Hydraulics:

Introduction
1. Definition
Fluid power is the technology that deals with the generation, control, and
transmission of power, using pressurized fluids.

It can be said that fluid power is the muscle that moves industry. This is because
fluid power is used to push, pull, regulate, or drive virtually all the machines of
modern industry. For example, fluid power steers and brakes automobiles,
launches spacecraft, moves earth, harvests crops, mines coal, drives machine
tools, controls airplanes, processes food, and even drills teeth. In fact, it is almost
impossible to find a manufactured product that hasn't been "fluid-powered" in
some way at some stage of its production or distribution.

Fluid power is called hydraulics when the fluid is a liquid and is called
pneumatics when the fluid is a gas. Thus fluid power is the general term used for
both hydraulics and pneumatics.

So we can say that hydraulics is the technology that deals with the generation,
control, and transmission of power, using pressurized liquids.
2. Applications of Hydraulics
The place held by hydraulics in (modern) automation technology illustrates the
wide range of applications for which it can be used. A basic distinction is made
between:
stationary hydraulics
and mobile hydraulics
Mobile hydraulic systems move on wheels or tracks while stationary hydraulic
systems remain firmly fixed in one position.

The following application areas are important for stationary hydraulics:

Production and assembly machines of all types

Lifting and conveying devices
Presses
Injection moulding machines
Wind mills
Typical application fields for mobile hydraulics include:

Automobiles, tractors, airplanes, submarines, missiles, boats.

Construction machinery
Tippers, excavators, elevating platforms
Lifting and conveying devices
Agricultural machinery

Examples

Excavators. The figure shows

an excavator whose hydrauli-
cally actuated bucket digs soil
from the ground and drops the
soil into a dump truck at a
construction site.
The maximum lifting capacity is
18 ton.
Industrial hydraulic lift truck
The figure shows a 3 ton capacity
industrial hydraulic lift truck in the process
of lifting a large stack of lumber in a
warehouse.

Power steering system

Because the steering unit is fully
fluid-linked, mechanical linkages,
universal joints, bearings, reduction
gears, and so forth, are eliminated.
This provides a simple, compact
system. In addition, very little input
torque is required to produce the
steering control needed.
Hydraulic flight control system
The figure shows the flight control servo
actuator, which is a major component of
the flight control system. This servo
actuator includes hydraulic actuators with
direct drive servovalves for controlling
aerodynamic surfaces of the all-wing
aircraft.

Another application is the control system

that allows an aircraft pilot to raise and
lower his landing gear. When the pilot
moves the lever of a small control valve in
one direction, oil under pressure flows to
one end of the cylinder to lower the landing
gear. To retract the landing gear, the pilot
moves the valve lever in the opposite
direction, allowing oil to flow into the other
end of the cylinder.
Hydraulic press
3. Advantages of Hydraulics

1. Ease and accuracy of control. By the use of simple levers and push buttons,
the operator of a hydraulic system can readily start, stop, speed up or slow
down, and position forces that provide any desired horsepower with
tolerances as precise as one ten-thousandth of an inch.
2. Transmission of large forces using small components, i.e. great power-
per-weight ratio. A hydraulic system (without using cumbersome gears,
pulleys, and levers) can multiply forces simply and efficiently from a few
grams to several hundred tons of output.
3. Simplicity, safety, economy. In general, fluid power systems use fewer
moving parts than comparable mechanical or electrical systems. Thus,they
are simpler to maintain and operate. This, in turn, maximizes safety,
compactness, and reliability.
4. Constant force or torque over velocity. Hydraulic systems are capable of
providing constant force or torque regardless of speed changes. This is
accomplished whether the work output moves a few centimeters per hour,
several meters per minute, a few revolutions per hour, or thousands of
revolutions per minute.
5. Even movements independent of load. This is because liquids are
considered relatively incompressible fluids.
Other advantages include,
6. Start-up under heavy load.
7. Instantly reversible motion.
8. Automatic protection against overloads.
9. Infinitely variable speed control.

4. Drawbacks of Hydraulics

In spite of all the previously mentioned advantages of hydraulic power system, it

also have some drawbacks. For example,
1. Hydraulic components must be properly designed and installed to
prevent oil leakage from the hydraulic system into the surroundings
(danger of fire or accidents).
2. Hydraulic pipeline can burst due to excessive oil pressure if proper
system design is not implemented.
3. Sensitivity to dirt.
4. Temperature dependence (change in viscosity).
5. Unfavourable efficiency factor.
5. Components of Hydraulic system
There are six basic components required in a hydraulic system (refer to the
figure):
1. A tank (reservoir) to hold the hydraulic oil.
2. A pump to force the oil through the system.
3. An electric motor or other power source to drive the pump.
4. Valves to control oil direction, pressure, and flow rate.
5. An actuator to convert the pressure of the oil into mechanical force or torque
to do useful work. Actuators can either be cylinders to provide linear motion,
or hydraulic motors to provide rotary motion.
6. Piping, which carries the oil from one location to another.

Of course, the sophistication and complexity of hydraulic systems will vary

depending on the specific applications. This is also true of the individual
components that comprise the hydraulic system.