A Beginner’s Guide to Hydraulic Power Units
HPUs deliver mechanical force that is produced though the use of fluids. Hydraulic power units are used in industries where it’s necessary to move heavy or large items very smoothly. For example, theme parks, farming, construction, fishing and more.
If you’ve seen a garbage truck in action, you’ve seen an HPU operating. This is also the case for cranes, forklifts, loaders and backhoes. There’s even a hydraulic power unit inside the ‘jaws of life’ that rescuers use to free people from cars involved in serious road accidents.
Surprisingly, most people have hydraulic power units in their homes. If they own a car, they will have brakes, which run from hydraulic power. Whenever the brake pedal is pushed, hydraulic fluid (in this case, known as brake fluid) will push a piston, which will move the brake pad against the rotor in the wheel, and will slow the car. This is why it’s important to keep brake fluid levels adequate and to ensure that there is no air trapped in brake lines.
The power behind hydraulics comes from the law of physics that liquid cannot be compressed. Although it may take the shape of any container that it’s in, it is not possible to compress it. This means that it hydraulic fluid can be pushed through a number of tubes without needing gears and levers to help it.
Most hydraulic fluid is made up of water, petroleum oil and antifreeze. It all depends on what the job is that needs to be done. Using a hydraulic filter can help to keep the liquid contaminant free of particles. The fluid is stored in a reservoir when it’s not in use, this enables it to be accessible as soon as the machine needs it.
HPU are some of the most versatile mechanical aids in use. If you’d like to discuss more about what your business needs, contact us today at our main website plus more info can be found on Hydraulic Power Units here.