Hydraulics News

Hydraulics & Pneumatics clues you in to new precision bore machining and multi-stroke honing systems that straighten and smooth cartridge valves and improve lubrication and sealing. Control bore sizes within a quarter-micron, reduce leakage and hysteresis, and realize higher pressure operation. Fine surface finish extends valve life, while crosshatch, multi-stroke honing provides more uniform lubrication under severe conditions.

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DYE Machinery, Australia, uses an internal gear pump in its NGX press brake for folding sheet metals. This setup cuts noise to enhance operator comfort and safety. A controller automatically defines pump pressure for each specialized fold operation, thus minimizing brake energy consumption, and compensates for deflection of the machine's beams.

Some MIT students have come up with the latest idea in energy harvesting shock absorbers. The device extracts energy from the motion of a vehicle's shock absorber by passing damping fluid through a micro turbine — smoothing the ride and generating electricity to complement an alternator. A 10% fuel economy improvement is claimed.

Theme park design is the theme of an online workshop in imagineering that reveals secrets of the cool rides and attractions you (and your kids) enjoy. As an "apprentice theme park engineer," the course teaches about hydraulics, mechanics, architecture, ride control, audio, video, acoustics, and lighting — which all come together in "designing" and "building" your own park. Instructor Steve Alcorn's company designs such park equipment.

An Enerpac Synchronous Lifting System controlled by digital hydraulics "picked and placed" a Belgian railway bridge within a 48 hr window given for the job. The 1,600 ton, 149 m long bridge was built next to the viaduct it was to support. The custom system with digital control, fed by a central pump unit, included 32 hydraulic cylinders.

This in-line moisture sensor from Parker Hannifin safeguards hydraulic systems by monitoring fluid moisture content and is suited for marine hydraulics, earth moving, and power distribution apps. Users can easily determine if water contamination is within prescribed absorption limits. Programmable outputs can be tailored to the application and include temperature readout.

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The efficiency of hydraulic material handling equipment raises its market share in non-container seaport applications, and there are inherent safety benefits as well. Without ropes, cargo can be placed more precisely with less damage. Since they're easier to operate than jib cranes with fewer personnel, hydraulics achieve quicker cycling times and move more cargo.

Gehl's 1640E ultra-compact skid loader is 3 ft wide, but packs multi-task versatility. Its 9.1 gal/min auxiliary hydraulics, with flat-faced quick-attach couplers, power compact accessories. A direct-drive pump has a self-neutralizing feature that the company says provides 100% efficiency from engine to pump — with no maintenance required.

In an Automotive DesignLine column, Vanessa Knivett answers that with, "A scientist with a job!" She then comments that she held such common misconceptions when pondering her career choices — and lacked knowledge of how science and technology could be applied. Discouragement by a teacher that technical subjects "wouldn't suit her" did not help, either. Her point: build awareness in youngsters as to the critical role engineers and scientists play in society.

If you're a New York Mets fan, you probably know those words to the old "Meet the Mets" theme song. And you'll be glad to know their new home, Citi Stadium, will feature a bigger and better "home run apple" that pops up in centerfield after each Met four-bagger. The big league fruit is 16 ft tall and with hydraulics and guideframes comes in at a moveable weight of 8,500 lbs.

Hydraulic Whimsy

What's the most offbeat or whimsical use of hydraulics you've seen?