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 Hydraulics

Hydraulic systems are used almost everywhere.  From the jack to lift your car to the lifting systems on hospital beds to the rams used to lift pallets with a forklift, chances are that hydraulic systems impact your life in some way.  

What It Is 

Hydraulics involves the principle that when force is applied to the end of a column of confined liquid, that force is transmitted equally and undiminished in all directions by the liquid.

In this diagram, the force (per square cm) applied to column A is transmitted to Column B.  Resulting in an equal force (per square cm) pushing piston B up.  Due to the difference in surface area, piston B has 10x more lifting force, but moves 1/10th of the distance of piston A.     

   

Hydraulic power transmission systems are concerned with the generation, modulation and control of pressure and flow.  A system is basically is made up of:
  • Source: Generally a pump to convert mechanicle power to hydraulic flow.
  • Valves: To control the direction of flow, flow rate and rate of the fluid.
  • Actuators: Equipment to convert the hydraulic power to mechanical power.
  • Medium: Hydraulic fluid which provides rigid transmission and control while providing lubrication and cooling to conponenets within the system.
  • Connectors: Hoses, pipes and the fittings to connect to other componenets within the system, to enable to flow of fluid between them

 

Why Professional Installation

The most detrimental factor involved in a hydraulic system (apart from parts not functioning or leaks) is friction.  Friction occurs almost everywhere within the system, including fluid flow through hoses and orifices.  As with any other occurrence of friction, heat is created.  This means that part of the hydraulic energy created is converted into heat and permanently lost, which is measurable as a pressure drop within the system.  Using hoses that are the wrong gauge, the wrong length,or  wrong size fittings will all increase the amount of friction within the circuit, and needlessly waste hydraulic energy.  Loatek's technicians have the necessary skills to design and build a system that has the correct componenets to minimise energy loss regardless of pressure, size or distance.

 

The components in a system can be arranged into 4 main layouts, each one has specific characteristics that make it appropriate for certain applications.  

Oil is pumped from a reservoir to a valve, then back into the reservoir in a continuous circuit.

This is the most common type of oil circuit.

Oil is pumped to the control valve until working pressure is reached, when the motor stops and cycles to maintain working pressure.

Common on tractors with piston type pumps

Only spent oil is returned to the reservoir

Fitting a power beyond kit allows for the installation of a control valve in the existing system without affecting the operation of existing or new valve.

System operates the same as a standard closed centre Hydraulic system.

A power beyond can be easily fitted without any requirements for specialist kits.

The technicians at Loadtek can ensure that the correct system is used to suit your application and only the correct componenets are used within the system.  

Hydraulic systems are all about saving time and money - can you afford to risk a less than professional job?