of force, torque and motion. Valves govern direction, pressure and flow of hydraulic fluid, enabling smooth, safe and controlled use of actuators. Every machine both requires and uses valves, varying vastly in execution from a […]
Hydraulic manifolds on mobile machinery
By Josh Cosford A hydraulic manifold is a metal billet of either ductile iron or aluminum, machined for and installed with cartridge valves. It is a form of compact hydraulics enjoyed with many benefits and with few downsides. The most obvious advantages with manifolds (sometimes called combination valves, blocks or integrated circuits), is in their […]
