Hydraulics & Pneumatics articles from June 2008

Hydraulics & Pneumatics archives from June 2008

Hydraulics makes sprayer nimble: high speed and maneuverability are essential for quick and efficient application of expensive fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.(AGRICULTURE)(Cover story)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Consistent travel speed is critical for mobile sprayers to efficiently apply expensive fertilizer or insecticides in farms and orchards. Designers of drives for these sprayers face a major challenge because they do...

Go with the flow in selecting the right fluid: consider the equipment it will be used in and viscosity when choosing your hydraulic fluid.(DESIGN BASICS)
June 1, 2008... Wouldn't it be great if there was a single list you could consult to help you pick the right hydraulic fluid for your equipment? The closest thing is the National Fluid Power Association's recommended practice T2.13.13-2002, Fluids Viscosity...

Pneumatic cylinders.(Free Literature)
June 1, 2008... Composite pneumatic cylinder catalog features Snap Fit series cylinders that suit applications requiring corrosion resistance, low weight, and high cycle rates. They are dent resistant, FDA compliant, and provide low friction operation with...

Quick-acting couplings.(Free Literature)
June 1, 2008... High-pressure connections catalog discusses quick-acting couplings and important considerations when working with high pressures. It charts appropriate products for specific applications. Flat face, screw-to-connect, high-pressure hose...

Pipe and tube fittings.(Free Literature)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Data sheet lists steel and industrial tube fittings, including 3000 series steel pipe fittings, 4000 series steel O-ring face seal fittings, steel beaded hose barbs, 5000 series steel 37[degrees] flare (JIC)...

Pressure transmitters.(Free Literature)
June 1, 2008... Data sheet provides operating specifications and benefits of 3200 series transmitters with sputtered thin-film sensing elements. Operating specifications include drift, tolerance, ports, and pressure ranges in chart format. Engineered drawings...

Pneumatic valves, actuators.(Free Literature)
June 1, 2008... Product guide highlights pneumatic valves and actuators and includes photos and brief descriptions of direct- and indirect-acting solenoid valves, mechanical valves, air pilot valves, cartridge insert valves, vacuum valves, proportional valves,...

Fluorocarbon seals.(Free Literature)
June 1, 2008... Fluorocarbon Selection Guide provides information on high-performance FKM (fluorocarbon polymer) seals. Details are offered about A-, B-, and F-type standard versions; GLT, GFLT, LTFE, and ETP specialty fluorocarbons; and specialty compounds. A...

High-tech compost turning: the Topturn X turns and mixes organic waste derived from agriculture and forestry and earned the Industrial Design Excellence Award--the "Oscar" of American industrial design.(AGRICULTURE)
June 1, 2008... If you are a homeowner who maintains yard waste in a compost pile, you know the pile periodically needs to be turned over to promote decomposition. But if you're in the compost business, an occasional turn with a shovel or pitch fork just won't...

Filters ensure hydraulic fluid is clean from the get-go.(Ideas & Applications)
June 1, 2008... Filtration continues to be a hot topic in the hydraulics industry. The benefits of keeping fluid clean include higher system reliability, longer component life, improved efficiency, and more responsive system operation. In a nutshell, the money...

Instrument helps give your hydraulic system a physical.(Ideas & Applications)
June 1, 2008... The Flo-tech division of Racine Flow Meter Group, Racine, Wis., introduced the Flo-Check USB hydraulic system analyzer. Representing the next generation of hydraulic test equipment, the Flo-Check USB simultaneously measures flow, pressure,...

Sensor helps speed waste collection.(Ideas & Applications)
June 1, 2008... Faun Environment, Guilherand Granges, France, builds Variopress rear loading refuse collection trucks that can clear 1000 dumpsters of waste a day. The automatic lifter can empty bins of up to 82 gal in only 8 sec, and it takes only 11 sec to...

Educating in Milwaukee.(Fluid Power conference & expo: IN REVIEW)
June 1, 2008... Getting a good education in fluid power these days is easy when attending the Fluid Power Conference & Expo. Held in Milwaukee May 20 and 21, the conference provided attendees with 16 sessions to choose from, with topics covering mobile and...

Troubleshooting always a favorite.(Fluid Power conference & expo: IN REVIEW)
June 1, 2008... The "Troubleshooting Hydraulic Systems" session, presented by Tom Wanke of MSOE, was a big hit as always. The session, sponsored by Webster Instruments, saw standing-room only attendance as Wanke offered a simple approach to a very complex...

Jim Tobul, of Tobul Accumulator, discusses how to improve your systems with accumulators at a full session in Milwaukee.(Fluid Power conference & expo: IN REVIEW)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Jim Tobul, of Tobul Accumulator, discusses how to improve your systems with accumulators at a full session in Milwaukee. Tobul hopes to expand his presentation in the future, with a second part discussing...

Hydraulic hybrids on the rise: NYC cleans up with hybrid technology.(Industry News)
June 1, 2008... The city of New York teamed with Bosch Rexroth Corp., Rochester Hills, Mich., to examine and test the use of hybrid vehicle technology in refuse trucks. Bosch Rexroth was chosen by Calstart's Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) to contribute...

Grant brings Eaton's technology to Texas.(Industry News)
June 1, 2008... A nearly half-million dollar grant will be used to bring Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Eaton Corp.'s fuel-saving Hydraulic Launch Assist technology (HLA) to a south-Texas fleet of urban shuttle busses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The...

Quaker Chemical changes leadership.(Industry News)
June 1, 2008... Quaker Chemical, Conshohocken, Pa., announced that its chairman and CEO, Ronald J. Naples, will step down, and will be succeeded by Michael F. Barry, senior vice president and managing director for North America. Naples will remain CEO until...

Attendees swarm to OTC.(Industry News)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Even if you're not involved in offshore oil rigs, the Offshore Technology Conference, held annually in Houston, offered plenty to see in the world of hydraulics. Of the 2500 exhibiting companies from 35 countries,...

NFPA Fluid Power Challenge engages students.(Industry News)
June 1, 2008... The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) teamed with the Canadian Fluid Power Association (CFPA) to bring the Fluid Power Challenge to southeastern Wisconsin at the Kettle Moraine High School on May 9. The competition was attended by...

Call for papers.(Industry News)
June 1, 2008... The Seventh International Conference on Fluid Power Transmission and Control will be held April 7-10, 2009 in Hangzhou, China. It is organized by the Institute of Mechatronic Control Engineering, Zhejiang University, in cooperation with the...

Hagglunds Drives acquires Rineer Hydraulics.(Industry News)
June 1, 2008... Hagglunds Drives Inc., Columbus, will acquire Rineer Hydraulics Inc., a manufacturer of hydraulic motors for oil and gas drilling, off-road equipment, agricultural applications, pump drives, and mobile equipment. Rineer's headquarters will...

Save the date.(Industry News)
June 1, 2008... Pack Expo International: Change, Innovation and Sustainability will be held November 9-13, at McCormick Place, Chicago; it will be co-located with Process Expo. Companies from every sector of the industry--packaging machinery, converting...

Myth #4: high efficiency is always good.(MYTHS OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS)
June 1, 2008... It is well-known that a distinct frequency can exist in the hydromechanical system that arises from a load mass interacting with the combined effects of hydraulic fluid compressibility, flexure in the mounting apparatus, and fluid conductor...

New energy from fluid power.(Publisher's Page)
June 1, 2008... I recently had the privilege of presenting some ideas on the subject of fluid power usage in the area of alternative energy production. This took place at the 2008 FPDA Annual Meeting at Saddlebrook Resort in Florida. During this meeting, the...

Shock treatment saves equipment: mechanical and fluidborne shock and vibration can degrade equipment's performance and service life. Plan ahead to avoid or control them.(SYSTEM DYNAMICS)
June 1, 2008... In most applications, it is preferable to stop a moving load through controlled deceleration. Elastomeric bumpers, compression springs, and dash pots sometimes are used to accomplish this by absorbing energy. Bumpers and springs decelerate by...

Modeling and simulation quickly achieve results: product development can be done quickly and more affordably with modeling and simulation software.(SYSTEM DESIGN)
June 1, 2008... [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] For machine builders, accelerating the process of product development can save time and money by enabling a design to be verified for maximum performance. A sure-fire way to get the job done more smoothly and quickly in...

New sensor works as programmable switch.(TECH PNEUS)
June 1, 2008... Most air cylinders are used in applications where they repeatedly move from a fully retracted to a fully extended position, then back again. Consequently, most linear position sensors used with pneumatic cylinders consist of switches that sense...

Brass ball valves.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... Line of brass ball valves features a maximum operating temperature of 302[degrees] F and pressure rated at 600 psi non-shock. Valves are available in sizes from 1/4 to 3 in. and offer low operating torque. Standard features include...

Parallel check valve.(Useful Products)
June 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 drift and provides rapid stopping of a load. It operates in pressures...

Air cylinders.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... HP.N non-rotating metric air cylinders feature adjustable cushion control, aluminum piston, built-in lubrication system, and position sensing capability, along with a stainless-steel square rod that prevents rotation. They are available in...

High-pressure hose, couplings.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Spiral hose and couplings handle pressures to 6000 psi. A precision-machined internal ferrule crimps and tightly locks into any type of spiral hose for a secure, leak-proof, and corrosion-resistant fit. They...

Pneumatic manifolds.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... Single and multi-station manifolds are available for use with company's Oxygen Clean series electronic valves. Manifolds offer single- or double-sided mounting in compatible electroless nickel plated brass material, and feature 1/8-in. NPT...

Temperature switches.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... ETS 3000 electronic temperature switches come as standalone units with separate temperature probes or as pressure resistant types with integrated probe. Pressure resistant types measure from 75[degrees] to 210[degrees]F; probe types measure...

Solenoid valves.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... Series 20 and 50 lightweight, machined aluminum valves are available with ac or dc solenoid and standard pressure rating to 1000 psig (higher ratings available). Series 20 is offered in 1/8 and 1/4 in. NPT; series 50 is offered in 1/8 in. NPT....

Pressure transmitter.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A2 pressure transmitter is offered in a compact, explosion-proof enclosure for remote pipeline measurements requiring low power consumption and where closed-loop, continuous communications are not required. It is...

Quick couplings.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... Parker TEMA HP series of quick couplings provides high operating pressures and high flow with optimized sealing technology in a compact design. They are rated to working pressures of 1000 and 1500 bar, in nominal size of 2.5 mm in steel. Thread...

Hydraulic power units.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] V-series hydraulic power units, sized 5 to 10 hp, feature a horizontal design and quiet, variable-displacement piston pump. They are adjustable from 100 to 3000 psi and come with a one- to six-station D03 manifold...

Differential pressure transmitter.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... Model 121 is a loop-powered 8-28 Vdc two-wire 4-20 mA transmitter that features a 1/2-in. NPT interface with an easy-to-wire industrial terminal strip and a removable cover. Accuracy is [+ or -]2% from 20% to 100% of full scale. It operates in...

Spool valves.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PSL proportional directional spool valve is designed for constant delivery pump systems. They control the direction of motion while delivering infinite speed control for hydraulic actuators regardless of load type...

Water-glycol fluids.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... UCON ADVANTA Hydrolube Concentrate produces water-glycol hydraulic fluid with high shear stability for extended fluid life. It provides high fire resistance while protecting equipment under severe operating conditions. Designed for hydraulic...

Lightweight compressors.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... Series 2450 WOB-L compressors suit applications requiring a small, quiet, lightweight air pump. It has 8.3- x 4.0- x 6.4-in. footprint and offers quiet (50 dBA at 20 psig) operation. Monolithic head reduces leak paths while optional intake...

Cylinder sensor.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... Position sensor incorporates an integral clamp that fixes directly to NFPA tie rod cylinders. It uses the latest magneto resistive technology and is available in either reed switch, solid-state NPN/PNP configurations, with LEDs standard. It...

Rotary position sensors.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RSE 1500 series rotary RVDT position sensors provide absolute output proportional to shaft rotation. They measure angular displacement of rotating elements and operate in 0[degrees] to 30[degrees], 60[degrees],...

Pneumatic slides.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... DGSL series slides are designed for positioning or as an easy pick-and-place system. Integrated bearing system offers accuracy of 0.01 mm and linearity and parallelism in the 0.01 mm range. Eight sizes from 4 to 20 mm diameter offer strokes to...

Plug-in limit switches.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] E50 modular plug-in limit switches are complete with FKM gaskets, seals and boots for easy installation. Zinc die cast enclosures provide high chemical resistance to hydraulic fluids, coolants, and cleaning agents...

Torque transducers.(Useful Products)
June 1, 2008... MCRT 48200V series digital torque meters are compact, non-contact devices that measure full scale ranges from 25 to 10,000 lbf-in. They provide [+ or -]10 or [+ or -]5 V analog or digital output. Two accuracy grades are offered: 0.2% and 0.15%....

Track energy co$t$ online.(Web Wire)
June 1, 2008... A tool at www.dowcorning.com/content/molykote/energysavings calculator.aspx from Dow Corning Corp. evaluates how much money one can save by lubricating machinery to reduce friction, thus reducing wear rate and operating temperature. The...

Don't watch it spin.(Web Wire)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you can ignore the hypnotic spinning cylinder at the Lehigh Fluid Power website, located at www.lehighfluidpower. com, you'll find a nice array of information. Users can surf through details on their pneumatic and...

Basic is enough.(Web Wire)
June 1, 2008... The website www.alwitco.com for Allied Witan Co. doesn't have any bells or whistles but it tells you everything you need in a clean and straightforward manner. Products are simply displayed with a thumbnail photo and name, and link to a general...

Right-sizing rodless actuators: here's how to get the best pneumatic rodless cylinder for your money.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rodless cylinders are a great alternative to conventional air cylinders and electromechanical actuators because they both support and guide a load. This eliminates the need for other load-bearing elements and reduces...