Introduction to Basic Hydraulics

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Introduction to Basic Hydraulics Experiment 1-1
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How to Use this Workbook
The workbook is broken down into 3 Units and 19
experiments, each experiment having one or more
parts.
Each experiment has objectives that should be
read prior to reading and performing the
experiment.
At the end of each experiment section there will
be questions in the section called check out
activities and these should be completed
following the experiment.
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How to Perform the Experiments
Students will work in groups of 2 or 3.
Each person in each group should take turns in
reading directions, building circuits, and
recording information as the experiment proceeds.
Prior to performing the experiment, each student
should read the background information section,
including the objectives, and read through the
experiment to be familiar with it which will
ensure success.
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Introduction to Basic Hydraulics
Objectives
1. Describe the operation of a basic hydraulic
system
2. Explain where and why Hydraulics is used in
industry.
3. Describe the operation of components used in a
basic hydraulic system.
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What is Fluid Power?
Fluid power is the engineering science and
technology that deal with the generation of,
control, and transmission of energy through the
use of pressurized fluids. Fluid power is quite
literally the brute force behind industry
because it is used to push, pull, drive, and
regulate virtually all machines used in industry.
Fluid power is used in the steering, brake
system, and automatic transmissions of cars and
trucks. In addition to the automotive industry,
fluid power is used to control airplanes and
spacecraft, harvest crops, mine coal, drive
machine tools, and process food. Since fluids
exist as either a liquid or a gas, fluid power is
a term used to describe both hydraulics and
pneumatics.
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Advantages of Fluid Power
1. Very Accurate.
2. Power
3. Cost effective.
4. Multi-Speed Capable
5. Multi-Motion Capable
6. Unlimited Conductive Geometry
7. Can be stalled out
8. Compact
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Basic Hydraulic System
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Basic Hydraulic System
1. Reservoir
2. Pump
3. Electric Motor (prime mover)
4. Valves
5. Conductors (pipe, tubing, and hose)
6. Actuators
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Basic Pneumatic System
1. Receiver
2. Compressor
3. Electric Motor (prime mover)
4. Valves
5. Conductors (pipe, tubing, and hose)
6. Actuators
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Schematic Symbols
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Check Out Activities
1. What are the two types of fluid power systems?
2. How is energy transmitted in a fluid power
system?
3. Name the most common form of energy generated
(used) by power plants. Why?
4. What does a hydraulic system do? (What is its
purpose?)

5. Name two advantages a hydraulic system has
when compared to a pneumatic system.
6. Name six advantages a hydraulic system has
when compared to an electric system.
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Check Out Activities

• 7. Which method or methods of control would you
  consider best for the following machine
  applications? (Hydraulic, Pneumatic, Electric)
• Machine Press generating
  _______________
• 40,000 RPM drill used in dentists
  _______________
• Constant speed conveyor.
  _______________
• D. Operating airplane steering.
  _______________

8. Name two kinds of hydraulic actuators and
describe the type of motion each produces.
9. What type of device is most often used in an
industrial application to drive the pump of a
hydraulic system?
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Check Out Activities
10. Maximum fluid pressure is one of three
quantities controlled in a hydraulic system. A
relief valve is used to do this. Name two other
quantities that are controlled in a hydraulic
system and the device that controls each.
11. What do you think would happen to the
hydraulic system if the cylinder or motor
encountered a load it could not move? Would this
be harmful?
12. What component holds excess oil?
13. What interconnects the components in a
hydraulic system?
14. How is electrical power converted into
hydraulic power?
15. Describe the operation of a basic hydraulic
system.