Everyone knows that contamination can be catastrophic to a hydraulic system. But heat can also be detrimental to hydraulic fluid and the components within that system. Heat contamination reduces oil viscosity, which in turn reduces the fluid’s ability to lubricate components. This thinning of the oil causes surface-on-surface wear. Without … [Read more...]
Lubrication issues in industrial hydraulics
Without adequate lubrication, hydraulic components will fail, falling victim to excessive friction, heat, particle contamination and more. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Hydraulic fluid is a multi-talented medium bringing more to the plate than just the transfer of force. Hydraulic fluid also helps with cooling, contamination … [Read more...]
Hydraulic seals keep tunnel boring machinery moving
The complex design of tunnel boring machinery requires hundreds of hydraulic seals to maintain clean, efficient operation. Contributed by Daniele Agnesi, Engineering Manager, Hallite Italy A global trend in increased spending on road, railway and infrastructure projects is driving demand for the tunnel boring machinery (TBM) needed to do the … [Read more...]
What does hydraulic maintenance mean to you?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor I once had a walk-in customer bring with him an old, rusty spin-on filter, which I believe was originally coloured white below the now orange and brown soup of rust and oil. He needed a replacement filter for his vacuum truck, a machine he said he bought used eight years ago. I grabbed a stock filter head to … [Read more...]
What functions do hydraulic fluids perform in a system?
Contributed by Carl Dyke, CD Industrial Group Hydraulic fluid is the energy transfer medium in all hydraulic systems. This simple function is only achieved by a fluid that does not easily trap gasses. Trapped gas and foaming problems would bring a higher level of compressibility to a fluid that is usually relied upon to support a very stiff, … [Read more...]
Hallite, MSOE partner for continued hydraulic seal testing
Cold cylinder start-up hydraulic seal testing is the latest in Hallite’s third-party validation for the integrity of its sealing materials and designs. After successful completion of a new test method in 2015 for assessing the amount of dirt and dust that enters a typical hydraulic system through the rod wiper, Hallite Seals decided to continue … [Read more...]
Track contamination, not people
Nobody likes a micromanager. A boss constantly looking over your shoulder is at best annoying and more often counterproductive, demotivating and the root cause of high turnover. Yet in recent head-scratching news, Amazon has patented a tracking wristband that monitors a worker’s every move and vibrates when they do something wrong. Ostensibly, … [Read more...]
Troubleshooting tales from the trenches
One of Fluid Power World’s resident technical experts, Carl Dyke, has related a number of field-service issues he’s come across over the years. In a presentation at the 2017 Fluid Power Technical Conference in Milwaukee, he enlightened us on one mobile application that had the machine owners scratching their heads. This one cropped up last … [Read more...]
What are the top 5 forms of hydraulic contamination?
By Josh Cosford Dirt. That’s what you think of when you hear the term contamination, especially as it relates to hydraulic systems. It is, of course, a common form of contamination. But ingested evils are not limited to the same types that turn your white Yeezys brown. In fact, contamination comes in many forms, some of which you’d be … [Read more...]
How is sealing used in fluid power systems?
By Josh Cosford Seals are like car tires. They’re both absolutely essential to the operation of their respective accompaniment, yet are unappreciated by most, unless you’re a race car driver or fluid power engineer. And just like tires, seals used in fluid power have changed only by quantum leaps (the real use of the expression, which describes … [Read more...]
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