A pet hate of mine is hydraulic power units in which the pump is made to ‘lift’ the oil into its intake. In other words, mounting the pump above the tank or more precisely, above minimum oil level. Like a suction strainer, it’s another ‘engineered’ barrier which prevents the pump’s chambers from filling freely and completely.
According to most manufacturers, … Read more
In my series of weekly hydraulics bulletins that go out to anyone who opts in to receive them, there are two messages that always provoke a response.
The first of these two bulletins sets out to explain how a double-acting cylinder becomes a displacement cylinder when the piston seal leaks and the load is acting to retract the piston rod. … Read more
Leaks generally rank number one in the list of most common maintenance issues with hydraulic equipment. And leaking hydraulic connections are often accepted as an inherent characteristic of hydraulic machines. While this may have been true 40 years ago, advances in sealing technology and the development of reliable connection systems means that today, leak-free hydraulic systems are very much achievable.… Read more