Hydraulics & Pneumatics articles from November 2003

Hydraulics & Pneumatics archives from November 2003

The Type X manager returns.(Editor's Page)
November 1, 2003... Recently, a colleague reminded me of the classic X-Y theory of managing, as first described by Douglas McGregor in his 1960 book, The Human Side Of Enterprise. McGregor postulated that there are two types of managers. Type X managers are...

Prime time players.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... I read your "Is engineering ready for prime time?" editorial. You say Hollywood types show nothing sexy about engineering. I disagree, even though the examples I will cite are very old movies. These movies were a serious factor in leading me...

Another vote for Jimmy.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... Just read your editorial and have to tell you about my favorite movie featuring an engineer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The movie is called No Highway in the Sky, made in 1951 and starring Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Diet-rich. It is about...

Take this candy bar, string, and duct tape ...(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... What about MacGyver? He is not really an engineer, per se, but he was in prime time. Pete Burns plant engineer Kayline Processing Inc. Trenton, N.J. pete@kayline.com

Macho man.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... My dad was an electrical engineer who supervised a power generation unit at a plant. I remember he would bring home a trade publication called Power, which featured a regular story about a macho engineer called Marmaduke, or Marmy. Marmy would...

A plug for Acme Co.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... Here are my votes: * Race Bannon on Johnny Quest * MacGyver * Q in the James Bond series * Mission Impossible (I can't remember the character's name) ... and the one that got me into engineering: * Wile E. Coyote...

Already there.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... In response to your editorial, "Is engineering ready for prime time?" let me say that engineering is prime time. The cable channel shows you noted are simply ahead of the networks to recognize this. They have correctly surmised that...

Missile man.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... You didn't mention the movie Apollo 13. There's a scene in the movie where Gene Kranz pronounces an engineer a "steely eyed missile man." If I remember correctly, the "missile man" was sporting a pocket protector. Good movie. [ILLUSTRATION...

A three-hour tour.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... I guess you grew up in the country and got only one TV channel as I did. Our TV had the ultimate engineer that ran for many years: MacGyver. But we can't forget about the "professor" on Gilligan's Island. He seemed like more of an engineer than...

Let's categorize.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... I read your column with interest. I have been following engineers in film for a few years. We do make screen appearances occasionally, and usually in a positive light. Take Apollo 13, engineers are all through the movie and are saving the day...

Dad vs. dad.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... My Three Sons had Fred McMurray as an aerospace engineer... the only one I've seen on prime time TV. There was one episode which pitted Mr. (pencil pusher) Douglas's son and another boy whose father was a fireman for the more meaningful...

What it's all about.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... One of my television favorites was MacGyver, who I considered to be an engineer of sorts. I was always fascinated by his ability to make something useful out of common everyday items, and usually just in time to save himself and others from...

Think way back.(Reader's Forum)
November 1, 2003... Searching my nearly extinct memory from childhood, Brian Keith in Family Affair was an engineer designing skyscrapers in New York City. Engineers, I believe, had their finest prime time hour during the space race. As a child, hearing that the...

2004 Spring Conference and annual meeting.(NFPA News)
November 1, 2003... The National Fluid Power Association holds two members-only conferences each year to provide educational and networking opportunities for its members. Plans are already underway for the 2004 Spring Conference, scheduled for February 5-8, 2004,...

Parker uses humor in series of TV spots.(Industry News)
November 1, 2003... Cleveland-based Parker Hannifin Corp. has unveiled a series of cable TV ads, with the theme, Engineers See the World Differently. The ads are a humorous nod to engineers as enablers of innovation, with three 30-second spots that point out how...

Anniversaries.(Industry News)
November 1, 2003... The Lubrizol Corp., Wickliffe, Ohio, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The company was founded in 1928 as The Graphite Oil Products Co., and worked on improving automobile performance through additive enhancements. Today, one-third of...

Fluid power conference.(Industry News)
November 1, 2003... The International Conference on Computational Methods in Fluid Power Technology will be Nov. 26-28 in Melbourne, Australia. The conference is sponsored by engineering organizations like SAE, JFPS, FPS, NFPA, and co-organized with Fluid Power...

ICUEE deemed a success.(Industry News)
November 1, 2003... More than 14,000 attended the 2003 International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) held in September at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. Almost 800 exhibitors used 1.1. million sq ft of exhibit space to...

Study shows purchasing trends.(Industry News)
November 1, 2003... The National Fluid Power Assn. and Penton Media, the parent company of this magazine, recently teamed up to survey design engineers and distributors, to determine purchasing trends. The results showed that design engineers feel the...

Seal Science Inc.(People)
November 1, 2003... Tudor Hotnog has been appointed chief engineer at Seal Science Inc. Irvine, Calif. Hotnog will be responsible for expanding Seal Science's position in the aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor, and medical industries. The company...

Trelleborg acquires seal business.(Industry News)
November 1, 2003... Trelleborg, based in Sweden, acquired Smiths precision seal business, comprised of several companies operating under the umbrella of Polymer Sealing Solutions group. PSS develops, manufactures, and markets security-critical, polymer-based...

Industry shipments & order statistics.
November 1, 2003... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Orders and shipments (Cumulative year-to-date percent changes) Pneumatic Industrial Hydraulic Mobile Hydraulic Month Shipments Orders Shipments Orders Shipments Orders Feb. 03...

50 years ago ... From the November 1953 issue of applied hydraulics (the original title of H&P).(Industry News)
November 1, 2003... One valve replaces six A new pump control valve used in the Super Constellation hydraulic system cuts weight, cost, and maintenance. Late-model Super Constellations are equipped with four pump control valves--one per pump. Use of this...

Panama Canal gets protection from water.(Ideas & Applications)
November 1, 2003... The Panama Canal has served as a 50-mile passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans since 1914. A ship saves 7,872 miles over traveling around the tip of South America. Nearly 40 ships pass through the canal every day, with passage fees...

New in-cylinder sensor serves off-highway equipment.(Ideas & Applications)
November 1, 2003... Expanding its line of Temposonics position sensors, MTS Sensors Corp., Cary, N.C., introduced its MH magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer, designed specifically for application in hydraulic cylinders used in mobile equipment. ...

Over 400 Army cranes shipped.(Ideas & Applications)
November 1, 2003... Earlier this year, the 400th Grove AT422T all-terrain crane was shipped under a contract with the U.S. Army Tank, Automotive, and Armaments Command. The cranes (pictured above) are used worldwide by the Army, National Guard, and Army Reserves....

Two-speed motors make sprayer more productive.(Ideas & Applications)
November 1, 2003... Farmers are constantly looking for ways to increase crop yield and the productivity of their equipment. For post-emerge row crop spraying equipment, this means the ability to travel at higher speeds between fields and to go longer between tank...

Hydraulics at a theater near you.(Ideas & Applications)
November 1, 2003... If you missed our behind-the-scenes coverage of the hydraulics and controls used in special effects for Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe, you can catch it all on Fluid Power Web. Just go to www.fpweb.com,...

Get in position.(Sensor Tips)
November 1, 2003... A new position sensors catalog from IFM Efector Inc., Exton, Pa., features more than 800 sensors and control products. Products include inductive and capacitive proximity, actuator, photoelectric, and optical evaluation sensors; background...

Speedy vision sensor.(Sensor Tips)
November 1, 2003... A vision sensor from Omron Electronics LLC, Schaumburg, Ill., combines image acquisition as fast as 1.4 msec with advanced measurement algorithms for fast measurement and inspection. The F210 sensor can perform measurement cycles as fast as 3...

Bridging the gap.(Sensor Tips)
November 1, 2003... New incremental encoders from Avtron Mfg. Inc., Independence, Ohio, incorporate Wide-Gap sensor technology, which is said to provide a 57% larger operating gap between the magnetoresistive sensor and rotor and 50% increase in air-gap tolerance...

Revelations of frequency response.(Motion Control)
November 1, 2003... Frequency response offers a convenient way to measure the speed of response of a valve, pump, amplifier, or just about anything that can be tested. The simple interpretation is that the higher the frequency response, the faster the device being...

Electrohydraulic servo and proportional systems.
November 1, 2003... Designer's Handbook for Electrohydraulic Servo and Proportional Systems covers electrohydraulic system design, control, and analysis by teaching principles and reviewing practical problems from the real world instead of endlessly discussing...

Machine self-adjusts to container sizes: the French company Siraga designs and builds customized filling installations for gas cylinders. A circular conveyor relies on pneumatics to get the job done quickly and safely.(Pneumatic Systems)
November 1, 2003... Gas cylinders have become a staple of recreation. And whether you use them in your gas grill, camper, or boat, eventually, they'll have to be refilled. One solution is to take your empties to your neighborhood dealer, who will refill them...

Cylinder sensor mounts in slot.(Pneumatic Systems)
November 1, 2003... The MZ T6 magnetic cylinder sensor from SICK, Minneapolis, offers high immunity to vibration and comes with a variety of mounting brackets--making it suitable for all common T-slot cylinders. The mounting versatility saves time because the...

Manifold system overcomes limitations.(Pneumatic Systems)
November 1, 2003... Mead Fluid Dynamics Inc., Chicago, has pioneered a new valve design, the Isonic Mod3 manifold, that overcomes many of the limitations of conventional valves. Its design minimizes valve size, reduces air turbulence, and lowers costs. ...

New position feedback cylinders.(Pneumatic Systems)
November 1, 2003... Series PFA pneumatic linear actuators by Fabco-Air Inc., Gainesville, Fla., contain internal linear resistive transducers (LRTs) for accurate piston position sensing. LRTs are ideal for applications where conventional magnetic position sensing...

Membrane dryer.(Products & Lit)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Length: 44 in. FEATURES * Removes dirt, water, oil, water vapors * Two-stage compressed air filter * Antivibration hose * Easy to install [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] La-Man Corp. (800) 348-2463 ...

Linear actuators.(Products & Lit)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Stroke length: 1/2 to 24 in. Bore diameter: 1/2 to 1 1/2 in. FEATURES * Internal piston; no cylinder * 4 non-lube, low-friction guide shaft bearings * Hardened, ground guide shafts for added rigidity ...

Filter regulators.(Products & Lit)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Efficiency: 99.99% at 0.01 [mu]m Port size: 3/8 to 3/4 in. FEATURES * Extends life of pneumatic components * Includes automatic float drains, gauges * Captures rust, pipescale particles * Removes oil, water...

Light-duty lifter.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Stroke length: 50, 80, 100, 125, 160, 200 mm FEATURES * Powered by ISO/VDMA cylinder * Adjustable cushions reduce shock * Magnetic piston for proximity switches * Self-lubricating, energy-absorbing bearings ...

Modular end effectors.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Maximum load: 5 lb FEATURES * Made of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy * End-mount cantilever style or mid-mount * Manual or automatic tool changers * Easily reconfigured * Optional quick-disconnect air ports ...

Subminiature pressure switch.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Pressure limit: 500 psi Temp range: -40[degrees] to 250[degrees] F FEATURES * Compatible with liquids and gases * Repeatability of [+ or -]5% of highest set point * SPST switch * Available with spade...

Pneumatic swing cylinder clamps.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Clamping force: 20 to 160 lb Operating temperature: -40[degrees] to 250[degrees] F FEATURES * Simultaneous 90[degrees] swing and stroke reduce cycle time * Sensors use low-voltage Hall-effect switch * Screws...

Air hose.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Inside diameter: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 in. Length: 50, 100, 500 ft Operating temperature: to 175[degrees] F FEATURES * Double-twisted polyester braid, PVC material * Available in red, yellow, fluorescent orange, dark...

Valve terminals.
November 1, 2003... SPECS Pressure: 0.9 to 8.0 bar Power supply: 24 Vdc Flow rate: 0.15 Cv FEATURES * Miniaturized smart cubes * Plate or sub-base mounted * High flow/size ratio * Fieldbus available in future [ILLUSTRATION...

Air preparation unit.
November 1, 2003... SPECS Flow rate: 35,000 lpm Pressure: to 17.5 bar FEATURES * Regulator features electronic pilot control or integrated pilot valve * Filter-water-separator equipped with automatic drain valve * Contamination...

Constant flow valves.
November 1, 2003... SPECS Size: 1/2 to 4 in. Accuracy: [+ or -]6% of full scale FEATURES * Maintain constant flow even if differential pressure is altered * Corrosion-resistant stainless steel springs * For vertical, horizontal...

Stainless bar.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... Brochure details full line of stainless bar in round, square, hex, flat, and angle. Also lists worldwide locations and Web site. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Marmon/Keystone Corp. 264

Push-in fittings.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... Brochure provides specifications, sizes, how-to-order information, flow characteristics, dimensions of plastic tube push-in fittings and flow control valves. Fittings include elbow, branch tee, run tee, straight union, manifold union, plug,...

Pneumatic, electropneumatic controls.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... Foldout brochure provides specifications, performance data on a variety of IP/EP transducers, pressure regulators, filter regulators, volume boosters, air relays, motorized regulators, diaphragm air cylinders. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Air-actuated angle-seat valves.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... Twelve pages include cross-section diagrams and dimensions for 2-way, air-actuated angle seat valve line. Includes overviews for Series 84510, 84530, 82190, 82290, 82390, 82490 valves, as well as high-temp valve, polymer actuator head...

Air valves, shift cylinders.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... Sixteen-page brochure spotlights DAV air control and pressure-protection valves and pneumatic joysticks. It provides typical application photos, as well as information on shift cylinders, custom consoles, pedestals, and accessories. ...

Modular valve system.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... Large catalog highlights Moduflex valve islands and standalone valves. Sections cover basic valve features, ordering guide, and technical information. The manual section explains the evolution of valve design and defines the principles of...

Valve catalog.(Products & Literature)
November 1, 2003... This 126-page catalog highlights a variety of solenoid valves. The 820 Series NC 2/2 type offers flow rates to 180 ft/min with feeding pressure from 9 to 8 bar. Controlling the valve through either PM or PFM provides a proportional flow rate....

Vacuum pumps.
November 1, 2003... SPECS Vacuum: to 27 in. Hg from 45 psi inlet pressure Size: 0.65-in. wide Weight: 3 oz FEATURES * No moving parts * Mounting rail handles up to four pumps * Noise level: 66 dBA * No lubrication * No...

Quick fittings.
November 1, 2003... SPECS Size: 5/32, 1/4, 3/8 in., 6 mm FEATURES * Easy tube insertion * For flexible hose, stiff tubing * Preapplied sealant on pipe threads * Allow full flow [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clippard Instrument...

Air motors.
November 1, 2003... SPECS Air supply: to 100 psi Control: integral rotary valve FEATURES * Three pistons drive outlet shaft * No lubication needed * Instant start/stop * For harsh or hazardous environments [ILLUSTRATION...

A few good components: when the military calls, hydraulics must be in top shape, ready to deal with challenging conditions ranging from sandstorms to artillery fire.(Military Applications)
November 1, 2003... Today's military aircraft place greater demands on system hydraulics than have been seen on previous-generation aircraft. The operating environments are more severe, performance requirements more demanding, and reliability and maintainability...

Everything you need to know about hydraulic hose: hydraulic hose provides a basic means for transporting fluid from one component to another. At the same time, it supplies an inherent versatility to designers.(Components)
November 1, 2003... To say that hose is an important part of a hydraulic system is a huge understatement. The flexibility of hose enables components to be positioned in the most efficient or convenient places, because the hose has the ability to bend around...

HPU drives down energy costs; controlling a hydraulic power unit's motor electrically--instead of its pump mechanically--produces a host of benefits.(Energy Efficiency)
November 1, 2003... Hydraulic systems have traditionally suffered from a near-universal shortcoming: low energy efficiency. And in most cases, the primary source of the problem can be traced directly the operation of conventional pump-motor combinations. The...

A distributor's perspective.(Energy Efficiency)
November 1, 2003... Berendsen Fluid Power is one of the most recent industrial distributors to add Unigy to its product line. "Unigy has great potential, thus our interest in it," explains Berendsen's Tony Foster. "It's different from any other product on the...

Slip rings go digital; transmit power and digital data through rotary connections without compromising performance.(Electronics)
November 1, 2003... As the analog world gives way to the digital in more applications, integrators face replacing traditional analog components with digital equivalents. Nowhere is this more evident than in the electromechanical world. Digital encoders are...

Give contaminants the boot; Extend the life of cylinder rods, seals, and other components by protecting them from abrasive, corrosive, and downright dirty environments.(System Cleanliness)
November 1, 2003... When dirt, grit, metal chips, scale, and other substances impinge on exposed hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder rods, these contaminants not only shorten the life of the seals, but often can damage the rods themselves. For almost all applications...

Analog position sensor.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Length: 95 mm FEATURES * Sealed to IP67 standard * Resistant to shock, vibration, moisture, common contaminants * Magnetoinductive technology provides non-contact continuous positioning information ...

Reservoir breathers.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Filtration: 40 micron Flow: to 20 cfm Size: 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1 NPT FEATURES * Custom dipstick indicates fluid level * High-temp plastic * Baffle and filter design [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Filtration...

Plug adapter kits.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Size: 1/8 to 3 in. male and female NPT threads Pressure: to 3,600 psi FEATURES * Seals automatically when system is pressurized * Available in female-to-female and male-to-male threads [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Valve programmers.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Operating temp: -40[degrees] to 185[degrees] F Connection: 4-pin Deutsch DT (programmer to controller) FEATURES * Digital controls and memory * IP68 thermoplastic housing * Membrane keypad * Withstand harsh...

Protective hose sleeves.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... FEATURES * Made of woven textile * Abrasion resistant to 50,000 cycles * MSHA approval IC-07/01 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pirtek USA (321) 504-4422 www.pirtekusa.com Circle 284

Relief valves.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Pressure: to 5,000 psi Flow rate: 106 gpm FEATURES * On-board ramp adjustment * Integral amplifier * Uses voltage or current command * Pressure limit is manually adjustable, lockable [ILLUSTRATION...

Hydraulic directional valves.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Pressure: to 5,000 psi Flow rate: to 45 gpm FEATURES * Three-, four-way circuit configurations * Spring-centered * Meter-in, meter-out control * Symmetrical spool [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HydraForce...

Particle counters.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Sensitivity: 0.2 [mu]m Flow rate: 0.1 cfm FEATURES * Easy-to-read display * View six particle sizes simultaneously * Removable lithium ion battery for external charging * User-friendly interface ...

CANlink modules.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... FEATURES * Interfaces joystick control and machine valves, solenoids, etc. * Aluminum NEMA-4 case * Deutsch DT connectors * Slave or standalone setup * 6 inputs, 7 outputs [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HED Inc. ...

Position sensors.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Range: 2 to 100 in. FEATURES * Spring-loaded cable reel * Precision potentiometer * For OEM applications * Customized mouting, electrical connections [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Celesco Transducer Products...

Gear pumps.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... FEATURES * Cast-iron cover and flange on GHP * Aluminum body, cover, flange on ALP * Withstands extreme operating pressure * New gear, bushing design for quiet operation [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Marzocchi Pumps USA ...

Junior valves.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Diameter: 0.8 in. Weight: Flow: 0.050 [C.sub.v] FEATURES * 2-, 3-way configurations * Brass or stainless-steel body * 0.65W coil * For miniature applications [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Norgren,...

Check valves.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Size: 1/8 to 2 in. Pressure: to 10,000 psig FEATURES * For gases, liquids * Variety of connections * Zero leakage * Cracking pressure: 0.5 to 8 psig [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle Seal Controls...

Force indicator.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Power supply: 9-V battery Range: to 10,000 lb Diameter: 3.7 in. FEATURES * Zero offset/tare * Selectable engineering units * CE compliant * 0.2% repeatability * Optional handles [ILLUSTRATION...

Thread protectors.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Thread size: 3/8-24 to 1 7/8-12 Tubing size: 3/16 to 1 1/2 in. Cap height: 0.47 to 1 in. FEATURES * Protect straight threads on studs, fittings * Push or thread cap on fitting * Standard orange color *...

Line filters.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Flow: to 60 gpm Pressure: to 100 psi FEATURES * Compatible with lube, gear oils * 25 psi bypass valves * 1/8-in. NPT gauge ports * Variety of NPT, SAE connections Vescor Corp. (847) 742-7270 ...

Cartridges.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Flow: to 5,000 l/min Pressure: to 350 bar ISO sizes: 16, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63, 80 FEATURES * Pressure, flow, directional controls * On-off, proportional execution * Provides internal hydraulic piloting ...

Servovalves.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Pressure: to 5,000 psi Flow rate: to 10 gpm FEATURES * NFPA standard D03 footprint * Operates on [+ or -]10 V or 4-20 mA signal * 12 [mu]sec maximum response time * Neutral fail-safe position ...

Hydraulic check valves.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... SPECS Size: 02 to 48 Pressure: 3 to 90 psi FEATURES * Available in slip-in type, S.A.E. threaded * Seats provide positive fluid shutoff * Hardened, lapped discs * Made of Buna-N or Viton Inserta Products...

Soft caps.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... FEATURES * Textured, nonslip surface * Matte finish * Many colors * Variety of sizes, lengths, diameters * Weather, chemical resistant [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] StockCap (800) 797-7876 www.stockcap.com ...