Hydraulics & Pneumatics articles from December 2007

Hydraulics & Pneumatics archives from December 2007

Alternative LDT lends itself to mobile equipment.(Ideas & Applications)
December 1, 2007... Defense equipment isn't necessarily used only during political conflicts. When earthquakes, floods, or other natural disasters occur, armed forces often are called on to assemble quickly with large numbers of trained personnel and heavy...

Get your filtration to-go.(Ideas & Applications)
December 1, 2007... More and more system designers and plant engineers recognize that off-line filtration provides an effective and cost-effective means of achieving and maintaining cleaner hydraulic fluid. Off-line filtration, often referred to as a kidney loop,...

Hear trouble before it gets bad.
December 1, 2007... The Spectroline Marksman ultrasonic diagnostic tool, from Spectronics Corp., Westbury, N.Y., converts and amplifies inaudible ultrasonic sound into audible sound. This allows service technicians to hear compressed air and vacuum leaks,...

Fluid connector wins UK Defence Standard approval.(Ideas & Applications)
December 1, 2007... When you need to permanently join high-pressure hydraulic lines subjected to pressure spikes, your only choice usually has been brazing or welding. Welded tube fittings are often used where pressures exceed ratings of ferrule types--generally...

Simple, single-stage servovalve controls flow accurately, reliably.(Design Close-up)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The rugged R-DDV servovalve from HR Textron incorporates a powerful, limited-angle, rotary torque motor that drives a valve spool directly through an eccentric built into the motor shaft. Rotation of the motor...

A bitter pill is taken on by pneumatics: compressed air systems are the secret to many successful medical applications.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's easy to overlook the complexities of manufacturing pharmaceuticals while gazing at the seemingly endless rows of over the counter drugs at the average drugstore. But in addition to the arduous research and...

20:20 vision on automation.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
December 1, 2007... System integrator Barr & Paatz has produced what is believed to be the first fully-automated contact lens manufacturing machine. Developed for Clearlab, the international supplier of daily disposable lenses, the new type of machinery integrates...

Sensor has multiple uses in medical applications.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
December 1, 2007... A newly developed sensor from MTS Sensors, Cary, N.C., is suitable for linear-position and liquid-level measurement in medical applications such as fluid collection and disposal, contrast injection fluid delivery, hospital bed motion, dental...

Pneumatics lends a hand in assembly: air cylinder helps torque arm move heavy tools in the assembly process.(TECH PNEUS)
December 1, 2007... High torque can often lead to operator fatigue and injury in assembly processes, so any assistance to an operator is crucial. That's why a new heavy-duty torque arm from ASG, a division of Jergens Inc., Cleveland, features a pneumatic cylinder...

Add functionality to hydrostatic drives: innovative use of common components can add functionality and boost performance of your designs.(MOBILE HYDRAULICS)
December 1, 2007... Hydraulic system designers are continually looking for ways to obtain broader ranges of speed and torque from a hydrostatic drive with a given pump, motors, and prime mover. The existing successful schemes can be summarized as: * using a...

Save energy with active damping: tighter motion control in fluid power applications is possible when you know how to keep unwanted oscillations out of your system.(SYSTEM DESIGN)
December 1, 2007... Turn on a current music video, and any hydraulics you may see at work are probably those used on a tricked out '81 Buick Regal, bouncing up and down to the music. But in the hydraulic systems we all know and love, bouncing is a bad thing;...

Does your fluid provide enough protection? Contamination doesn't just reduce system performance and reliability--it can also degrade the hydraulic fluid itself.(CONTAMINATION CONTROL)
December 1, 2007... You've spent a lot of time and effort designing and building your hydraulic system; now you're ready for production. After the equipment with its brand new hydraulic system has been shipped, your colleagues in accounting can calculate your...

Accessories aren't just bells and whistles: with the continuing trend toward smaller reservoirs, accessories have become more important than ever to ensure long life and reliable operation of hydraulic systems.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
December 1, 2007... In addition to holding in reserve enough fluid to supply a hydraulic system's varying needs, a reservoir, Figure 1, provides: * a large surface area to transfer heat from the fluid to the surrounding environment * enough volume to let...

Flow diffusers.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Flow diffusers are used on hydraulic high-speed return lines to slow down fluid returning to the reservoir. They can cure foaming problems at the pump inlet. They are made of all-steel welded construction, and come with male or female thread...

Reservoir accessories.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fluid power reservoir accessories include breathers, suction strainers, fluid level indicators, test points, and gauge isolators. Breathers offer air flow rates from 80 to 1600 gpm and are available in pressurized...

Reservoir aspirators.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Oilmiser Reservoir Aspirators have two independent and unidirectional passageways in one body--inflow control gate (ICG) and exhaust control outlet (ECO) port. Exhaust air only exits reservoir through ECO; replacement air only enters through...

Reservoir breathers.(Product: Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Thermally Reactive Advanced Protection (T.R.A.P.) breathers remove moisture at 15% humidity and exhale it with every flow cycle. Porous water-absorbing chemicals remove water vapor from air while minimizing size and weight; they also provide...

Fluid conditioning.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Hydra-Kool conditioning system is designed for long-running truck-mounted systems. It continuously cools and filters return oil and comes in two sizes: 8 gal includes two 1 1/4-in. suction ports and self-contained cooler fan and 4 gal includes...

Oil coolers.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... MA/BOL oil coolers handle extreme heat loads and feature brazed aluminum P-BAR plate and bar core technology engineered with an aggressive turbulator for ultra high heat transfer. More than 22 standard industry nominal sizes come with fan,...

Sight level gauge.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... T-LLG-5 ultrasonically welded level gauge is available in 3- and 5-in. mounting configurations with or without temperature gauge. Slotted guards allow 180[degrees] viewing. It operates in temperatures from 13[degrees] to 195[degrees] F and...

Air breathers.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... SVDB disposable desiccant breathers remove solid particles and moisture from air, drying it with Z-R gel granules. Air is filtered by 10-[micro]m pleated fiberglass air filter, so it is clean and dry upon reaching reservoir. As gel absorbs...

Contamination control breathers.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Ultra Clean breathers are easy to install using one of several adaptors and help guard against multiple contaminants to protect reservoirs and tanks and reduce maintenance costs. Five models are available: D series, which are rated for airflow...

Contamination prevention.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... FlowGuard Hydraulic Adapter Kits consist of a disposable desiccant breather, single-position vacuum indicator, optional sample port, customizable fill tube, and fill and drain quick connectors. Silica gel changes from blue to pink as moisture...

Fluid monitoring.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Reservoir-mounted assembly contains level and temperature controls, digital display on same unit as air breather, return filter, and fill and sampling ports. Three sizes--40, 60, or 100 lpm--fit filter elements and electrical connections. Level...

Magnetic suction strainers.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Suction strainers offer dual protection to pump inlet without risk of cavitation. Ceramic magnets located parallel to pleated mesh attract and protect against damaging ferrous particles of all sizes. Stainless-steel, 30 mesh (560 [micro]m)...

Breathers, strainers.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Vickers-brand H20-reservoir vent breathers filter out dirt and moisture particles from incoming air in hydraulic systems. Mini Mobile-gate fits tight clearances on mobile equipment and Dirt-gate filters out dirt in...

Filler-breather filters.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Filler-breather filters offer flow rates to 317 gpm and closed cell foam, fiberglass, or resin impregnated cellulose element. Connections available include flange or locknut with various options. High-capacity breathers feature flow rates to...

Liquid level gauge.(Product Spotlight on Reservoir Accessories)
December 1, 2007... Broad view level gauge provides verification of fluid level in reservoirs. Nylon viewing area is 1 1/4 in. across and 3 to 36 in. long. Mounting flush to tank gives view from three surfaces. Upper and lower entry points of tank equalize...

Pressure, temperature switches.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... Switches are available in many sizes and configurations and can be provided with NEMA 4 watertight and NEMA 7 explosion proof housings, adjustable deadband, dual set points, stainless steel housing, and digital display. Temperature switches are...

Air dryer.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... Mini Dryer MD-35 fits equipment that requires small volumes of dry, compressed air. It performs in intermittent flow applications and is designed for air flows up to 35 scfm. It can be installed indoors or outdoors with only inlet and outlet...

Vinyl flange covers.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Vinyl covers protect flanges by sealing out dust and moisture. VF series provides a snug fit for flanged and beaded tubes while VAS series flange covers fit American Standard Association Navy and Military sizes. VSR...

Differential pressure flow meter.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... FreeFlow differential pressure flow meter features no moving parts. Compact meter is constructed of PVC, polyetherimide, and polycarbonate materials and features a simple segmented wedge design to provide reliable and minimally invasive...

Air cylinders.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... MQ cylinder assemblies minimize sliding friction for breakaway pressure down to 0.001 MPa. MQQ comes in 10-, 16-, 20-, 25-, 30-, and 40-mm bores for pressures from 0.005 to 0.5 MPa and speeds from 0.3 to 500 mm/ sec. Strokes range from 10 to...

Hydraulic hose.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... Tuff hose suits high-pressure hydraulic applications to 6500 psi. It can be bent twice as tight as standard SAE hose for half the bend radius. Reinforced internally with two braided layers of higher tensile steel wire, it has a durable, black,...

Hose, tube clamps.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... Clamps come in zinc-plated steel and stainless steel and provide speed of installation, tamper resistance, and low profile posture while maintaining a powerful constant seal to hold against pressure, vacuum, vibration, and fluctuations in...

Hydraulic cylinders.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CDT1 and CDT4 NFPA tie-rod cylinders are available with fluorocarbon, NBR, PTFE, and wear-resistant polyurethane sealing systems. CDT4 operates at pressures to 3000 psi and CDT1 to 1500 psi. Reduced guide clearance...

Hydraulic hose.
December 1, 2007... Six-spiral Aeroquip hose suits applications with high-pressure spikes. It has a constant working pressure of 420 bar and operates in temperatures to 120[degrees] C. It meets EN856/100R15 with Class 0 cool-down leakage in accordance with SAE...

Air cylinders.
December 1, 2007... Non-lube 3MA and 4MA NFPA aluminum air cylinders come in several models. The 3MA comes in 1 1/8- to 5- in. bores with standard rod sizes and offers 250 psi at standard temperatures and 1100 psi hydraulic service (3ML) for 1 1/8-in. bore. The...

Zinc-plated tubing.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... Complete range of metric DIN 2391/2445 carbon steel seamless tubes are plated with Chromium 6 Free (CR6-Free) plating, which meets EU and US automobile regulations. Plating is resistant to corrosion in excess of 400 hr in a salt spray fog. Size...

Power unit.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... Redesigned KA compact power unit is designed for intermittent service. It delivers operating pressures to 10,000 psi and combines a pump, electric motor, and tank in one unit, offering minimal use of space and mobility. It offers reservoir...

Gauges witrh digital display.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DG-10 Digital Display gauge is ideal for applications requiring a local, AA battery-operated measurement and display instrument. They feature a stainless steel housing and are available in two versions: standard...

Fire-rated coupling.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HKFR fire-rated coupling is a quick disconnect coupling for high temperature applications where safety is a concern. It comes in three sizes--1/2, 3/4, and 1 in. in steel; 1 in. version is also available in stainless...

Hydraulic controllers.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2007... EVDR series controllers optimize hydraulically-actuated machine and vehicle control functions. Nine models available include three plug-in style controllers; an IP67-rated version; two that control up to four proportional valves plus one on/off...

The case of the constipated system.(Fluid Forensics)
December 1, 2007... As the director of an analytical services laboratory, my job is to solve customer problems. Usually our own products are involved in some way, but occasionally a customer will ask us to lend expertise when they have a problem not related to our...

Don't be a social reject.(Editor's Page)
December 1, 2007... If you're like most people, you're probably pretty sick of hearing of "Web 2.0." This latest online sound bite is something that a lot of people don't really even understand. Plus, it doesn't apply to any of us, right? Web 2.0 isn't really...

A composite redesign.(Web Wire)
December 1, 2007... Walkerton, Ind.-based Polygon Co. has redesigned its website, www.polygoncompany.com. The site contains an overview of the company and the variety of products (including composite materials) offered within the company's five strategic market...

You're framed!(Web Wire)
December 1, 2007... The website for 80/20 Inc., the self-described industrial Erector set company, is located at www.8020. net. The company's latest offering is their interactive catalog. Users can view the catalog by jumping from one page to another with the...

As fate would have it ...(Web Wire)
December 1, 2007... If you're still using cliches , it's time to wake up and smell the coffee! Check out this very amusing site: www.defectiveyeti. com/archives/001881.html. The "Cliche Rotation Project" has submissions from readers on how to update old cliches....

Want to reach 100?(Web Wire)
December 1, 2007... The interesting website www.livingto100.com poses about 40 questions on everything from your eating habits to your family history to how you handle stress. It then gives you a calculated life expectancy. But beyond that interesting statistical...

Bigger is better.(Web Wire)
December 1, 2007... Engineers do some amazing things, and this Business Week piece, located at www.digg.com/ design/Most_Amazing_Engineering_Feats, tells the tale of 10 amazing civil engineering projects that stretch the boundaries of "big." From bridges to...

Electrifying electrohydraulics.(Web Wire)
December 1, 2007... The recently updated website for Italian manufacturer Atos, located at www. atos.com, includes more than 360 pages on electrohydraulics with full data and downloadable drawings. The site is viewable in seven languages: English, Italian, German,...

German fluid power conference slated for spring.(Industry News)(Conference news)
December 1, 2007... The 6th International Fluid Power Conference (6th IFK) will be held in Dresden from March 31 to April 2, 2008. This well-known specialist conference for fluid power and motion control alternates every two years between the Institute of Fluid...

IFPS grants recertification amnesty.(Industry News)
December 1, 2007... The International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) Board of Directors, Cherry Hill, N.J., recently approved a Recertification Amnesty Program, in which all personnel previously certified by IFPS--but who neglected to recertify before the...

Fluid power electronic controls certification on its way.(Industry News)
December 1, 2007... In other IFPS news, the organization recently announced it will establish new fluid power electronic controls certifications. Because electronic controls are growing in use in fluid power, IFPS will create third party certifications to verify...

Pneumatic diaphragm valves ... control cooling air temperature.(50 years ago ...)
December 1, 2007... Temperature control is a problem on modern aircraft such as Convair's B-58 Hustler (below). Higher speeds and more equipment packed into smaller space produce heat which must be controlled if the equipment and aircraft are to continue to do...

HUSCO sets sights on expansion.(Industry News)
December 1, 2007... HUSCO, Waukesha, Wis., plans to expand its global manufacturing and engineering capacity. The first of these expansions is in Pune, India where a 70,000 [ft.sup.2] manufacturing and R&D center was formally opened in late October. In...

Correction.(Industry News)(Correction notice)
December 1, 2007... In our November issue, we incorrectly identified Delta Computer Systems Inc. We apologize for any confusion.

Balluff acquires capacitive sensors maker.(Industry News)
December 1, 2007... Balluff Inc., Florence, Ky., has announced that its parent company, Balluff GmbH, Neuhausen, Germany, acquired SIE Sensorik Industrie GmbH, Viernheim, Germany. SIE manufactures capacitive sensors. The previous owners of SIE will remain in...