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Useful Educational Guides
Improving the performance of hydraulic machinery worldwide
Maintenance of a hydraulic system, or any mechanical device, involves ensuring that it remains in an operational state whenever it is required. In some cases, the hydraulic system and the machinery it operates may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This guide looks at what flow is, how to decide what flow meter to use, and at some of the more common flow measurement methods that are currently available for use on hydraulic systems.
In order to control the speed of a hydraulic actuator (cylinder or motor) it is necessary to vary either its displacement or the actuator flow rate. For a standard hydraulic cylinder, varying its displacement (the amount of cylinder piston movement for a given volume of fluid) is not an option since this is determined by the dimensions of the cylinder when it is manufactured.
Directional control valves are probably the most common of all hydraulic components and are used to control the starting, stopping and reversal of flow in a system. They are often associated with the control of a hydraulic actuator, such as a cylinder or motor, to select either ‘forward, reverse or stop’ but can also be used anywhere in a system where flow needs to be switched between alternative paths.
Pressure is a key factor in almost every fluid-power circuit. Pressure transducers can interface that factor with the control system.
Ten steps to ‘not letting the gremlins in’ – how to minimise the effects of EMI on hydraulic measurement and control systems.