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...] about What are the top 5 forms of hydraulic contamination?
Blogs
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...] about How is sealing used in fluid power systems?
Hydraulic symbology 101: Understanding basic fluid power schematics
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Out of any topic under the patio-sized umbrella of fluid power, hydraulic symbology garners the most requests from those wishing to learn more about fluid power. Reading any schematic with more than three symbols can be daunting if your experience is limited. But it’s not impossible to learn. In fact, it only … [Read more...] about Hydraulic symbology 101: Understanding basic fluid power schematics
Filter change proves how costly dirt can be to your hydraulic pump
A pump is the heart of a hydraulic system. When the pump fails, the entire system is down until the pump is operational again. This poses a serious threat to any operation relying on hydraulic systems for productivity. Recently, a hydraulic valve manufacturer was losing 25 pumps a year on their centralized hydraulic system at a cost of $2,440 each. … [Read more...] about Filter change proves how costly dirt can be to your hydraulic pump
A cause for optimism in fluid power?
It’s been the heart of trade show season the last few months, with the triennial IFPE and the annual Hannover Messe and Offshore Technology Conference keeping the fluid power manufacturing community—not to mention us in the media—quite busy. It is always great to get out and see the new technology firsthand, to put your hands on the metal and get a … [Read more...] about A cause for optimism in fluid power?
Is the oil and gas market ready to flip the switch on recovery?
At this week’s OTC (Offshore Technology Conference), the keyword was probably cautious optimism for the oil and gas market. The event—which has been down since its record-breaking year in 2014 as gas prices plummeted—continues to get smaller, but fluid power manufacturers and show organizers are still preparing for a slow and steady ramp-up. In … [Read more...] about Is the oil and gas market ready to flip the switch on recovery?
How do you size hydraulic reservoirs for aircraft hydraulic systems?
Hydraulic reservoirs in a fluid power system primarily serve as a storage tanks to contain sufficient volume of hydraulic fluid and subsequently cater to the fluid demand by the pump during system operation. Additionally, the reservoirs account for the thermal expansion/contraction of the hydraulic fluid and also provide for acceptable levels of … [Read more...] about How do you size hydraulic reservoirs for aircraft hydraulic systems?
Small, big and fast products at Hannover Messe
Among the announcements coming out of Hannover this week, Argo-Hytos introduced the new CFP compact filter pack. It’s a multi-purpose off-line filtration unit dedicated for servicing compact power packs on a daily basis, not just during start-up or breakdowns. It’s designed for tanks ranging from 1 to 100 l in size. According to the company, … [Read more...] about Small, big and fast products at Hannover Messe
How do I select a proper seal for my application?
A few of the important parameters that one needs to consider while selecting a seal are system operating pressure, seal material compatibility with fluid and fluid operating temperature, resistance against extrusion, expected service life, ease of installation, cost of procurement and logistics. System operating pressure is one of the predefined … [Read more...] about How do I select a proper seal for my application?
Why should you consider operating temperature when selecting hydraulic fluid?
Hydraulic fluid selection criteria include the expected range of operating temperatures, available means of temperature control and fluid physical properties at expected temperature levels. Where ambient and structural temperatures are above hydraulic fluid flash and/or fire points in a compartment, the potential fire hazard must be … [Read more...] about Why should you consider operating temperature when selecting hydraulic fluid?
