Hydraulics & Pneumatics articles from October 2008

Hydraulics & Pneumatics archives from October 2008

Reduce energy needs with accumulators: hydraulic circuit designers in-the-know incorporate hydropneumatic accumulators into their systems to reduce cost and save energy.(DESIGN FOR EFFICIENCY)
October 1, 2008... In the past, low-cost energy, plus a desire to keep the design as simple as possible, meant few accumulators were incorporated into initial system designs. Designers of die casting and injection molding machines were exceptions to this rule....

An ideal hydraulic fluid? Impossible!(Editor's Page)
October 1, 2008... Okay, I realize that impossible is a strong word. So let's just say that with today's technology, and that of the foreseeable future, developing an ideal hydraulic fluid is impossible. Why? Because many properties of a hydraulic fluid are...

Last chance for fluid power education in Dallas.(Fluid Power: conference & expo)
October 1, 2008... Our fourth bi-annual Fluid Power Conference & Expo will be held at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel near Dallas on October 28th and 29th. The event will feature more than 20 educational conference sessions, and exhibits from companies...

Hydraulics helps conquer Old Man Winter.(Ideas & Applications)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Those of us who live in northern climates don't need to be reminded that we could see our first substantial snowfall within the next few weeks. But even if you live far enough south to escape an annual deluge of the...

DVD series launches new era in fluid power safety.(Ideas & Applications)
October 1, 2008... The Fluid Power Safety Institute, West Valley City, Utah, has released the first in a series of DVDs aimed at hydraulic safety. According to Rory S. McLaren, FPSI's founder and director, hydraulic safety cannot be ignored while accidents...

Single valve replaces two and improves safety.
October 1, 2008... Manufacturers of packaging equipment provide a system of guards to limit access to potentially dangerous work areas of a machine. Where periodic access is required, doors made of clear, high-strength plastic with safety interlocks cut off...

Myth #8: Cylinders stop because the valve shuts off flow.(Motion Control)
October 1, 2008... Like so many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding hydraulic fluid power, the idea that valves are used to turn on and shut off flow is widespread. But, alas, in many cases it is wrong. The reason is simple: In spool valves, a physical...

New seals mean more-robust cylinders: advanced designs and materials help meet tomorrow's sealing challenges.(LEAKAGE PREVENTION)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Extreme temperatures and fluid incompatibility often create problems for hydraulic cylinder seals, and the challenges aren't getting any easier. New materials and designs are necessary to meet increasingly stringent...

Motion Industries acquires industrial supplier.(Industry News)
October 1, 2008... Motion Industries, Birmingham, Ala., acquired Drago Supply Co., a regional industrial supplies company, headquartered in Port Arthur, Texas. Drago has eight locations in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Joe Drago, president; Philip Drago,...

Racine Federated acquires RFI Europe, appoints new leadership.(Industry News)
October 1, 2008... Racine Federated Inc., Racine, Wis., (RFI), has acquired Premier Control Technologies, which has been a European distributor for nearly 10 years. The acquisition provides RFI with a solid foundation for European sales, service, and support for...

PackExpo International kicks off in Chicago.(Industry News)
October 1, 2008... Nearly 40 fluid power companies will participate in PackExpo International 2008, November 9-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago. In addition to these industry leaders, several North American trade groups and key associations from Argentina,...

Flow controls time air cylinders.(50 years ago ...)
October 1, 2008... One 4-way valve controls four cylinders on a machine that packs whipped cream, chocolate syrup, bug killer, and other products in pressurized cans. Rather than load their machine with complicated valving, designers at LeMay Machine, St. Louis,...

Direct-acting solenoid valves.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... Model HKL5 direct-acting solenoid valve offers 0.05 CV flow rate, 1.8 W power consumption, vacuum to 30 psig pressure rating, and 32[degrees] to 175[degrees]F working temperature range. Porting configurations allow it to be used as a 2-way or...

Digital gauges.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Digital pressure gauges feature a backlit LCD, selectable engineering units, and min/max recall to simplify measurements. Commercial type D1005PS is a 2 1/2-in. gauge with [+ or -] 0.5% FS accuracy. Industrial types...

Hydraulic dampers.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... Line of maintenance-free, self-contained hydraulic dampers feature body diameters ranging from 15 to 40 mm with stroke lengths to 800 mm. They feature single or double acting designs. Travel speed can be easily adjusted and remains constant...

Balancing differential gauge.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Balancing kit is used for accurate pressure balancing of air systems and other applications where pressure matching is desired. Gauge is a zero-center model, and is available in several standard ranges from 1-0-1 to...

Energy-efficient valves.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... EnergySaver 5/2 single and double-solenoid pilot valves help conserve compressed air energy. They supply full pressure to move the load but reduce retraction pressure by 30%. Spool-and-sleeve design works as responsively as a pressure regulator...

Linear position sensors.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... LP 750 linear position sensors have a 3/4-in. diameter and are hermetically sealed to serve as long-life replacements for potentiometers. They are available in standard ranges of 4 to 25 in. and come with a pre-calibrated, loop-powered 4-20...

Shuttle valves.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New 1SH36 in-line, ball-type shuttle valves exhibit high flow characteristics that minimize the response time of the components they feed. They sense higher pressure between two lines on a hydraulic circuit, allowing...

Retaining system.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... Lockstack D03 retaining system includes stacking fasteners that eliminate the need to size and cut thread stock for D03 sandwich stack assemblies. It also includes a novel isolation retainer that engages the fastener heads to resist loosening...

Pressure transducer.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... Model FT260 miniature pressure transducer's all-welded, stainless-steel design features a flush diaphragm that introduces zero dead volume to the fixturing to resist accumulation of residue. It is environmentally sealed and performs over a...

Cable-extension transducers.(Useful Products)
October 1, 2008... SR1A-125 cable-extension transducers provide position feedback in wet and outdoor environments. They have a 500K OHM pot or voltage divider output and offer 125-in. measurement range. Mounting bracket provides multiple cable exit direction...

A quicker build for quick fills: innovative pneumatics solution helps reduce average build time of aerosol filling systems by 30%.(AUTOMATE WITH AIR)(Cover story)(Company overview)
October 1, 2008... [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Oystar Aerofill, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, UK, is a leading manufacturer of aerosol filling and closing equipment. Company officials were looking for ways to substantially reduce the amount of time it takes to assemble...

Are you taking advantage of sequence valves? Sequence valves can add functionality to your circuits. If you're not using them, you may not know what you're missing.(DESIGN BASICS)
October 1, 2008... Sequence valves can improve the operation, efficiency, performance, and safety of fluid power circuits in which they are used. Sequence valves are normally closed and usually allow bidirectional flow when equipped with a bypass check valve....

Easily establish position with pneumatics: pneumatically-driven controlling and measuring system checks most critical aspects of an object during supply and processing.(TECH PNEUS)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bosch Rexroth Corp., Lexington, Ky., has expanded the functionality of its pneumatically-driven MS01 controlling and measuring system. This system checks the presence, position, shape, and dimension of test objects...