Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 8 Fluid Storage and Distribution 201 • The type and amount of component movement, conductor fl exibility, and the potential for vibrations and abrasion during operation are factors that should be considered when selecting and installing conductors for a system. • Manufacturers’ data sheets include the construction details, typical application, and technical data about pressure rating, fl ow capacity and temperature tolerance of each conductor. Internet Resources The following are some useful resources available on the Internet. Enter a company or organization name into a search engine to access its website. Explore the various areas of the sites to discover useful fl uid power resources. Dayco Products. Provides links to information on Dayco’s line of hose, couplings/adapters, and crimpers. Also provides a link to the Dayco Hydraulic Catalog. This site provides the opportunity to examine one manufacturer’s product specifi cations and recommendations for selection and installation. Eaton Corporation. Lists details on one company’s quick-disconnect coupling products. Coupling construction, selection information, and safety information are included. Gates Corporation. Includes links to hydraulic hose catalogs, part interchange information, selection wizard, and other engineering tools. Gates Corporation. Provides links to calculators that determine pressure losses for user-input data. These calculators are based on a group of assumptions and average conditions. Results should only be used as a guide. HYDAC Technology Corporation. Includes descriptions of fi lters, coolers, fl uid-level indicators, breathers, and temperature sensors. JWF Technologies. Provides an extensive listing of hydraulic pipe and tube fi ttings. Includes product data sheets and an index illustrating each of the fi ttings. Summary • The reservoir of the hydraulic system not only provides storage for the fl uid used in the system, but also helps dissipate excess heat, release trapped air, and separate both water and solid particles from the fl uid. • A typical hydraulic reservoir is a rectangular steel tank fi tted with ports for easy cleaning, a vented breather to allow the exchange of air, and three lines that connect the reservoir to the system. These lines include the pump inlet line, a system return line, and a drain line. • The reservoir must be large enough to store appropriate amounts of fl uid to operate the system and to hold the fl uid long enough to allow heat to dissipate and contaminants to separate. A hydraulic system reservoir should have a storage capacity three times the rated fl ow of the pump (3:1). • Conductors must have adequate strength to withstand high system pressures, low fl ow resistance to ensure low energy loss during system operation, and a design that will allow economic installation and low maintenance costs. • The maximum operating pressure rating of all conductors depends on the tensile strength of the construction materials, conductor wall thickness, and inside diameter of the conductor. • Conductors should be properly sized, have smooth interior surfaces, and bend gradually to lower the risk of fl uid turbulence and to minimize resistance to fl uid fl ow. High fl ow resistance can result in lower work output and can produce unwanted heat. • Pipes, tubing, and fl exible hoses are the basic conductors of the system. • Pipe is a high-tensile-strength rigid fl uid conductor normally made from mild steel. Pipes with the thickest walls can withstand the highest system pressures. • Tubing is a relatively thin-walled semirigid fl uid conductor that can be bent and shaped into lines that provide good fl ow characteristics with minimal visual clutter. • Hose is a fl exible conductor consisting of a fl exible inner tube to conduct the fl uid, a middle layer of reinforcing material for strength, and an outer protective layer to withstand external abrasion and abuse.