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How Does a Basic Hydraulic System Work?

Hydraulic systems are used to supply power by using a compressed fluid to transfer force in a wide variety of industrial applications. They are found in farm machinery, automobile assembly jigs, coal mining equipment, earth movers, textile machines, and in hundreds of other end use applications. As ubiquitous as hydraulics in Dawson Creek are in the world around us, few people are familiar with how exactly a hydraulic system works. Hydraulic Systems and Pascal's Law.


All hydraulic systems, from the most basic to the most complex, work according to Pascal's Principle. This is a principle in fluid mechanics which states that any pressure exerted on a confined, incompressible fluid (which is almost always oil) will be distributed equally throughout the fluid. This allows for force to be transferred from one end of the system to another.



The Two-Piston Hydraulic System


The most basic type of system using hydraulics in Dawson Creek is a simple, two-piston hydraulic system. As the name describes, this system comprises of two pistons connected via a pipe or hose holding an incompressible fluid. When force is applied to one of the pistons, the fluid causes the other piston to move. Because the fluid is incompressible, almost none of the force is lost. This results in a highly efficient system.


If both pistons are the same size, then the second piston will move the same distance as the first. However, this is not the case for pistons of different sizes. For example, in order for a smaller piston to drive a larger piston, the smaller of the two will need to move farther. If the larger piston has an area that is 10 times greater than the smaller, then the smaller piston will need to move 10 cm in order to move the larger piston just 1 cm.



Hydraulic System Components


Hydraulic systems are made up of the following basic components:


  • The hydraulic fluid, which is the medium of power transfer in the system.

  • The hydraulic reservoir, which stores the hydraulic fluid

  • The hydraulic pump, which transfers the fluid from the reservoir and into the system

  • The hydraulic cylinder, which converts the fluid pressure into mechanical force via the movement of the pistons

  • The hydraulic hose, which connects the two cylinders. The hose can be any length or shape needed to connect the cylinders


Industrial Hydraulics in Dawson Creek


Though they follow all of the same basic principles, today's industrial hydraulics in Dawson Creek are, of course, more complex than the simple systems they are based on. At Northern Metalic Sales Ltd., we repair and replace hydraulic hoses and fittings since it is important to keep any industrial environment or piece of heavy machinery running smoothly, including hoses, fittings, bands, and cylinders. We have been a trusted supplier of consumables and industrial tools for the agriculture, forestry and oil and gas industries since 1956.


For hydraulics repair and replacement in Dawson Creek that you can rely on, don't hesitate to contact Northern Metalic Sales Ltd. today

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