New U.S. Tier 4 emission standards and their international counterparts are raising cost concerns for new off-highway equipment engines. However, an article in SAE Off-Highway Engineering notes that highly efficient electrohydraulics can compensate for this trend. Hydraulics consume the most energy on such equipment, so that marrying electronic intelligence and control to hydraulics muscle allows monitoring the whole vehicle system — including propulsion, equipment motion, and power assists — and making precise choices about where and how that power is directed. Electrohydraulics also ease operator workload and accident-causing fatigue, and overall machine operation is smoother and more stable.

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GlobalSpec's Defense & Security Technology Event — December 15, 2010

Join your peers and leading manufacturers for this free, informative, and interactive ONLINE conference and trade show — right from the convenience of your desktop. Participate in any or all of the educational sessions, network with peers, and meet with manufacturers eager to showcase their latest products, services, and new technology offerings. Learn more about the educational sessions offered to meet your information needs, and register today!

Peninsular's linear position sensors provide accurate, non-contact position sensing anywhere along the cylinder stroke for a wide variety of applications. Hydraulic/pneumatic sensor housing with integral electronics. Suitable for most in-cylinder position sensing applications. Up to 350 bar (5000 PSI) static pressure capability.

The YMPH series motor uses the spool valve shaft distribution design for simplicity, efficiency and compactness. This design integrates the distribution and hydraulic bearing design with the motor shaft. This design has identical displacement and performance of the YMP series with a few different options. Learn more…

Wind Turbine Fluids — effective filtration and hydraulic/lube system cleanliness are essential for capturing and removing contamination before it reaches sensitive components.

Parker's high-efficiency filtration manifolds, in conjunction with their condition monitoring systems, not only extend maintenance intervals but increase reliability of existing system components. View these and other featured hydraulic products...

The Barco E1 Rotary Union is a dependable, economical connection for many air and hydraulic applications where speeds do not exceed 3,500 rpms. Typical applications for the E-1 are clutches, index tables, and machine tools in printing, paper, and textiles industries. From Barco.

A hydraulic solenoid valve feeding a bypass manifold enables the Vanguard self-contained load scale for forklifts. Installed behind the mast, the system measures hydraulic pressure at several points in the manifold. Readings are taken over a few seconds as the load descends about 20 in. when fluid is released. (View video).

Hydrostatic transmission systems in beefy recycling shredders use hydraulic pumps driving rotating cutters. When blades jam, they are driven immediately into reverse to clear, which can cause pressure spikes to 5,000 psi within 100 msec and instantaneous loss of volume. Thus system accumulators must be sized for, and able to react quickly to, this effect.

If you find this subject interesting, subscribe to the GlobalSpec e-Newsletter, DirectU2 The world of Pump Technology.

Bosch Rexroth's hydraulic flywheel takes the idea behind the conventional accumulator for storing hydraulic energy and goes it one better. Using shaft-driven open-circuit pumps facilitates changing operation from pump to motor while maintaining the same direction of shaft rotation. The system smoothes power demands, thus permitting smaller engines in mobile equipment.

Video highlights the DynaMax all-wheel drive system in the 2011 Kia Sportage crossover vehicle. Features include multidisc clutch and electrically-driven gerotor hydraulic pump with active computer control via high-speed CAN bus. System programming, biased toward fuel economy, rapidly adjusts the front-rear torque split by increasing hydraulic pressure for proportionally greater rear grip, improving overall traction.

With a new end housing the variable displacement axial-piston pump, V30E-270 from HAWE Hydraulics is suited for concrete pumps, harbor cranes, large hydraulic excavators, etc. In combination of two pumps the housing serves to ensure safe transmission of higher drive performances from the first to the second pump.

The Clean Seal System utilizes heat shrink technology to encapsulate the end of a hose or tube fitting with a Clean Seal Capsule. This eliminates possible re-contamination that is problematic with traditional capping and plugging methods. Capsules leave your assemblies 100% contamination free-and that is just not clean, it's Ultra Clean.

Parker Hannifin has a new smart phone app that allows design engineers to select hydraulic hoses and fittings. Narrow choices based on size, temperature, use, media, and pressure. Or just browse to see if the iPhone- and Blackberry-ready app suits your needs. You can try it out before downloading.

A handy online calculator from RohMax allows determination of the savings associated with using different hydraulic fluids in a given system or piece of equipment. You can change conditions and fluid types to investigate energy and cost benefits. Results also include fuel and oil savings, and maintenance and productivity improvements.

Watch the Bale Direct system, using an auxiliary hydraulic system attached to a combine-towed baler, recover harvest residue rather than leave it scattered. Relying on a hydraulic pump and motor avoids having to tap into combine hydraulics to power the baler and its conveyor, which catches the chaff shed from the combine.

Case debuted new N Series loader/backhoes with increased breakout and lift forces. Power Lift™ technology, a push-button feature, directs hydraulic power directly to the boom. The variable volume hydraulic system operates at temperatures lower than competitive systems and an auxiliary hydraulic system for attachments includes flow control, automatically matching hydraulic flow to attachment demand.

For more on this subject, subscribe to GlobalSpec's e-Newsletter, DirectU2 The world of Construction Tools & Equipment.

Black Chrome Plating provides good wear resistance, durability, and is a corrosion resistant plating which possesses thermal stability for high temperature applications. The deposit will be less than 0.0002 in. Therefore, there will be minimal change in dimension. Black chrome plating can be plated on steel, nickel, chrome, and other metals.

Metal powder products company has provided custom-engineered powder metallurgy product solutions to customers in the hydraulics industry for over fifty years. Applications in gear pumps, vane pumps, vane motors, piston pumps, and compressors for hydraulic, pneumatic, and vacuum systems. Products include thrust plates, cylinder barrels, gears, gerotors, vanes, and pressure plates.

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The Fluid Power Society (FPS) notes on its Professional Development Web page that a career in the field goes beyond technical aspects. Success also requires navigating the climate of your business and company or organization. That's why FPS has posted several articles on becoming a "master in the workplace." Topics include: leading with vision; remaining a company asset; and decision making.

The gents in Lockheed Martin's hydraulic-powered, load-carrying exoskeletons were the hit at October's Association of the U.S. Army conference in Washington, D.C. Demonstrations included lifting heavy loads for long periods; the device transfers the weight directly to the ground. It also allows the user to stand upright from prone or kneeling "stress" positions. Next up are squad tests in 2011, followed by possible use by logistics contractors in Afghanistan.

Innovation 101

Is innovation a case of nature or nurture? Can a diligent engineer acquire a sense of innovation based on education, mentoring, and experience?