Introduces basic hydraulic principles, laws, components, and symbols. Topics include: safety; the use of tools; and procedures in the design, building, testing, troubleshooting, and repair of industrial hydraulic systems. Includes demonstrations and extensive laboratory activities.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- History of Fluid Power.
- Basic Relationships of Fluid Power.
- Fluid Power Circuits/systems.
- Actuators – Characteristics, Appplications, and Nomenclature.
- Common Failures of Actuators.
- Hydraulic Fluid – Properties, Laws, and Characteristics.
- Viscosity.
- Viscosity Index.
- Pour Point.
- Common Failures of Fluid.
- Fluid Conditioning and Contamination Control.
- Filtration/Strainer Considerations.
- Fluid Distribution.
- Rigid, Semi-rigid, and Flexible Conductors.
- Connector Characteristics and Considerations.
- Mounting Considerations.
- Common Failures of Conductors.
- Pascal’s Law.
- Bernoulli’s Law.
- Force/Pressure/Area/Velocity relationships to hydraulic systems.
- Hydraulic Pumps – Construction, Application, Nomenclature, and Common Failures.
- Principles and Theories of Hydraulic Pumps.
- Pump Displacement, Delivery, and RPM.
- Common Failures of Pumps.
- Control and Safety Ciderations of Hydraulic Systems.
- Flow Control.
- Speed Control.
- Pressure Control.
- Valves - Nomenclature, Applications, and Construction.
- Common Troubles of Hydraulic Systems.
- Component Symbols.
- Circuit Diagrams.
- Preventative Maintenance Recommendations.
As a result of this course the student will be able to:
1. Describe the history of hydraulics.
2. Analyze the elements of a hydraulic circuits.
3. Define Force, Pressure and Area, and explain the relationships of each.
4. Explain Pascal’s and Bernoulli’s Laws, and how they affect the hydraulic system.
5. Analyze various actuators used in hydraulics and identify their characteristics.
6. Trouble-shoot various actuators by dismantling and identifying the various components.
7. Describe the characteristics of fluid as it relates to hydraulics.
8. Contrast various fluids and their characteristics.
9. Describe the conductors used in the hydraulic industry and explain the related nomenclature.
10. Explain various types of pumps used in hydraulics and their characteristics.
11. Identify the contamination and contamination control requirements involved in a hydraulic system.
12. Determine and analyze force, pressure, area, and velocity within a hydraulic circuit.
Assessment and Requirements
- Unit and chapter tests given throughout the semester.
- Analytical laboratory activities and performance exercises in which students demonstrate an understanding of assigned components and/or systems.
- Technical documentation of data and results obtained from the hands-on activities.
- Final exam in which common questions are asked covering the units and topics presented throughout the semester.