Hydraulics & Pneumatics articles from April 2008

Hydraulics & Pneumatics archives from April 2008

Closed-loop control simplifies cyclical testing: production test systems are among the fastest-growing uses for hydraulic and pneumatic actuators and closed-loop motion control.(ELECTRONIC CONTROL)
April 1, 2008... Fluid power often is the first choice whenever a predictable amount of force must be exerted, where the compressibility of the fluid medium can be used to avoid damage to the test specimen, or where heavy loads must be held or moved as part of...

Boat ducks for low bridges.(Ideas & Applications)
April 1, 2008... Considering that more than six million people live in the Philadelphia region, government officials realized they needed a fast-response emergency river vessel with both fire fighting and rescue capabilities for any type of emergency it may...

A hydraulic magnet?(Ideas & Applications)
April 1, 2008... Electromagnets are an essential tool for any scrap yard because they offer the quickest and easiest way to pick up steel and other ferrous metals for transfer to a shredder, compactor, or other scrap processing machine. The usual setup uses a...

A sound solution to noise and vibration.(Ideas & Applications)
April 1, 2008... Any form of power transmission generates noise, and hydraulics is no exception. However, noise generation can be especially problematic on shipboard hydraulic systems. That's because the metal structure of boats and ships lends itself to...

Reservoir breathers reach the next level.(Ideas & Applications)
April 1, 2008... Unless it is part of a sealed system, a hydraulic reservoir expels or draws in air whenever the fluid level within it rises or falls. Any dirt or moisture in the ambient air can work its way into hydraulic fluid in the reservoir unless a means...

A big hydraulic motor does a dam good job: a low-speed, high-torque motor proves to be the right choice for bringing a historic Oregon U.S. dam up to 21st century standards.(LSHT MOTORS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] About 20 miles west of Eugene, Oreg., on the scenic McKenzie River, is the Leaburg Dam. Standing on the dam, you can look down on the water rushing beneath the gate below and see salmon or steelhead trout breaking...

Position sensors.(Free Literature)
April 1, 2008... Brochure gives an overview of Posichron magnetostrictive position sensors, WS series cable actuated position sensors, and Posimag magnetic scale position sensors. Each product is described with cut-away drawings to show internal components. Key...

Product protection.(Free Literature)
April 1, 2008... New 2008 catalog showcases line of protective caps, plugs, and closures in plastic or dip-molded vinyl. It features several new products including "covers all threads" CAT series and nylon cable ties and accessories. Many new sizes of caps/plug...

Hose cutting machines.(Free Literature)
April 1, 2008... Brochure (in German, English, and French) provides detailed specifications and features of hose cutting and brushing machines, automatic cutting machines, and cutting machines for corrugated steel hoses. Products are introduced with photos and...

Hydraulic components.(Free Literature)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brochure introduces company's hydraulic component manufacturing capabilities. It gives a general overview of each product, with key specifications, including capacities, pressures, and more. Products include...

Hydraulic valves.(Free Literature)
April 1, 2008... Brochure introduces line of valves for mobile applications, including sectional, selector, monoblock, proportional, and load holding valves; and hydraulic remote controls. Thumbprint photos of valves and mobile equipment tells the reader which...

Pneumatic valves.(Free Literature)
April 1, 2008... Catalog details company's history and provides technical information on its valves, including body sizes, mounting details, safety requirements, lubrication, and common construction features. It describes each product line with photos,...

Myth #3: cylinder regeneration is always a good design goal.(MYTHS OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS)
April 1, 2008... The purpose of the so-called cylinder regeneration circuit, shown in Figure 1, is to extend the piston faster than if the pump output were acting directly on the cap end area. It is generally known that the speed of extension is the pump flow...

H&P cornerstone passes away.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Paul Rolnick, former editor and publisher of Hydraulics & Pneumatics, died March 3 following a brief illness. He graduated from high school in 1942, then gained industrial experience working at Brush Development Corp., Cleveland. Rolnick began...

Students team with industry.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... The Fluid Power Institute (FPI) at Milwaukee School of Engineering, in partnership with the fluid power industry and National Science Foundation, recently completed the design, development, construction, and commissioning of a 200-hp hydraulic...

Hirschmann Automation appoints CEO.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hirschmann Automation and Control and Lumberg Automation--Belden Deutschland GmbH, Schalksmuhle, Germany, appointed Dr. Wolfgang Babel as CEO. Babel, who has been a member of the Hirschmann executive team since...

HAWE expands facilities.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... HAWE Hydraulik is expanding plants across Germany that specialize in the production of high-pressure pumps, hydraulic power units, and controls for global distribution. The plant expansion will increase production space by more than...

Gates appoints new fluid power management.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Gates Corp., Denver, has announced several senior management changes within its Worldwide Fluid Power division. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Patrick Lee is the president of Gates Fluid Power North America operations and will be responsible...

ISA Symposium includes training.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... The 54th International Instrumentation Symposium, sponsored by the Aerospace Industries, Test Measurement, and Process Measurement and Control Divisions of ISA, will feature five training courses, innovative paper presentations, and a forum for...

Kaman Industrial adds new product lines.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Kaman Industrial Technologies, Windsor, Conn., has established multiple distribution agreements as a fully authorized North American distributor of Avtron Industrial Automation Inc., Emerson Control Techniques Americas LLC, DE-STA-CO, Oil...

Stauff purchases pipe, tube hangers.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Stauff Corp., Waldwick, N.J., a manufacturer of industrial hydraulic system accessories, has acquired PBM Inc's line of sanitary pipe and tubing hangers. The new Stauff product line will be called Hi-Clean Clamps & Hangers. They are used...

Hydraulic power steers river towboat.(50 years ago ... From the February 1958 issue of Applied Hydraulics (the original title of Hydraulics & Pneumatics))
April 1, 2008... Using electrohydraulic power steering, the Cypress is probably the most maneuverable river towboat in service. Rudder movements are controlled through 80[degrees] arc in 10 sec. Even while going astern at 9 mph, the rudders can be brought from...

Fluid power negates the sea's pitch-and-roll: Active Heave Compensators counteract ocean swells to allow work in large wave conditions.(MARINE & OFFSHORE)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The old adage "time is money" is often overused, but it is intensely relevant in the offshore, maritime, and dredging sectors. When surging seas force cancellation of work, each hour of inactivity equals no...

Portable filter cart.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... ProCharge450 portable filter cart system is used for precharging closed-loop hydrostatic systems and can be used for normal bulk transfer of petroleum-based fluids. It features dual inline filtration of 10 and 5 [micro]m and is able to...

Nickel-plated motors.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Char-Lynn H, S, and T series spool valve motors come in nickel-plated models for corrosion protection in wash-down applications. They combine valving and hydrodynamic journal bearings in a common shaft design and...

Cartridge valves.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... Proportional flow control cartridge valves work with hydraulic integrated circuits to regulate fluid flow that controls specific equipment operation. Three cavity sizes--10, 12, and 16--come in eight schemes, including NO and NC for priority...

Accelerometer alarm transmitter.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Model 682A08 vibration transmitter is an ICP accelerometer signal conditioner, complete with dual semiconductor relay alarms and 4-20 mA signal transmission, for continuous monitoring of unbalance and misalignment....

Non-stiction cylinders.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... Airpel air cylinders come with non-contact electronic switching sensors from Sick Inc., featuring GMR (Giant Magneto Resistive) technology. Optional switch-activating magnet on the piston--as well as one or more optional aluminum tracks...

Load cells.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... LCR series S-beam load cells offer high accuracy and a 5-point NIST traceable calibration. They come in common ranges from 25 to 10,000 lb and are protected to IP55 in lightweight aluminum and stainless steel. Unit comes with a 20-ft,...

Flow meter.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... FreeFlow differential pressure flow meter provides a simple alternative measurement technique, which incorporates no moving parts. Compact meter is constructed of PVC, polyetherimide, and polycarbonate materials. Its simple segmented wedge...

Corrosion protected valves.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... E.C.P. (Enhanced Corrosion Protection) provides improved rust resistance on valves for greater than 120 hr in salt spray atmosphere. It features zinc coating with black passivation for valve components in steel and cast iron; black opaque...

Condensate drain valve.(Useful Products)
April 1, 2008... Ultramat zero air-loss condensate drain valve eliminates moisture without pressure loss. It can be installed in restricted spaces and opens only when necessary and closes before compressed air is lost. Internal reservoir and flow channels...

Is it a myth or just splitting hairs?(Reader's Forum)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2008... I just received my February issue of H&P and always look forward to reading it every month. I had to write concerning Jack Johnson's article on page 24. Although I am certain Jack is quite knowledgeable in many areas, he is off base on this...

Don't thank me, thank Paul.(Editor's Page)
April 1, 2008... Last month we commemorated the 60th anniversary of Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine. This month, we must bid farewell to a man who had been a part of H&P for all but two of those years: Paul Rolnick. Even after he was promoted to corporate vice...

No easy answers for industry education: educators and industry leaders agree that working together is the best way to advance fluid power.(EDUCATION)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. was a powerhouse in the fluid power industry, with one of the largest research facilities in the world at MIT. When that facility closed its doors in 1969, however, the world...

Air valves abound in versatility.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... Manufacturers suggest you consider four main criteria in selecting a pneumatic directional control valve: valve function, type of valve actuation, installation arrangement, and the flow capacity (or valve size) needed for the actuator. The...

Proportional solenoid valve.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... PSV-LP single-stage, direct-acting proportional control valve provides a flow rate that is linearly proportional to input current. It achieves 160 slpm with 1 psid across valve with maximum inlet pressure of 2.5 psig and suits precision control...

Slide valves.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... Series 2MA pneumatic slide valves have slides manufactured from lapped manganese bronze, which helps valve tolerate dirty and gritty environments. Model 78FX includes explosion proof solenoid coils. Integrated dual flow control speed controls...

Pneumatic control valves.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... Isonic air valves feature a modular design that can be used discreetly or combined with a unique manifold system, making installation quick and easy. Models include 2/2 direct acting or 3/2 direct acting (pressures from 0 to 120 psi); 4/2...

Flow control inserts.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... In-line threaded, small flow control inserts provide asymmetric flow rate control; free flow occurs in one direction while metered flow occurs in the opposite direction. They are available in sizes from 6/32 to 5/16 in brass and stainless...

Parallel check valve.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... Dual-Check pneumatic valve assembly with two parallel check valves can be manually overridden with a single button or with an internally plumbed air pilot. It prevents load and drift and provide rapid stopping of a load. It operates in...

Ceramic air valves.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ceram valves use ceramic plates to seal against corrosion, dust, dirt, and sand in air lines. One dynamic and one static plate are made of extremely hard aluminum oxide and are ground. They are available in ISO sizes...

Self-reciprocating valves.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... Hi-Cyclic Magna-Cycle pneumatic, 4-way, 2-position directional control valves are air pilot actuated. They contain adjustable permanent magnets in both pilot chambers that detent and hold the spool in one of two positions until building pilot...

Proportional flow-control valve.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Normally closed two-way valve provides proportional flow control from direct, PFM, PNM, or PWM signal. It has 9 outlets, which can be controlled individually, in multiples of 3, or all 9. Each outlet can flow up to...

Solenoid air valves.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... Maximatic solenoid air valves are available in 3- and 4-way, single or double solenoid styles with many mounting options. They come in sizes from 10-32 thread to 1/2 in. NPT and pressure ranges 0 to 150 psig. They are constructed of aluminum,...

Remote air actuation and control.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... AirLine type 8644 remote actuation and control system provides on/off pneumatic functions, analog and digital input/output modules, and Fieldbus connectivity in a single, DIN rail-mount assembly. It supports most pneumatic or electronic field...

Miniature check valve.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... New 250-Lohm (liquid ohm) Chek valve provides 60% more flow than axial flow valve in a compact--0.187 in.--package. Stainless steel construction is standard, as is forward and reverse flow configurations. Hard, metal-to-metal seat offers...

Solenoid valve.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... The 3835 2 or 3-way, 2-position direct pilot solenoid valve is a drop-in replacement for mounting. It is available in sizes from 0.6 to 3 mm in normally open and closed configurations and is rated for flows of 0.025 to 0.31 Cv and pressures to...

Ethernet-capable valve manifolds.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... CPX Ethernet-enabled, modular IP65 valve manifolds suit Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, and standard IT protocols. Their plug-and-work design eliminates installation costs of hardwiring I/O to pneumatic valves. Two versions--VTSA and MPA--can be...

Single-stage servovalves.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] R-DDV single-stage, four-way flow control servovalves are available in four models with rated flows of 0.5 to 136 scfm for pneumatic systems. Accommodate supply pressures to 5000 psi. They require a 24 Vdc power...

Four-way air valves.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
April 1, 2008... Moduflex valves combine two, independently operated 4-way valves into one valve body. They can be combined with other dual 3-way or single 4-way valves of either Size 1 or Size 2, without transition kits. They are available in 24 Vdc solenoid...

A chip off the old block.(Web Wire)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED The brand-new website for Thomas/Gardner Denver, at www.gd-thomas.com, features a multitude of details on their line of vacuum pumps and compressors. There's a nice technical library, product brochure downloads, an...

Annie, get your gun.(Web Wire)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Troy, Mich.-based Med-Kas Hydraulics' website, located at www.med-kas.com, has details on their gun drilling services, CNC machining, manifolds, and subplates. Users will also find detailed corporate information and,...

Engineering's grand challenges.(Web Wire)
April 1, 2008... The National Academy of Engineering created the way-cool www.engineeringchallenges.org site. Basically, they got together some of the brightest scientists and engineers in the world today and asked them to come up with an achieve-able wish list...

What's wrong with a little self-promotion?(Web Wire)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] How can we not mention our newest website? Visit fluidpowertalk.blogspot.com to read casual conversations about fluid power and engineering from senior editor Paul Heney and publisher Michael Ference. The site is...

Sense it!(Web Wire)
April 1, 2008... Gems Sensor's & Controls' online home, www.gemssensors.com, shows off their portfolio of liquid level, flow, and pressure sensors, and miniature solenoid valves. Users will also find a listing of upcoming events, markets information (for...

Troubleshooting for sale.(Web Wire)
April 1, 2008... Georgia-based GPM Hydraulic Consulting Inc., online at www.gpmhydraulic.com, has an online store where you'll find everything from troubleshooting materials to calculators and hats. There is also a wealth of details about the company's in-plant...