This article can be downloaded by clicking the link here A bladder accumulator consists of a seamless cylindrical pressure vessel (shell), internal elastomeric bladder, poppet valve, fluid (oil) port, charging valve, and clamps and brackets. A schematic diagram of a bladder accumulator is shown in the figure below and the basic constructional features and specification […]

Mounting Configurations of 4-port Hydraulic Directional Control Valves

[This is an extract of the article on ‘Mounting Configurations of 4-port Hydraulic Directional Control Valves’ authored by Joji Parambath. Full article can be downloaded by clicking the link here] Table 1 presents the size designations, port sizes, and nominal flow rates for different sizes of 4-port hydraulic directional control valves according to the DIN […]

Constructional Features of Hydraulic Cylinders

Hydraulic cylinders are designed to operate at high pressures and handle high loads in demanding operating conditions. Therefore, they need to be constructed with materials of high strength, expert workmanship, and advanced features to provide ruggedness, high quality, maintenance-free operation, and long service life. Some of the features of cylinder construction are presented below to […]

Side Loads in Hydraulic Cylinders

A long-stroke hydraulic cylinder often experiences significant side-load forces while in operation, especially when it is fully extended. The side load in the cylinder is the force component that acts laterally across the axis of its bearings, piston-rod seals, or piston. Many reasons can be attributed to the development of side loads on the cylinder. […]

Troubleshooting Chart for Hydraulic Pumps

The preventive maintenance is carried out on hydraulic systems to keep them in a perfect working condition at all times. However, faults or breakdowns do occur in hydraulic systems, which have to be traced and corrected with minimum delay and expense. Table below gives pump malfunctions and their potential causes and rectification. Disturbances Possible causes […]

Tips for Safe Hydraulic Operation

Some essential precautions necessary for the safe operation of hydraulic systems are enlisted below: Design and build hydraulic systems with safety in mind, Select hydraulic components and fluid conductors that are rated for the highest system working pressure, Position valves, safety guards, and controls with the operator’s safety in mind, Know the hazards involved in […]

Troubleshooting Chart for Hydraulic Cylinders

Most of the hydraulic system failures are similar. That is there is a sudden or gradual loss of pressure or flow. Consequently, cylinders and motors in these systems may stop working. Any of the system components can be at fault. Possible causes of hydraulic cylinder faults and their rectification are highlighted below: Possible causes Rectification […]

Safety in Hydraulic Systems

Any hydraulic system is inherently dangerous, as an enormous amount of energy is transmitted through the high-pressure system. There are many hazards associated with hydraulic systems. The safety of personnel must be ensured while they are operating and maintaining hydraulic systems. Every operator of hydraulic systems has the right to know the hazards of his/her […]

Two-hand Safety with Anti-tie-down Feature – The Ladder Program

In two-hand safety operations in dangerous industrial operations, such as a pneumatic press, the hands of an operator must be engaged for safety reasons. This condition is usually achieved by arranging two pushbuttons (Say, PB1 and PB2) arranged at a distance. That means, the operator cannot press the pushbuttons with one hand. At times, there […]

Troubleshooting Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)

A PLC system is usually designed with LEDs on the CPU, power supply, and I/O modules for fault diagnosis. It is usually provided with built-in fault analysis measures to carry out self-testing and display fault codes, which can then be interpreted by looking up the code in a list provided by the manufacturer to give […]