| Hydraulic components
- Hydraulic filter |
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Videos |
| Hydraulic filters remove
contaminants from oils, emulsions, and other hydraulic fluids. They are
integral parts of a hydraulic system. The purpose of such a system is to
actuate a hydraulic cylinder (also known as a hydraulic motor) using
pressurized hydraulic fluid. |
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| Note the position of the
hydraulic filter in the images below. The purpose of the filter is to
remove contaminants from the fluid as it is cycled back to the fluid
reservoir via the return line. Despite the fact that an ideal hydraulic
system is equipped with seals and other protective devices, contaminants
may enter the system in the event of system maintenance (i.e. removal of
a cap or seal) or seal failure. By filtering the fluid after its return
to the reservoir, any contaminants accumulated from the previous cycle
are removed, resulting in clean fluid for the following cycle. In some
systems the hydraulic filter is located within the reservoir itself, or
just before the reservoir on the return line. |
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| Importance of
Hydraulic Filters in a System |
| Modern hydraulic systems
run at increasingly high pressures and faster cycle times; as both of
these attributes increase, so too does the system's sensitivity to
contamination. Fluid contaminants are a leading cause of hydraulic
system failure and can cause numerous problems, including: |
- Mixing of unintended
incompatible fluids, causing fluid breakdown and leading to acid
corrosion.
- Internal leakage,
lowering component (pump, motor, valve) efficiency and accuracy.
- Particle build-up in
critical areas, leading to sludge which causes parts to stick.
- Particle build-up in
close-tolerance areas, leading to component seizure.
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| Selection Criteria |
| Before selecting a
filter type as described below, an engineer must determine the
specifications and details of the hydraulic system. Some important
variables include: |
- Hydraulic fluid type
and operating pressure
- Fluid flow per cycle
- Ideal resistance of
the filter
- Amount of
contaminant the filter is expected to contain for a set amount of
time
- Ideal cleanliness of
the fluid
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