Hydraulics & Pneumatics articles from June 2004

Hydraulics & Pneumatics archives from June 2004

A silver lining to high gas prices.(Editor's Page)
June 1, 2004... Seems like everyone across the country has been complaining about gasoline prices consistently exceeding $2 a gallon. This price is about 30% more than what we've become accustomed to. Just about every night, the local news airs Joe Citizen's...

MINExpo '04 hauling in BIG numbers.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... This Fall's MINExpo, sponsored by the National Mining Association, already has 850 exhibitors in place, and is expecting 35,000 attendees at the four-day show. The event, scheduled for Sept. 27-30 in Las Vegas, is held every four years, and has...

New building for hose, connector R & D.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... Gates Corp. is building a 69,800-sq ft Customer Solutions Center in Denver which will house the product research, development, and training operations of its Worldwide Hose and Connectors Div. Secure vehicle testing bays will offer...

50 years ago ...(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... From the June 1954 issue of Applied Hydraulics (the original title of H & P). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Rotary solenoids permit compact package design.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... To make mobile handling equipment maneuverable in narrow aisles, power units must be small. Therefore, size becomes an important factor in the selection of components. Designers of the hydraulic power unit used on the Lewis-Shepard Master...

NFPA conference offers economic outlook.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... The National Fluid Power Association's annual Economic Outlook Conference will be held Aug. 17-18 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. Several speakers will provide forecasts for the U.S. and world economies, as well as analyses of domestic and...

Fluid power at PTC Asia, IMTS.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... NFPA is sponsoring a pavilion at PTC Asia 2004, running Oct. 12-15 at the New International Expo Centre in Shanghai, China. NPFA, in partnership with the Association for Manufacturing Technology, will also have a fluid power pavilion at the...

Teamwork in research.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... NFPA is continuing its efforts to develop a Cooperative Network for Research in Motion Control through Fluid Power (CNR). The purpose of the initiative is to foster research at leading engineering schools in areas important to the fluid power...

New on the electrohydraulics scene.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... FPA, Fluid Power Associates Inc., is a joint venture between 10 American distributors and Atos SpA, an Italian electrohydraulics manufacturer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FPA will act as the Atos Master Distributor in North America,...

Bluegrass state welcomes ICUEE.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... The International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition will run Sept. 27-29, 2005, at the Kentucky fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. Known as "The Demo Expo," ICUEE features live outdoor demonstrations of machinery working in...

PC game introduces engineering problem solving ... on the sly.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... Talking to kids about engineering as a career path has never been easy. With today's distractions, from MTV to video games like Grand Theft Auto, what is a parent to do? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Enter Time Engineers, a well-thought-out...

Goodyear gets in on hydraulic hose.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... Goodyear unveiled its hydraulic hose lineup at the annual meeting of the Association for Hose and Accessories Distribution. Although the company has produced hydraulic hose for 50 years, until now it only carried a limited selection of...

On the hunt.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... The Dominick Hunter Group PLC has acquired PTI Advanced Filtration (PTI-AF). PTI-AF, based in Oxnard, Calif., specializes in manufacturing and marketing high-performance separation technologies, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration,...

MSOE seminar schedule.(Industry News)
June 1, 2004... The Milwaukee School of Engineering's (MSOE) Applied Technology Center offers seminars to keep engineers and managers up to date on technological developments, current applications, and new techniques. Upcoming seminars include: ...

Eaton Corp.(People)
June 1, 2004... * Eaton Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn., announces that William R. VanArsdale has been named vice president, Hydraulics Operations for Eaton's Fluid Power Group. He will report to Craig Arnold, senior vice president and group executive, Fluid Power....

Denison Hydraulics.(People)
June 1, 2004... * Denison Hydraulics, Marysville, Ohio, appointed David F. Busser marketing manager. He is responsible for establishing the company's marketing goals and strategies. Prior to his appointment, Busser had been product manager for Denison's...

Offshore rigs accumulate fluid power solutions.(Ideas & Applications)
June 1, 2004... The worldwide offshore oil business is an immense industry, employing tens of thousands of workers, engineers, and scientists--and hundreds of component suppliers. At the heart of every exploratory oil well, offshore platform, and production...

Railway maintenance can be a real grind.(Ideas & Applications)
June 1, 2004... Railroads are the most economical means of moving heavy payloads long distances over land. But railroads require regular maintenance--and not for just locomotives and rolling stock. The track itself can wear down, warp, shift out of alignment,...

Hybrid actuator sees action in prepress operation.(Ideas & Applications)
June 1, 2004... Hybrid hydropneumatic actuators hit the industrial market about a year ago. They offer the simplicity and convenience of pneumatic cylinders in combination with the controllability and smoothness of servohydraulics. Hydropneumatic...

PWM--the unconventional way to regulate pressure.(Motion Control)
June 1, 2004... Pulse width modulation (PWM) has been used successfully in electronic control circuits for at least forty years. It is an efficient method for controlling a large amount of output power while expending a relatively small amount of power in the...

Drilling rigs stand up to the power of the ocean: manmade fluid power systems work to counteract Mother Nature's own fluid power--ocean waves and currents.(Marine/Offshore)(Cover Story)
June 1, 2004... Land-based drilling has been used for more than a century in the search for oil and gas. The first "offshore" wells weren't drilled until the early 1900s, and even these were drilled from piers in swamps and lakes--generally in very shallow...

Why bigger isn't always better: when it comes to specifying a hydraulic motor for maximum efficiency, size isn't the only thing to consider.(Design Basics)
June 1, 2004... In the late 1950s, Louis and Cyril Keller developed a three-wheel, self-propelled loader that would eventually evolve into what is known today as a skid steer loader. Initially, this loader had a broom and snow blower attachment driven by gas...

Motors, hydraulic.
June 1, 2004... Design Fluid Water- Rotary Petroleum oil Motors, hydraulic Gear Vane...

System design keys in on diagnostics: designed-in diagnostics keeps machines productive.(Pneumatic Systems)
June 1, 2004... As the demand for technical advances and cost reduction in automation continues to increase, companies look for new methods to improve overall equipment efficiency. To keep a machine running for millions of cycles, every component in its...

Pneumatics mixes things up: electropneumatic positioners help automate aggregate-mixing operations.(Pneumatic Systems)
June 1, 2004... Aggregate, a combination of sand and gravel, is a primary ingredient in concrete. Mixing aggregate begins with washing, crushing, and segregating mined material into various components according to size. These components are then recombined...

Don't burst your bladder.(Tech News)
June 1, 2004... Pawling Engineered Products, Pawling, N.Y., has standardized its Pneuma-Seal line of inflatable elastomeric bladders to simplify the design and fabrication of devices using pneumatic actuators and seals. These easy-to-use EPDM bladders find...

Press safety valves.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... XSz Series valves feature a double-control system that ensures the operating port exhausts once the valve is deactivated. Cross-channel flow provides a dynamic pneumatic monitor and safety exhaust without residual pressure in case the valve...

Modular subbase valves.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... A modular subbase valve system is easy to modify and expand from individual valves and connection plates to fieldbus valve terminals. Valve functions 5/2, 5/3, 2 X 3/2, 2 X 2/2, and 3/2 with external air supply. LED indicators on each valve,...

Push-in fittings, pipes.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Catalog describes push-in fittings and pipe for compressed air systems. Includes product information, installation tips, and technical specifications. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John Guest USA Inc. (800) 945-4872, www.johnguest.com...

Washdown valves.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Clean Line Series CL03 pneumatic valves have an IP69K rating for high-pressure washdown to 1,450 psi--no protective cabinet is needed. Flow to 0.85 [C.sub.v]. Multipin connection or serial communication options for major protocols. Consist of...

Mini low-pressure regulators.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Ultra-miniature pressure regulators have a maximum width of 1 1/32 in. and maximum height of 1 in. They weigh 26.5 g (brass) and 15 g (aluminum). Control output pressures from 0 to 30 psig, and are especially suited to low-pressure regulation,...

Air cylinders.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Air cylinders offer smooth no-drag movement, fast response, and clean breakaway. A V-seal design prevents seal collapse and blow-by. A reversible piston provides dimensional consistency. Feature stainless-steel barrels and piston rods,...

PVC hose.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Catalog offers specifications and cutaway drawings on a variety of PVC hose. Air hose available 1/4 to 2 in. with pressure ratings from 215 to 570 psi. High-pressure spray hose resists weather, abrasion, and chemicals. Clear braided hose...

Reverse flow regulators.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Reverse flow regulators provide regulated pressure control from in-to-out and quick exhausting from out-to-in. When pressure on the inlet side is exhausted, the regulator piston or diaphragm snaps open to allow immediate exhausting of secondary...

Vacuum inlet traps.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... PosiTrap vacuum inlet traps remove corrosive and abrasive particles from the vacuum stream of pumps rated 50 cfm. Feature quick-release clamps and replaceable filter elements. Positively sealed to prevent blow-by. Filter elements include...

Magnetic latching valves.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Small magnetic latching valves are designed for pressures to 500 psi. Suitable for applications where power is limited or coil heating is undesirable. Offered in 6 to 60 Vdc and draw approximately 7 W when energized. Coil and rare-earth magnet,...

Compressed-air dryers.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Dryer for compressed air removes moisture at the point of use. Designed for continuous operation, the dryer uses a molecular sieve in a desiccant cartridge. Each cartridge alternates between a cycle of air drying and regeneration. Desiccant...

Serial bus systems.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... The FlexSam serial bus system directly controls up to 32 inputs and 32 outputs without discrete wiring of remote operating valve manifolds. Modules accept npn or pnp inputs without circuitry or wiring changes. Comes with DeviceNet, Remote I/O,...

Stainless-steel cylinders.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... A line of stainless-steel cylinders is designed for food-processing and pharmaceutical applications. All-threaded construction cylinders are fully repairable, and their crevice-free design simplifies washdowns and clean-ups. Available in 1 1/8,...

Cantilever slides.(Pneumatic Products)
June 1, 2004... Series SxH cantilever slides are available with travel lengths to 8 in. They feature a compact design and high load capacities. Available in five bore sizes: 8, 10, 14, 20, and 32 mm. Features include high-capacity internal and external shock...

Smart sensors, switches.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... The SDE1 family of pressure switches and sensors offers two pressure, four connection, and two display options, as well as pnp or npn outputs. Users can also define the switching behavior of the digital outputs. Additional features include...

MEMs the word.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... P4000 pressure transducers incorporate micro-machined piezoresistive sensing technology in an all-welded, stainless-steel package weighing 3 oz. Total error band is [+ or -]2 over a -40[degrees] to 125[degrees] C temperature range. Pressure...

Tough transducers.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Lightweight, compact 100 Series transducers handle extreme environments. Available in pressure ranges from 0 to 15 psi through 0 to 10,000 psi. Full-scale combined error--including linearity, hysteresis, and repeatability--is better than [+ or...

Digging deep.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Omegadyne PX3400 Series pressure transducers feature a 0.75-in.-diameter body and pressure ranges to 20,000 psi. Two models are available: PX3425 operates to 250[degrees] F, and PX3435 works to 350[degrees] F. Thin-film strain-gage technology...

Pressure transducers.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Model P125 transducer incorporates bonded-foil strain-gage technology in stainless-steel envelope with 1 m of PVC-jacketed cable. Three pressure ranges: 0 to 100, 0 to 1000, and 0 to 5000 psig. Pressure thread is 1/4-18 NPT male; current loop...

Transducers.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Pressure Max. Transducers Gage Absolute Differential Vacuum press.--psi Advanced Control Technology, Inc. * ...

Release pumps.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... A release pump for mobile equipment is rated for pressures to 4,000 psi and has two 3/8 in.-16 UNC threaded holes for easy mounting. Available with #4 SAE ports or -4 JIC fittings. Valve rod and pump rod are size--and color-coded for easy...

Proportional valve actuators.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Electric proportional valve actuators target the off-highway mobile industry. Provide fast operation, maximum flexibility, and high safety level. They enable multiple functions to be simultaneously performed, delivering the exact oil flow and...

Disposable filter cartridges.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... PT Series disposable filter cartridges provide high-efficiency microglass filtration. Available in two diameters and two lengths for maximum flows from 5 to 50 gpm. The PT2 and PT4 filter cartridges use Microglass III media in 2, 5, 10, and...

Hydraulic power units.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Powerpak Vertical Hydraulic Power Units are complete power packages that include motor, pump, reservoir, and fluid-conditioning accessories. They can be custom built for specific needs. Valves can be added to suit certain applications and...

Pumps with electronic compensator.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... PV Series hydraulic piston, open-circuit pumps are available with an electronic option, creating new pressure control capabilities. The electronic proportional compensator reduces or eliminates the need for external valving. The PV family...

DIN fittings.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... A line of DIN hydraulic fittings is available in most widely used styles and sizes, for a total of 260 fittings in all. Built for extreme pressure applications and approved by all major certification agencies. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Low-pressure cylinders.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Model LH cylinders available in 1.5 to 6-in. bore sizes. Feature floating, self-aligning, repairable rod cartridge. Large-diameter tie rods and thick-walled tube. Teflon back-up seal on rod cartridge. All NFPA mounting and rod diameters. Rated...

Mini shock absorbers.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... SC 25.75, and 190 Heavyweight Series miniature industrial shock absorbers have a piston tube designed for long life, offer ultrahigh energy absorption, and are self-compensating. Additional features include a rolling diaphragm seal system (SC...

Flexible hose.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... The 721 high-pressure hose meets SAE 100R12, ISO 3862-1, and EN 856 Type R12 specifications. Its one-half SAE 100R12 minimum bend radius eases installation in tight spaces. The hose carries a 4,000-psi working-pressure rating in sizes 3/8 to...

Flanged-tube caps.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... FT and FL Series caps are designed to protect threaded or non-threaded parts and feature straight sides with a flanged top for easy removal. The FT Series comes in eight sizes to cap threads from 5/16 to 1 1/16 in. and M14. Lengths range from...

Expansion chambers.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Equalizer Expansion Chambers prevent pressure increases in closed-system equipment. A Viton rolling diaphragm provides a variable volume, that when properly sized, maintains housing pressure at or near zero psi. Chambers also prevent air...

Digital gages.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Ashcroft digital gages come with a choice of three cases: all-welded stainless steel, fiberglass-reinforced thermoplastic, or cast aluminum. The gages are weatherproof and have an IP65, NEMA-4 rating. FM certification is available with the...

Packaging wrap.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... Spiral Wrap is designed for routing and bundling items with diameters from 1/16 to 7 in. Available spooled or bagged in lengths from 25 to 2,500 ft. Choice of material: natural polyethylene, black UV-resistant polyethylene, nylon,...

Proportional electronic controllers.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... The XPRO 900 Series of electronic proportional plug top drivers uses PWM techniques to provide high-current proportional control to solenoid coils, which in turn, control the solenoid or proportional valve. They take a low-power analog control...

Tab caps.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... E-Z tabs are flexible caps with extra-long pull tabs for easy application and removal. They can be used as paint masks, shipping caps, and thread protectors. Eighteen stock sizes available in diameters from 0.24 to 1.25 in. Custom sizes also...

Proportional valves.(Focus on Pressure Transducers)
June 1, 2004... High-response proportional valves, available in D03 to D08 sizes, precisely control velocity, position, pressure, or force. Minimal feedback from the spool improves hysteresis and repeatability. Frequency response is 20 to 90 Hz, depending on...

Hydraulic hand pumps.(Useful Literature)
June 1, 2004... Brochure provides specifications and drawings on Series 500/550 hydraulic hand pumps. Products include single-stage, two-stage, tandem, and foot-operated pumps, as well as pump and reservoir assemblies. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Control...

Mobile hydraulics.(Useful Literature)
June 1, 2004... Catalog details extensive mobile hydraulics components and system solutions. Products include piston pumps, gear pumps and motors, power take-offs, directional control valves, threaded cartridge valves, rotary actuators, and accumulators. CD is...

Filter elements.(Useful Literature)
June 1, 2004... Brochure highlights ExaporMax, new-generation filter elements for increasing filter life and protecting hydraulic systems. Includes detailed information on features, specifications, and performance data. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Temperature sensors.(Useful Literature)
June 1, 2004... Bulletin TS-103 describes resistance temperature detectors, thermocouples, thermistors, transmitters, monitors, and controllers. Lists features, specifications, and how-to-order information. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Minco Products Inc....

Oil, gas, marine products.(Useful Literature)
June 1, 2004... Catalog describes accumulators, filters, ball valves, clamps, pressure transducers, pressure switches, and accessories for the oil, gas, and marine industries. Lists available products and their specifications. Also provides contact information...

Pressure, temp instruments.(Useful Literature)
June 1, 2004... CD-ROM product catalog focuses on pressure, temperature, level, and flow instrumentation. Includes brochures, dimensional drawings, I/O manuals, and unit conversion calculator. SOR Inc. Circle 110

An Apple a day ...(Web Wire)
June 1, 2004... Apple Rubber Products' Web site at www.applerubber.com was recently updated and expanded. It now features faster loading and easier navigation, based on input from users and traffic studies of the old site. New is a technical library, which...

Branching out.(Web Wire)
June 1, 2004... Kaman Industrial, one of the largest PT and fluid power distributors in the country, has its online home at www.kamandirect.com. Visitors can search products via an extensive manufacturer list, browse its online catalog, order components...

Way to go, Wago.(Web Wire)
June 1, 2004... Wisconsin-based Wago, a manufacturer of terminal blocks and pluggable connections, has a newly revamped site at www.wago.com. Icons and headings now use "common sense names"--what a concept, we wish more sites would follow along! The Web site...

Automation nation.(Web Wire)
June 1, 2004... Connecticut-based Enfield Technologies has launched www.enfieldtech.com, a new e-commerce site aimed at designers of industrial automation, product testing, and animation. Users can order online with a credit card, and a second phase will...

Who starred in ...?(Web Wire)
June 1, 2004... If you want background on a classic or current TV or film star, the site located at www.triviatribute.com is a good place to start. You'll also find a variety of quizzes, dealing with topics from famous movie quotes to name the celebrity. ...

Powers of 10.(Web Wire)
June 1, 2004... On this page from the Florida State University's Web site, micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10, users see the Milky Way from a distance of 10 million light years, then move through space towards the Earth in successive...

Book 'em, Dan-O.(Web Wire)
June 1, 2004... The people at BestBookBuys (www.bestbookbuys.com) note that they don't sell books, "we just find the lowest prices." Fair enough. The site allows searching by title, author, keyword, or even ISBN number, and the results were pretty impressive...