Fluid Power Reference Guide - Hydraulics and Fluid Handling

This MACHINE DESIGN Reference Guide looks at recent innovations in fluid power, control, and handling. Two new families of steering-control units from , Eden Prairie, Minn. ( ), are said to provide responsive steering and crisp centering, plus flexibility and quick installation for OEMs. The Char-Lynn Series 5 Steering Control is designed for low-flow, low-pressure applications such as lawn and turf equipment, lift trucks, and small and medium-size utility vehicles. Compact designs, a square housing with side ports and a round housing with side or end ports, provide several installation options. Various configurations include an integral-column option that eliminates the need for external columns. Series 5 is also said to offer better efficiency (lower pressure drop) than competitive units. The Series 10 Steering Control is for moderate-flow, high-pressure applications. It has a 4,000-psi continuous pressure rating and a wide-walled sleeve 40% thicker than previous versions, which permits high-pressure operation. Options include a complete line of integral valves and bolt-on priority valves. Target markets are agriculture, construction, industrial, and material-handling equipment. An option for both series is the Aeroquip Snap-To-Connect (STC) connector, designed to eliminate leaks, improve accessibility, and reduce installation time. The threadless connectors are an alternative to conventional threaded fittings commonly used in fluid-power systems. The male and female halves simply push together -- without wrenches or special assembly tools -- to form a leak-free connection. A latch ring ensures positive engagement of the two ends. In the Series 5 and 10 units, STC ports are machined into the housing. The "snap-in" connection cuts assembly time from several minutes to literally seconds and eliminates torquing inconsistencies that can cause conventional threaded fasteners to leak. STC connectors also rotate during assembly, eliminating twists that dramatically shorten hose life. The fittings are said to weigh less and have a lower profile than