Hydraulics Blog

Jump? How high?

The right particulate contamination of hydraulic fluids is THE key factor to keep reliability when increasing the pressure level. So filters will still be the major component in this matter: filtration level will be higher and control of the clogging of the filter elements by means of clogging indicators will be in any cases necessary.

Since ever clogging indicators are optional: now they should be a standard part of ALL the filters. New developments like the IC-TRONIC electronic clogging indicators, recently patented in the US seem to be the best low cost solution.

As we all know for many years the industry has been moving toward higher pressures. The cost savings have out weighed higher pressures in weight and size savings; in all of the systems.

Now with electronically controlled digital control systems the pressures will continue to get higher and more efficient, this is due to better quality control during manufacturing and better materials tailored to the needs of the manufactures. We as a nation tend to want more machines to do our work for us and this makes life easier and more productive. Just look at the farming community in the Unites States it has evolved from many small growers to giant companies producing more with much less in the human labor. You can argue this point but quality is better and the supply is more stable due to the mega producers. Human failures sickness and lack of desire are eliminated from the the bottom line. This is all done at a cost to mankind but we tend to overlook these problems.

Now with the cost of fuel entering in to the mix smaller more efficient systems are more important to all of us and higher pressures and more reliable hydraulic system will be very much in demand.

Greater efficiency? If we are now living in a world of conservation we would not necessarily look at increasing the HP input for reaching higher pressure as being more efficient. To think that incresed pressures do not come with a price is akin to believing in perpetual motion. We on earth have to contend with two realities gravity and friction. Remembering that energy will be lost in the application of higher pressure in the form of heat needs recognition in ones design. The incresed maintenance could be addressed in the initial phases of manufacture. If attention is paid in machining, porting, flow charicteristics as well as materials, one could reduce maintenance. It is with sloppy tolerances, poor machining, poorly designed flow paths, etc that failures and energy losses occur.

Savings in the application of higher pressures would be had only thru the reduction in materials wouldn't it? That being first cost and not the long-term operation.