Introduction
Goals
In teams of two or three, we must interview someone knowledgeable about a fluid power device that possesses at least the four major components. Our team will research the device, take pictures of the device, and share our findings with the class.
Interview
Device Components
- Reservoir/Receiver Tank
- Pump/Compressor
- Valve
- Cylinder
Device Functions
- Transforms metallic objects into sheets of metal
- Used to genrate a compressive force
- Can be used for used for the thinning of glass
- Can be incorporated into several different fields of usage and production
Device description
A hydraulic press is a machine press which uses a hydraulic cylinder in order to generate a compressive force and uses the hydraulic equivalent of a mechanical lever. Hydraulic presses are used for almost all industrial purposes. They are mainly used for transforming metallic objects into sheets of metal, and in some industries, it is used for the thinning of glass. Hydraulic presses work with the rule of Pascal's law, which states that when pressure is applied to a contained fluid, the change of pressure occurs throughout the entire fluid. Inside a hydraulic press is a piston that works as a pump, which provides a small mechanical force to a small portion of the sample material. Hydraulic presses can also be used for several different applications in a wide variety of scenarios. Some of these include aerospace engineering, automobile manufacturing, marine manufacturing, food and beverage processing, military defense, and ceramics.
Component identification
Reservoir/Receiver Tank
The hydraulic reservoir’s main purpose is to hold a certain volume of liquid, transfer heat from the system, and allow solid amounts to settle and make the release of moisture and air from the liquid easier.
Pump/Compressor
The hydraulic pump is a mechanical device which transforms mechanical power into hydraulic energy and results in a flow with enough power to overcome pressure moved by the load.
Cylinder
Hydraulic cylinders obtain their power from hydraulic fluid put under pressure, which is typically oil. A hydraulic cylinder consists of a cylinder barrel, where a piston, connected to a piston rod, moves back and forth. The piston then pushes the oil in the chamber back to the reservoir where the cycle started
Valve
A hydraulic valve is used to direct the flow of a certain liquid, typically oil, through the hydraulic system. The oil flow’s direction is determined by the position of spools. Hydraulic systems can only function correctly by using valve components.
Diagram of total components
System operation
First, a hydraulic pump or a lever forces hydraulic fluid into a small double-acting cylinder. Then, the fluid contacts a sliding piston that tries to compress the fluid. The piston shoves the fluid through the small cylinder and into a larger cylinder, where the process repeats. Following this, the compressive force forces the fluid back into the smaller cylinder. The fluid is then passed back and forth between the two cylinders, which causes pressure to build up. Eventually, the pressure becomes high enough that it reaches the baseplate or anvil. It presses the baseplate or anvil, which then deforms the material beneath it into the desired shape. To ensure that the press doesn’t overload the material, the fluid triggers a valve which then triggers pressure reversal when it reaches its pressure container.
Schematic
Schematic diagram of device
Reflection/conclusion
I think that hydraulic presses have been proven to be most useful in the variety of different applications that they have been used in. They can be very useful when trying to compress certain objects into more condensed forms, such as packing food or compressing certain products for shipping. One reason these machines are so beneficial in the manufacturing industry is because they are one of the main machines used to bend, shape, and compress metal-like materials. Since metals are used in a huge variety of products and everyday items, it is crucial that the hydraulic press system is used to shape them into the desired forms. For the Hydraulic press bending metal is a simple task and yet a very important one. Bending and compressing metal-like materials is a very important job that Hydraulic presses are used for. For example they are used for manufacturing car parts, building air crafts and for military application.