Principles of Hydraulic System Design

Fluid power systems are manufactured by many organizations for a very wide range of applications, which often embody differing arrangements of components to fulfill a given task. Hydraulic components are manufactured to provide the control functions required for the operation of systems, each manufacturer using different approaches in the design of components of any given type. As a consequence, the resulting proliferation of both components and systems can, to the uninitiated, be an obstacle to the understanding of their principle operation. The book is structured so as to give an understanding of: The basic types of components and their operational principles The way in which circuits can be arranged using available components to provide a range of functional outputs. The analytical methods that are used in system design and performance prediction. Components are arranged to provide various generic circuits, which can be used in the design of systems so as to suit the functional characteristics of the particular application. In order to aid the understanding of the mechanical principles involved, diagrams of some manufacturer's components are included in the book. These are shown to give examples only and are not comprehensive, and have been reproduced from technical literature. The book has also been prepared to provide the basis for the BFPA course 'Principles of Hydraulic Fluid Power System Design' under the auspices of the BFPA Education and Training Committee. Chapters: Chapter 1: Hydraulic Power Transmission; Chapter 2: Hydrostatic Pumps and Motors; Chapter 3: Hydraulic Actulators; Chapter 5: Flow Control Valves; Chapter 6: Ancillary Equipment; Chapter 7: Circuit Design; Chapter 8: Flow Processes in Hydraulic Systems; Chapter 9: Operating Efficiences of Pumps and Motors; Chapter 10: Control System Design; Chapter 11: Performance Analysis; Chapter 12: System Management.