Hydraulic systems are used to power machinery, vehicles and equipment that can be found in various industries where the carrying and moving of heavy loads is most required. Hydraulics are often turned to due to their durability and their ability to handle large loads while keeping stable.
There are four main components that make up a hydraulic system, and each one is as important as the other. This includes:
- The reservoir holds incompressible fluid such as hydraulic oil and protects it from becoming contaminated. Should this fluid become contaminated the equipment will need to be shut down and the fluid will need to be cleaned or drained and refilled.
- The pump is used to transmit mechanical energy into hydraulic energy through the hydraulic oil in the reservoir to the rest of the system. A vacuum is created by the pump which allows for the fluid to flow from the reservoir to the pump. From there the fluid is pushed by the pump to the rest of the system. There are different pumps that can be used such as vane pumps, gear pumps and piston pumps.
- Valves are used in the system to start, stop and direct the fluid flow. Different types of valves are used within the system such as pressure control valves which limit the pressure within the system to protect the components from damage; flow control valves which influence the rate at which the fluid flows; and direction control valves which stop, start and change the direction of the hydraulic fluid.
- The actuator is where the hydraulic energy converts back into mechanical energy. This is done with either a hydraulic cylinder which changes the mechanical energy into linear motion and work, or by a hydraulic motor which converts the hydraulic energy into rotary motion and work.
Working together with these four main components within a hydraulic system is piping which carries the hydraulic fluid from one location to the other; a power source which makes the mechanical elements of the pump work; and filters which prevent the hydraulic oil from becoming contaminated, as contaminated oil will make the increase the wear and tear of the system.
Hydraulic systems, no matter what type of machinery or equipment they are used in, work in the same way. Using quality components ensures that the system works efficiently. Power Team SA, supplier of quality hydraulic components, is available to provide all component needs as well as offer solutions to any hydraulic issues you may be experiencing. Power Team SA has decades of experience and is located throughout South Africa, and parts of Southern Africa.