10 Fascinating Facts about Hydraulics

November 24, 2014

Hydraulic presses were patented in 1795, eventually replacing the steam hammer in the metal forge industry. The technology has certainly evolved since then. They are used to make everything from coins to the newest jet aircraft. Over the centuries, this essential technology has revolutionized how machinery is powered.

Here are 10 facts you can drop into a slow conversation.

#1. Hydraulic systems have four components:
      • A reservoir to contain the Hydraulic Press Fluid
      • A pump to drive it through the system
      • A valve to govern the pressure and flow
      • A cylinder to transform the circulating fluid into energy

#2. Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters all have two things in common:
      • their purchasing power keeps going down
      • they are made with a hydraulic press, like the kind RK Machinery produces

#3. Without pressure, there would be no power.
      The system contains oil that is under intense levels of pressure. That is what produces energy.

#4. The space shuttle uses hydraulics on steroids.
      The pumps installed by NASA in the space shuttle use 3600 RPM, with each potentially holding 3050 PSI.
Hydraulic flow system and Unrestricted flow is essential
#5. Hydraulics don’t create new energy.
      What the system does is transform existing already present into a new form.

#6. Push, not pull.
      Air pressure pushes the oil through the structure. A common misconception is that the oil is pulled by the system.

#7. Unrestricted flow is essential.
      If the flow within the system is blocked or runs into an opening, the pressure immediately drops.

#8. Not all hydraulic systems are made the same.
      There are two types of systems:
      • Open center systems have varied pressure with constant flow
      • Closed center systems have varied flow with constant pressure

#9. And two types of hydraulics.
      • Hydrostatics use fluids at low speeds and high pressure to produce power. Think shop press.
      • Hydrodynamics use fluids at higher speed but lower pressure. Think propeller.

#10. Your choice of energy.
        Hydraulics produce three types of energy:
      • kinetic—caused by moving liquids
      • heat—caused by resistance to the flow
      • potential—caused by pressure