Focus
on the future
The
Eight Scandinavian International Conference on Fluid Power, SICEP 2003,
held from May 7 to 9, 2003, captured the attention of the fluid power
industry world-wide. It gave a peak into tomorrow’s breakthroughs in
water hydraulics, motion control, mobile equipment, and more. While
Hannover, Germany, got most of the attention in the fluid power world
this spring, May belonged to SICEP 2003. The Eighth Scandinavian International
Conference on Fluid Power will be held in Tampere, Finland. The conferences,
organised in odd-numbered years, alternate between Tampere and Linkoping,
Sweden. This year’s event was held in cooperation with the network of
Fluid Power Centres in Europe and hosted by the Institute of Hydraulics
and Automation at the Tampere University of Technology.
In
an effort to attract international participation, English was selected
as the official language of the conference and the proceedings. The
presentations included papers given by authors from over 22 countries,
some as far away as Australia and Japan. More than 300 delegates from
industry and academia attended.
Energy
saving alternative hits the market
Electromechanical
injection-moulding machines that run only when making parts consume
about a half to a third of the energy of hydraulic-based equivalents
that lie idle between cycles. The all-electric machines also generate
about 65-70 per cent less waste heat, lowering plant air-conditioning
costs.
Conventional
injection-moulding machines use a complex network of hydraulic actuators,
hoses, tubes, filters, and valves to shut moulds and inject molten plastics.
Leaks are common, especially of concern now because of more stringent
environmental regulations. In contrast, electromechanical types swap
out the hydraulics for simpler, cleaner, ball screws and electric drive
motors. The ball screws transmit rotary-to-linear motion for injection
slides and for clamping moulds shut during the injection process.
Umbra
Cuscinetti, Umbra Group, Italy, makes ball screws for aerospace and
industrial applications and recently applied the technology to moulding
machines. High loads and lack of proper maintenance and lubrication
typify conditions in this application. Helping ball screws survive the
rigours are Cerbec silicon-nitride bearing balls from Saint-Gobain Advanced
Ceramics, East Granbury, Connecticut.
“Alternating
large silicon-nitride balls with smaller steel balls cuts adhesion,
boosts load capacity and reliability, and extends ball-screw life- time,”
explains Umbra Cuscinetti Stress Analyst and Chief Engineer, Luciano
Pizzoni. “The arrangement also lets users switch from oil to grease
lubrication. Grease is more environmentally friendly and doesn’t need
replenishing as often.”
Bosch
wins plaudits for Anderton Boat Lift project
Hydraulics
specialist Bosch Rexroth of Bolton has been recognised for the work
it carried out on the Anderton Boat Lift Restoration Project in Cheshire.
The
project was honoured in the Historic Bridge & Infrastructure Awards
2002. Bosch Rexroth, steel sub-contractor R&R Engineering and British
Waterways, the main contractor, were all recognised for their “exceptional
skill and care”.
The
Award Scheme, which was established in 1998, is hosted by the Institution
of Civil Engineers. Steve Smith, System Sales Manager of Rexroth’s Industrial
Hydraulics Civil Engineering application group, was among those who
received a framed certificate at a special presentation at the Institution’s
headquarters in Westminster. The
famous Anderton Boat Lift, which was originally commissioned in 1875,
reopened in Spring, 2002 after a 7 million pounds-worth project which
returned it to hydraulic operation.
Swedish
firm gets a chance to contribute to physics research
CERN,
the world’s largest basic research institute for particle physics, has
for the second time in about one year ordered a hydraulic press from
Fjellman Press of Mariestad AB, Sweden. Nike Hydraulics will on both
occasions supply the hydraulic rams, which give a total pressing force
of 32,000 tonnes.
The
hydraulic press will pre-tense and press superconductive electromagnets
in a particle accelerator, which will be built-in into a 27 km long
circular underground tunnel outside Geneva. A total of 1232 magnets
with a length of 15 m each shall be placed in the accelerator. This
experiment should lead to an increased knowledge of the development
of the universe.
Software
helps design hydraulic circuits
Automation
Studio V4.0 helps design hydraulic circuits, simulate their operation,
and document projects. The software also provides training in hydraulics
and mobile hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical controls, programmable
logic circuit (PLC) controls, and automation controls applications.
Dragging and dropping symbols from a library lets users quickly create
simple to complex projects and realistically show system behaviour.
Simulations let users validate designs and perform training on systems.
After drawing a circuit, the simulation mode shows valves shifting positions,
cylinders moving, and switches changing status. Fluid lines change colour
to indicate fluid pressure status, and plot functions can monitor elements
such as speed, acceleration, flow, and position. Components can be sized
in the preferred unit system to influence the simulation and show accurate
results. The software can communicate with all major controllers and
PLCs to become an input/output simulator for controls testing. It is
suitable for small to large applications.
Sun
Hydraulics’ 2002 earnings dip by $0.5 mn
Sun
Hydraulics Corp of US announced recently that its net income for 2002
was $1.8 million, or 2.8 per cent of net sales, compared with $1 million,
or 1.5 per cent of net sales for 2001. Net sales for 2002 were $64.5
million, compared with $65 million in 2001. For
the fourth quarter of 2002, Sun’s net sales increased 15.7 per cent
to $15.5 million, compared with fourth quarter 2001 net sales of $13.4
million. Its net income for the fourth quarter of 2002 was $400,000,
compared with a net loss of $700,000 for the fourth quarter of 2001.
Texas
Instruments makes new brake sensor for Honda
US
chipmaker Texas Instruments (TI) has developed a hydraulic sensor for
automotive brakes that has an enhanced function for detecting problems.
The
new sensor is housed in an automobile’s electronic control unit and
has only the part that detects pressure inserted into the brake hydraulics
unit. It senses whether the hydraulic pressure is constantly kept at
a suitable level. The sensor is the first designed to detect pressure
when the engine is started, in addition to when the vehicle is in motion.
Being
one-fourth the size of conventional sensors, the device is expected
to help automobile electronic control systems as a whole become more
compact. TI
plans to market the new sensor to the world’s automakers as a basic
component that can increase brake safety. Texas Instruments Japan has
begun taking orders in Asia. Honda Motor had decided to use the sensor
in two passenger cars, expecting it to both increase safety and reduce
system size. The
new sensor costs 500 yen to 1,500 yen, depending on specifications,
and TI is targeting worldwide sales of 25 billion yen ($210.7 million)
annually in 2006.
New
low-speed, high-torque hydraulic motors
White
Hydraulics has introduced a new series of low--speed, high-torque hydraulic
motors that feature a wide range of displacements, combining durability
with affordability. The new RG series motors are designed for demanding
mobile and industrial applications where side loads are a concern and
flexibility, durability and affordability are important, according to
the Hopkinsville, Kentucky-based company.
The
RG series comes standard with White’s patented Roller Stator design,
which the company said reduces friction and increases motor life. In
addition, the RG series features a high-pressure shaft seal, heavy-duty
drive link, rubber energised steel face seal and needle roller bearing.
Available in displacements from 2.5 to 19.7 cu in per revolution, the
RG series motors can accommodate peak hydraulic pressures to 3000 per
square inch (psi) and continuous pressures to 2000 psi. Designed
as a flexible alternative for a variety of applications, standard mounting
options include SAE A, four-bolt and wheel mount configurations. In
addition, the motors are available with a variety of standard shaft
options, including 25 mm straight. Imperial and metric port configurations
are also available.
BT
Rolatruc bags award
BT
Rolatruc has received first prize in the Protecting The Environment
category of the 2003 Fork Lift Truck Association Awards. The award was
presented for BT Products’ development of a water-based hydraulics system.
A fully functional prototype has been integrated into an existing warehouse
truck to replace the usual oil-based system. Oil is expensive and toxic
while water, in comparison, is clean, abundant and relatively inexpensive.
BT Rolatruc Sales Director, John Roper, accepted the award at the Birmingham
Metropole Hotel.
Smoothly
does it: SAM offers new self-propelled sprayers
Sands
Agricultural Machinery (SAM) has developed a new range of self-propelled
sprayers, which provide extra power, meet new emission directives and
have greater capability when working on hillsides. The
spray tank sits in a new stepped frame chassis, which lowers the tank
by 150mm. This makes the machine more stable on sloping land and reduces
weight transfer, says SAM. In addition, a lower centre of gravity improves
the machine’s road handling.
A
new range of Deutz engine meets the latest 2003 emissions directive
and provides increased power. The SLc 2500 and 3000 are rated at 155
horse power with the SLc 4000 rated at 175 horse power. Both engines
also have a 25 per cent increase
in torque. Two
‘scallops’ in the GRP engine guards and a larger double-glazed rear
window have increased boom visibility without any compromise to the
machine styling, according to SAM.
A
new hydrostatic wheel motor from Poclain Hydraulics with a much larger
displacement is now a standard fit on SLc machines resulting in increased
traction capability. A fully loaded machine will now climb a hill of
37 per cent. Improved motor porting improves the transmission efficiency
resulting in less heat build up and an increase in fuel efficiency,
says the manufacturer.
The
self-levelling hydro-pneumatic suspension system has been fine tuned
to provide what SAM claims to be the best ride of any crop sprayer available.
The suspension absorbs ruts, vibration, potholes and humps, while road
noise is reduced and roll is virtually eliminated. In-built damping
stops ‘nodding’ and the complete system is maintenance free, according
to SAM.
The
SAM SLc is normally available in 3 model sizes of 2500, 3000 and 4000
litres. Thirty-six metres booms and above are available.
Valtra
of Finland tries its hand at Australian market
Versatality
is fast dominating the demands of the mid-to-high horsepower tractor
market. The
increasing refinement of transmission, engine and suspension packages
in this segment is seeing the development of machines that are equally
at home undertaking high-speed tasks as low-speed lugging. Finnish
manufacturer Valtra has long specialised in the manufacture of versatile,
highly-efficient tractors in the mid-market segment and the release
of two new models on the Australian market should drive further interest
in the Valtra product in this country.
Both
models will be making their Australian debut this year and local agent
Chris Laycock, of M Machinery, is upbeat about both series. The new
Valtra S Series was released last year in Europe and, according to Valtra,
was designed specifically to meet farmer requirements for increased
versatility.In
the meantime, Valtra’s Product Development Team has won the Cadee Award
for Design and Engineering Excellence 2002. Valtra participated in the
competition with five pictures made from the 3D model of the S Series
tractor.
....CONTD
