Hydraulics are used in everything from brakes through to a Hydraulic Power Pack from places like https://www.hydraproducts.co.uk/Hydraulic-Power-Units/Standard-Power-Units that can control a number of different equipment pieces. But how do hydraulics actually work?
Hydraulics work by using fluid as a material to build up pressure in a system. This pressure is then turned into a force that can be used in pieces of mechanical equipment. The fluid is put under a small amount of pressure and a large pressure level is then created.
The systems work on the principle of Pascal’s Law which explains that when a fluid has pressure applied to it in a contained space the pressure that travels through the fluid will be confined by the edges of the space and will then provide a bigger force to build up inside the space. Hydraulics use pipes and other containers as the confined area for the fluid to be placed in.
There are a number of parts that are common inside all hydraulic systems and these are:
The reservoir – this is where the fluid is kept.
The pump – this is where the energy is moved into the hydraulic system. This is achieved by moving the fluid around in the reservoir.
Valves – these valves are what allow the fluid to move in the system and what stop the fluid from flowing when the machine is no longer in use.
Actuators – these are what turn the energy created from the hydraulic fluid and turn it into mechanical energy that can then be used to control the piece of equipment.