Hydraulics & Pneumatics articles from December 2008

Hydraulics & Pneumatics archives from December 2008

Fluid power commands the wind: powerful hydraulic servovalves help configure wind currents for what may be the world's most powerful pneumatic system used in wind tunnel testing for velocities to Mach 20.(AEROSPACE)
December 1, 2008... The U. S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center is the most advanced and largest complex of flight test facilities in the world. It can simulate altitudes from sea level to 300 miles, wind speeds from subsonic velocities to Mach 20,...

A practical approach to adaptive control: load analyses help determine how hydraulic gains change as loads change. They can also help calculate the load changes throughout the stroke.(ELECTROHYDRAULICS)
December 1, 2008... [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Hydraulics is frequently the power source of choice when a machine must lift, hold or place heavy loads. Fortunately for the designers of such machines, many hydraulic motion systems are linear, and the loads do not...

Hydraulics in a more-electric airplane?(Ideas & Applications)(Cover story)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Is there a place for hydraulics in the more-electric airplane? Indeed there is, but the role of hydraulics is changing. In traditional aircraft hydraulic systems, two main central systems usually deliver power from...

Fixed pump delivers variable output.(Ideas & Applications)
December 1, 2008... Hydraulic power units (HPUs) for industrial hydraulic systems often use variable-displacement pumps as a means of saving energy when machine cycles do not require full power. An alternative method could be to use a fixed-displacement pump...

More-efficient hydraulic systems save fuel.(Ideas & Applications)
December 1, 2008... Researchers at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., have shown how to dramatically improve the efficiency of hydraulic pumps and motors in heavy construction equipment, thereby reducing fuel consumption of mobile equipment. Their new...

Innovative vehicle breaks rules in size: power ratio: innovative hydraulic circuit design makes ground support vehicle versatile, with impressive capabilities.(MILITARY)
December 1, 2008... The patented HyVee Ox provides unmatched push-pull capability in comparison to its dimensional footprint and weight by virtue of its six-wheel hydrostatic drive. It's not much bigger than a golf cart, yet it can tow more than 66,000 lb and...

A proposal for hydraulic pump and motor models.(Motion Control)
December 1, 2008... All of us have probably used the equation that relates the output flow of a pump to its displacement (volume per revolution) and the input shaft speed (rpm): Q = (D x N) / 60 and that calculates the input torque to a pump when...

Reducing waste with hybrids: Waste Management and Eaton Corp. begin testing of first Hydraulic Launch Assist on refuse vehicles.(Industry News)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Testing has begun on the first prototype parallel hydraulic hybrid system used in a refuse vehicle. Waste Management Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, has incorporated four parallel hydraulic hybrid-diesel collection trucks...

VFDs improve capabilities of oil test stands.(Industry News)
December 1, 2008... University of Northern Iowa's National Ag-Based Lubricants center (UNI-NABL), Waverly, Iowa, is home to several hydraulic performance test stands to conduct tests based on various standards. Early research on bio-based products was primarily...

Command Controls to become part of Bucher Hydraulics.(ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Bucher Industries is looking to increase its presence in North America by acquiring Command Controls Corp., Elgin, Ill., for its Bucher Hydraulics division. Command Controls specializes in manufacturing cartridge valves for hydraulic systems....

Donaldson buys Western Filter.(ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Donaldson Co. Inc., Minneapolis, has acquired Western Filter Corp., Valencia, Calif., a manufacturer of liquid filtration systems and replacement filters. Western Filter manufactures filters for hydraulic oil, fuel, lube oil, and coolant...

Bosch Rexroth acquires German companies.(ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Bosch Rexroth AG, Lohr, Germany, plans to purchase Interlit Joistgen GmbH, Cologne, Germany. The company develops and markets systems for cooling and lubrication technology in machine tools and is used under the Interlit brand name. ...

Correction.(ON THE MOVE)(Correction notice)
December 1, 2008... An article in our November issue, titled "Versatile vane motor produces virtually constant torque" listed an incorrect phone number. The correct number is (210) 341-6333.

Air motor drives pump on truck conveyor.(50 years ago ...)
December 1, 2008... From the December 1958 issue of Applied Hydraulics (the original title of Hydraulics & Pneumatics). To save time and labor for a California beverage distributor, The Standard Trailer Co., San Leandro, Calif., built a disappearing conveyor...

Digital gauges.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... Digital pressure gauges feature a backlit LCD, selectable engineering units, and min/max recall all in one instrument. Sizes and accuracies include commercial type D1005PS, a 21/2 in. gauge with [+ or -]0.5% FS accuracy, and industrial types...

Cleanout cover.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... Hydraulic tank access system eliminates welding, machining, or any other fabricated parts to seal hydraulic and fuel tanks. System is fast, simple, and rugged, and offers easy tank access in the field for cleaning and inspection. Problem tanks...

Drain traps.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... FAI series inline float and thermostatic traps suit receiver and air line drainage, where complete separation of liquid from vapor phase is important over varying flow rates. NPT FAI-30 and FAI-200 are 11/2 in., straight-through models with...

Pressure switches.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Series 800/810 electronic indicating pressure switch/ transmitters continuously monitor pressure and allow programming of set points without pressurizing. They offer two switching outputs or one switching output and...

Pneumatic cylinders.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Universal low-profile pneumatic cylinders offer direct interchange for most square-bodied, pancake-type cylinders. They come in 11 bore sizes from 8 to 100 mm, with 5-mm stroke increments. Metric ports and mounting...

Pneumatic thruster.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... Heavy duty T4 thruster offers smooth actuation and high static load-carrying capability. A black anodized body, precision re-circulating ball bearings, and four guide shafts double load-carrying capacity and reduce deflection. It is available...

Ball valves.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SK multipurpose ball valves offer positive, quarter-turn shutoff. A 316 stainless-steel construction, low-torque operation, spring-loaded seats, and floating ball provide leak-tight integrity in low- and...

Differential pressure switch.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... Model 121 indicating differential pressure switch features a heavy-duty industrial type terminal strip for one or two switches. Wiring is easy with 1/2-in. NPT conduit interface and removable cover. Many switching configurations are available...

Stopper cylinder.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CST series pneumatic stopper cylinder is designed for light and medium duty applications. It can be used in work holding fixture and conveyor system applications and is available in 32-mm bore size with a 20-mm...

Balance gauge kit.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... Kit provides the hoses, fittings and a sturdy carrying case for quick system balancing. It is designed for use when several pressurized vessels must be pressure or flow balanced using a zero center differential pressure gauge. It is available...

Hydraulic data logger.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... Battery-powered HPM540 handheld data-logger with USB connectivity allows easy connection of as many as four sensors and monitoring or data logging direct to laptop of any combination of flow, pressure, temperature, speed, and analog inputs....

Valve manifolds.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... Sub-miniature manifolds for 10- and 15-mm solenoid valves allow for groupings of valves in very small spaces. Single-sided units are available with 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 stations. They feature a common inlet, individually ported...

Vacuum, pressure switches.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... Pneumatic and electronic vacuum and pressure switches provide analog or digital output signals, additional digital readouts, communications capabilities, and pneumatic outputs. They provide simple on/off switching or maintain preset vacuum...

Solenoid and air-pilot valves.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New 22 series solenoid and air-pilot operated valves come in 3- and 4-way configurations with 1/8 NPT ports. They are rated for flows to 40 scfm at 125 psi and feature single or double air pilot and solenoid...

Dual valve controller.(Useful Products)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Multi-purpose valve controller offers four universal signal inputs to two 3A outputs. It controls two proportional or on/off solenoid valves using PWM control from a variety of input sources. It accepts voltage,...

Line of technopolymer products targets low-cost market: new product line includes compact and ISO cylinders, air preparation units, valves, and valve terminals made of alternative materials.(TECH PNEUS)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Festo Corp., Hauppauge, N. Y., recently introduced a range of products for high-volume industrial control applications, where price coupled with performance is key. The new product line includes air preparation...

Mounting cylinders for long life: manufacturers offer a wide range of cylinder mounts. Matching them to the application helps prevent premature breakdowns.(TECHNOLOGY BASICS)
December 1, 2008... No matter how good a hydraulic cylinder, poor mounting will hasten failure. Improper mounting can cause side loading, which destroys rod bearings and seals, or loosens hydraulic connections to cause leaks. In the worst cases, it can even cause...

What's next for our industry? Major manufacturers of fluid power components and systems say the industry's future is bright with promise.(TECHNOLOGY FORECAST)
December 1, 2008... It's been a year full of gloom and doom--foreclosures, banking crises, record oil prices, a credit crunch, manufacturing and retail in a slump, and finally, an official recession. But that's not the news coming out of the fluid power industry....

Making a visual impact.(Web Wire)
December 1, 2008... A new section of www.DirectIndustry.com allows exhibitors to upload videos, lasting anywhere from 30 sec to 15 minutes, allowing engineers to check out company information and product demonstrations using video presentations. More than 1600...

All in one place.(Web Wire)(Website overview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new web site from W.C. Branham Inc. at www.wcbranham.com gives users the opportunity to find what they need when they're looking for pneumatic actuators, caliper disc brakes, and more. The site describes in great...

Listen up!(Web Wire)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A radio program series at WAMC's Women in Science website, www.womeninscience. org highlights the importance of involving girls and women in science, engineering, and technology careers. Northeast Public Radio's...

The case of the steel and the sugar.(Fluid Forensics)
December 1, 2008... Houghton International is a manufacturer of all types of hydraulic fluids. Our technical service laboratories perform routine tests for customers on a regular basis, but when a problem arises that can't be solved by routine testing, the case is...

Medical marvels: the heart of pneumatics: when a patient's natural heart is too weak to keep him or her alive while waiting for a donor heart for transplant, a pneumatically powered blood pump can save the day--and their life.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
December 1, 2008... D'Zhana Simmons was only 14 years old when she and her parents learned earlier this year that she needed a heart transplant. D'Zhana and her parents later flew from their home in Clinton, S. C. to Holtz children's Hospital in Miami for a...

The bookstore is open.(WEB CONTENTS: www.hydraulicspneumatics.com: Featuring ...)
December 1, 2008... It's the holiday shopping season, so don't miss a chance to treat yourself to some real fluid power knowledge. We recently added all of Jack Johnson's books to our online bookstore, bringing the total books available for purchase through our...

Keep on reading.(WEB CONTENTS: www.hydraulicspneumatics.com: Featuring ...)
December 1, 2008... If it's difficult to find time to take a course in your field, our "Fluid Power Basics" section might be able to help. More than 70 tutorial-style articles provide you with basic knowledge on critical fluid power components and systems,...

Find them here.(WEB CONTENTS: www.hydraulicspneumatics.com: Featuring ...)
December 1, 2008... Finding find articles, products, and how-to features that relate to your industry can be easily done by searching our website. Our Technology Zones are home to many tutorial articles, case histories, and products related to specific items, such...

As easy as pie.(WEB CONTENTS: www.hydraulicspneumatics.com: Featuring ...)
December 1, 2008... Searching our Distributor Directory makes finding distributors in your area a cinch. Simply type your zip code into our popular distributor search feature, which can be found by clicking on the Fluid Power Handbook & Directory button on the...