If you noticed a theme throughout Fluid Power World this month, you’re not imagining things. With our April issue, we are introducing a new concept to our readers — blockbuster issues that take a trend in fluid power and examine it from several angles.
A few years ago, Paul Heney, our VP, Editorial Director, mentioned an idea he’s had for some time — to do a survey of users and manufacturers to learn if hydraulic leakage is still the problem many see it as. Last year, as we developed our editorial calendar, we decided to take this article a step further and build a whole print issue around the topic.
Paul’s survey and the resulting article came together surprisingly in the negative end of things — showing that leakage is still a problem for many hydraulic systems. What we learned, however, was that it’s more a user issue than technology issue. That means advances in component design ensure more leak-tight cylinders, seals, and hose assemblies but system design and maintenance are often at fault when machines start to leak. Read thoughts from dozens of respondents, and how they view hydraulic leakage.
Internal leakage is also a concern, and while the survey discussed this, we felt this would be better served as an online exclusive article in the future, so stay tuned for more thoughts on that topic at fluidpowerworld.com. However, Technology Editor Ken Korane delves into internal leakage research news in our R&D department, which can be found on mobilehydraulictiips.com. Here, he highlights Chinese research into how neural networks can be used to gauge leakage within electrohydraulic actuators.
Compressed air leakage cannot be ignored, either, as our pneumatics feature points out. Here, Pascal van Putten, CEO of VPInstruments, underscores how wasteful compressed air systems can be if not maintained and monitored properly. Hop over to pneumatictips.com to learn how detecting and repairing air leaks can immediately result in an energy gain of 10 to 20% and once expanded with compressed air monitoring and optimizations, the savings can even reach 50%.
Finally, we offer our usual technology basics in our Fundamentals department, at sealingandcontaminationtips.com where Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor, offers tips for leakage prevention through proper cylinder seal selection and design. And learn about a leakage prevention program for hose assemblies in our Design Notes section, at hoseassemblytips.com, as I introduce readers to XonKen’s ZeroLeaks program.
Bonus content: don’t miss Rachael Pasini’s thoughts on leakage in her monthly column, or how Paul Heney relates perceived thoughts on leakage to reality in his editorial.
Throughout the year, we will continue with these blockbuster print issues. Stay tuned as we take show coverage of the iVT Off-Highway Vehicle Technology Expo in our June issue and MinExpo in our August edition and provide in-depth reviews and tutorials on mobile trends, electrification and the ruggedness that hydraulics offers in these key markets. And watch for our content in December, where our updated Fluid Power Handbook finds its new home.
Filed Under: News, Trending
