Chapter 1 Introduction to Fluid Power 17
Growth of the fluid power industry has
required a parallel growth in the number of peo-
ple who understand and can work effectively with
fluid power systems. These people range from
engineers responsible for designing the compo-
nents to mechanics responsible for maintenance
and repair of fluid power equipment. The type of
education and training available to prepare these
people varies considerably. Formally organized
programs exist in two-year technical and com-
munity colleges, four-year universities, and in
programs offered by component manufacturers.
Many individuals seek fluid power training after
exposure to the field through their jobs.
The fluid power industry is a broad field and a
key contributor to the success of many businesses
and industries. Fluid power is extensively used
in manufacturing, construction, transportation,
agriculture, mining, military operations, health,
and even recreation. The list is almost endless.
Applications vary and components have different
appearances in the various applications. System
sizes range from miniature to massive, but fluid
power principles provide the needed power, force,
and control.
Fluid power has been a key contributing factor in
the development of current agricultural equipment.
Modern farm equipment uses hydraulics exten-
sively. These uses range from simple hydraulic cyl-
inders that raise and lower implements to complex
devices that maintain clearances, adjust torque,
and provide easy control of speed and direction
on tractors and a variety of specialized planting,
harvesting, and processing equipment.
Fluid power is used in some form in all modern
transportation systems designed to move people
and products. These uses range from automobiles
to complex, wide-body aircraft found on inter-
national flights. Specific examples of the applica-
tion of fluid power principles include hydraulic
and pneumatic braking systems, power-assisted
steering found on most forms of wheeled vehicles,
hydrostatic transmissions that provide almost
unlimited speed and torque control, and suspen-
sion systems that use hydraulic and/or pneumatic
dampening.
The construction industry is a very diverse
industry. Construction activities include the
building of residences and all types of commer-
cial structures, roads and highways, irrigation
systems, harbor facilities, and a wide variety of
other construction-related activities. The industry
makes use of many types of earth-moving equip-
ment, material-handling equipment, and special-
ized fastening and finishing devices. Examples of
typical applications that make use of fluid power
include: backhoes for excavation; cranes for mov-
ing, lifting, and positioning materials; vibrators
for consolidating concrete after it has been placed;
and nail-driving apparatuses.
Manufacturing organizations extensively
rely on fluid power. Applications range from
huge presses in automobile body fabrication
plants, which form body panels, to packaging
equipment for miniature parts in electrical com-
ponent manufacturing operations. These appli-
cations use hydraulics and pneumatics to make
the equipment operate as needed. Required
characteristics range from huge forces to draw
metal into desired shapes, to a gentle nudge
accurately positioning a part for machining, to
the deliberate movement of sanders performing
a final finish sanding. Fluid power can easily
provide each of these characteristics. In many
installations, the desired results can be obtained
using off-the-shelf equipment. In many other
situations, standard components may be used
to assemble circuits and systems to produce the
desired result, Figure 1-4.
Figure 1-3. The service of fl uid power systems in
business and industry provides employment for
many highly trained individuals.
(Photo: Atlas Copco)