Cheriton House, Cromwell Park, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. OX7 5SR T: +44 (0)1608 647900 F: +44 (0)1608 647919 E: enquiries@bfpa.co.uk W: www.bfpa.co.uk B05805471A JR PRESS 01327 301566
FLUID POWER AT THE FOREFRONT WHAT IS FLUID POWER? THE BENEFITS OF FLUID POWER WHAT MAKES A FLUID POWER SYSTEM? THE BRITISH FLUID POWER INDUSTRY FLUID POWER APPLICATIONS FLUID POWER - THE FUTURE www.bfpa.co.uk
WHAT IS FLUID POWER?
WHAT IS FLUID POWER? Fluid Power is the controlled transmission of energy by oil or air - hydraulics or pneumatics. There are several ways to transmit power or control movement: mechanical - clutches, gears, levers, etc.; electrical - motors, switchgear, generators, etc.; hydraulic - valves, pumps, motors, cylinders, etc.; pneumatic - valves, compressors, etc.; Fluid power - oil hydraulics and pneumatics - provides the energy required to control a wide range of industrial machinery and equipment. Hydraulic systems operate with pressurised liquids, pneumatics with compressed air.
THE BENEFITS OF FLUID POWER Fluid power ensures safety, guarantees quality and reliability and reduces costs. THE BENEFITS OF FLUID POWER Safety is of vital importance in air and space travel, in the production and operation of motor vehicles, in mining and in the manufacture of delicate products. For example, hydraulic and pneumatic systems are used to assist the steering and braking of cars, lorries and buses. Hydraulic control systems and landing gear are responsible for the safety of take-off, landing and flight of aeroplanes and space craft. Rapid advances in mining and tunnelling are the result of the application of modern hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Reliability and precision are needed in a wide range of industrial applications where consumers are increasingly demanding higher quality. Pneumatic and hydraulic handling, clamping and robot welding systems ensure high output and productivity in, for example, car manufacture. In plastics production, the combination of hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics enables fully automatic production at consistent quality with a high degree of precision. Pneumatic systems play a key role in processes where hygiene and accuracy are of utmost importance - for example, in pharmaceutical production.
Cost reduction is a vital factor in ensuring the competitiveness of an industrial nation. Advanced technology must be economical and fluid power provides the answer. Examples include the widespread use of hydraulically controlled fork lift trucks in industry, the application of advanced machine tools and automated production process equipment, modern hydraulic excavators, construction equipment and harvesting machinery. In the handling of materials, hydraulic systems enable large volumes of, for example, sand and coal to be moved quickly and easily by one person.
WHAT MAKES A FLUID POWER SYSTEM? WHAT MAKES A FLUID POWER SYSTEM? Almost anything that requires movement involves fluid power. Applications range from simple automation to highly specialised computer controlled systems. By combining a variety of components with electronics, economical and technically sound solutions to problems of all kinds can be produced. A typical fluid power system may include the following components: - a pump, or air compressor to convert mechanical power to fluid power; - a cylinder, or motor, to convert fluid power to linear, or rotary mechanical power; - a valve to control the direction and amount of flow; - filters and regulators to condition the fluid; - hose, tube and couplings to conduct the fluid; - seals to contain the fluid; - accumulators and reservoirs to store the fluid; - instruments such as pressure switches, flow meters, transducers to monitor the performance of the fluid power system.
THE BRITISH FLUID POWER INDUSTRY Worldwide, the market for fluid power equipment in 1999 was in excess of 21 billion Euros. Britain is the fifth largest market after the United States, Japan, Germany and Italy with around 4% of the total at an estimated 580 million. Of this, hydraulics accounts for two thirds and pneumatics for one third. The industry employs around ten thousand people in the United Kingdom. There are approximately one hundred and fifty companies selling fluid power equipment, and the industry has a significant manufacturing base in Britain. Some are part of large multinational companies with manufacturing factories scattered worldwide. Most, however are small to medium sized dynamic companies (typically, one hundred to two hundred employees) with a strategic role to supply components to Britain's machinery manufacturers. Each of these companies has a design, development, manufacturing and marketing role to ensure its products are of a high and consistent quality to British and international standards. Over thirty per cent of the oil hydraulic and pneumatic products are exported directly. However, it is estimated that a further thirty per cent is indirectly exported when fitted to British machinery, equipment and installations. THE BRITISH FLUID POWER INDUSTRY
FLUID POWER APPLICATIONS The modern day applications of hydraulics and pneumatics are extremely diverse. FLUID POWER APPLICATIONS MOBILE APPLICATIONS Using fluid power to transport, excavate, lift materials, to control and power mobile vehicles: tractors; diggers; graders; truck brakes and suspensions; tippers and tail lifts for commercial vehicles; road maintenance vehicles; fork-lift trucks; excavators and cranes. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Using fluid power to control and power industrial machinery: plastics machinery; machine tools; food processing machinery; robots and automatic handling equipment; assembly equipment; mining machinery; steel works.
OTHER APPLICATIONS automotive - suspensions, brakes, steering; aerospace - rudders, ailerons, aircraft servicing, flight simulators; marine - drives and controls of ships; off-shore - oil-rig and sub-sea inspection equipment; civil engineering - dams and bridges; theatre and leisure - stage controls, fairground and leisure park rides; medical - hospital beds and operating tables.
FLUID POWER - THE FUTURE Education, training, and research and development are the keys to the future prosperity of British Industry. FLUID POWER - THE FUTURE The high technical standards of the fluid power industry will need to be maintained and improved to ensure its competitiveness in the future. The need is for a wide range of disciplines varying from mechanical and electronic engineering to computing and administration. Openings are available for craft apprentices, technician apprentices and graduates. To achieve this objective, companies are investing in basic and further training. There is a close co-operation with training boards, schools, colleges and universities. In addition, many companies are sponsoring practical research and development at universities and research establishments. If you are interested in an engineering career why not contact your local BFPA member company and ask about the training and career prospects they have to offer. For further information contact your local careers advisor or: The British Fluid Power Association Cheriton House, Cromwell Park, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. OX7 5SR Telephone: +44 (0)1608 647900 Facsimile: +44 (0)1608 647919 E-mail: enquiries@bfpa.co.uk Website: www.bfpa.co.uk
Photography courtesy of: Bosch Rexroth Group Denison Hydraulics Ltd Gateshead Council Husco International Ltd Hydac Technology Ltd IMI Norgren Ltd SMC Pneumatics (UK) Ltd Revised 10/2002