MD_Fluid Power Monthly_: On the road to recovery

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The latest information on hydraulic and pneumatic motion control.

February 1, 2010

Positive signs

Welcome to the February edition of Fluid Power Monthly! As President Obama noted in last week’s State of the Union address, the worst of the economic downturn is past and there are indications of continuing growth. We see encouraging signs, too, with our article below about the fluid power market's slow, but positive recovery. As you'll read, energy efficiency tops the list of areas where the market will trend upward. You can also read part two of an article about pressure compensated flow control, part one of which was featured in your December issue; how pneumatics keeps the medical industry moving; and a special feature from the archives highlighting a hydraulic winch design used in 1997 to aid in elephant surgery.

Speaking of energy efficiency, one of the world’s foremost fluid-power technical conferences, the 7th International Fluid Power Conference will be held in Aachen, Germany on March 22-24. The theme will be “Efficiency through Fluid Power” with topics focusing both on energy efficiency and recovery in mobile and industrial hydraulics and pneumatics. It draws a worldwide audience, and presentations will be in English and German with simultaneous translation.

Closer to home, don't miss a great educational opportunity for fluid power engineers on April 6-7. Our Fluid Power Conference & Expo features educational fluid power technology sessions, as well as exhibits from companies that supply components, systems and related products to fluid power designers, maintenance personnel and end-users. If you are involved with fluid power systems, both hydraulic and pneumatic, this is your chance to be among the top engineers and technicians who will travel to Cleveland to attend this exciting industry event. Discover practical and profitable solutions specifically designed for engineers like you during the conference sessions, at the networking events, and in the exhibit hall. Register today!

- Mary Gannon

Articles

On the road to recovery

As most economists will note, a real recovery is already taking place in the fluid power market, albeit a slow one. And although most agree that we won’t see numbers like those of 2007 for at least another three years, there will be some growth in 2010.

Clippard Miniature Pneumatic Solutions

If you need a product that fits your application perfectly, Clippard has the capability to design or modify one of its products to suit your exact needs. We understand that a standard catalog product may be close, but not be exactly what you need. We have the ability and capacity to give you what you want. Our Engineering Department has designed tens of thousands of special variations, modifications or completely special valves, cylinders, fittings and assemblies.

www.clippard.com/customsolutions-m
1-877-245-6247

Massaging mattress aids healing
Hospitalized and infirm patients confined to bed are prone to pressure ulcers and bed sores. They’re caused by pressure on the skin at weight-bearing, bony points such as hips, heels, and elbows. One way to prevent or help heal pressure ulcers in immobilized people is with alternating air-pressure mattresses.

Hydraulic winches help elephant surgery

When Belle, the elephant matriarch at the zoo in Portland, Ore., needed foot surgery, Allied Power Products in nearby Beaverton came up with a way to place the 6900-lb pachyderm on her side on a padded pneumatic mattress so veterinarians could perform a 2-hour operation.

More about pressure compensated flow control
Continuing our discussion of pressure compensated flow control, consider that the evolution of controls for mobile hydraulic machines has always placed levers and foot pedals at the disposal of the operator, even for machines that predated modern hydraulics. Those machines used brakes, clutches, cables, and pulleys, and the operator needed access to all the controls.

New Products

Ethernet coupler
The 750-352 ECO ethernet fieldbus coupler from WAGO Corp. enables the transition from centralized PAC/PLCs to flexible, decentralized networks. It supports prominent protocols such as MODBUS TCP/IP and EtherNet I/P, and accommodates 64 I/O modules. DIN-rail mount, UL listed coupler ensures reliable data transmission and high-speed communication via 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet port. Cage Clamp spring pressure connection technology ensures all terminations are fast, easy, and maintenance-free.

Hydraulic flange seals
Series of hydraulic flange seals from Pirtek USA are manufactured from high-grade polyurethane, for aggressive and heavy-duty applications. Material provides added resistance to extrusion and compression set over –40 to 230°F and a pressure rating to 6000 psi. Unlike common O-rings, they are specifically designed to fit SAE standard location groove on the underside of a flange. Custom-manufactured rectangular cross section is formed and sized to accurately locate within the flange machined housing. They are available in six standard sizes to fit flanges from ½ to 2 in.

Pressure switches
Type 0114/0115 pressure switches from Suco Technologies Inc. come with integrated Packard Metri Pack 280 connector to withstand high-pressure wash down and immersion. A wide range of connection threads, body materials and seal materials is available. Field adjustable pressure range of 1.45 to 2175 psi and overpressure to 8700 psi makes it suitable for both hydraulic and pneumatic applications.