Hydraulic Systems

Instructional DVDs

Course 1 – Introduction to Hydraulic Systems

Prerequisites: This program is designed for persons who are familiar with the use of hand tools and measuring instruments, and have a knowledge of general shop practices and the procedures related to rigging and lifting, mechanical drives, couplings, and alignment, packing and seals, bearings and lubrication, piping, valve maintenance, advanced alignment and hydraulic equipment.

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers the operating principles of hydraulic systems. This program shows and explains the functions of the major components of a hydraulic system, the information that can be derived from hydraulic schematics, how fluid and power are transmitted through a hydraulic system and safety considerations for working on a hydraulic system.

Course 2 – Pressure Controls

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers the functions and operating principles of a variety of pressure control valves. This program shows and explains how pressure control valves are used for different purposes in hydraulic systems. This program also focuses on valves used in such functions as pressure relief, unloading, counterbalance, sequence and pressure reducing as well as the operation of different valve designs, such as poppet, balanced piston and balanced spool valves.

Course 3 – Directional Flow Controls

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers types of directional control valves and flow control valves, their functions in a hydraulic system and some of their applications. This program shows and explains four-way, three-position directional control valves and explains different ways that they can be centered, actuated, piloted and drained. This program also covers different flow control valve designs and how the pressure differential affects flow.

Course 4 – Fluids, Filters and Reservoirs

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers the functions, qualities and maintenance of hydraulic fluid. This program shows and explains the qualities that can be obtained in a hydraulic fluid by mixing it with additives, how hydraulic fluid is conditioned in a reservoir and how to maintain hydraulic fluid in good condition by sampling, draining, and replacing the fluid. This program also covers sources of internal and external contaminants in hydraulic fluid and how contaminants are reduced in a system by using mechanical seals and surface-type and depth-type filters. Considerations for replacing the suction line filter and pressure line filter elements are discussed. Also, schematic symbols for reservoir designs and fluid conditioners are shown.

Course 5 – Hydraulic Pumps, Pumping Principles and Accumulators

Prerequisites: This program is designed for persons who are familiar with the basic operating principles of hydraulic systems, the stages of power transfer through a hydraulic system, hydraulic schematics and the functions of flow and pressure controls.

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers hydraulic pumps and accumulators. This program shows and explains the functions of pumps in hydraulic systems, operating principles of different types of pumps, common maintenance procedures performed on pumps, procedures for inspecting and monitoring pump efficiency, operating principles of different types of accumulators, common maintenance procedures and precharging accumulators.

Course 6 – Variable Volume Hydraulic Pumps

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers the operating principles of fixed volume pumps and primarily the variable volume pumps in a hydraulic system. This program shows and explains how variable volume vane and piston pumps reduce horsepower needed in systems that require a varying amount of flow. This program also explains a pump’s volumetric efficiency, power transfer in a hydraulic system, amperage input to a motor and how variable volume pumps can be used as reversible pumps in closed loop systems.

Course 7 – Actuators

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers the designs, operating principles and maintenance of hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors. This program shows and explains pressure and flow requirements for hydraulic cylinder and hydraulic motor performance and demonstrates checks to perform on system components that regulate pressure and flow to a motor or cylinder. Test procedures for checking internal leakage in a motor and cylinder are also demonstrated.

Course 8 – Hydraulic System Troubleshooting

Prerequisites: This program is designed for persons who are familiar with the fundamental principles of hydraulics and hydraulic schematics and have had experience working with hydraulic components and systems.

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers the principles and skills of effective hydraulic system troubleshooting. This program focuses on how these principles and skills are applied to a variety of system problems, with emphasis on using a logical, systematic approach to determine the cause(s) of a problem. This program also shows and explains how to use schematic diagrams to understand normal system operation and to narrow down the cause of a problem, and how pressure gauges and various checks can be used to effectively troubleshoot a system.

Course 9 – Electrohydraulic Servo Systems

Description: This comprehensive DVD training program covers how electrohydraulic servo systems maintain precise system control through the transmission of electrical and hydraulic signals. This program explains the design and internal function of three types of servo valves: spool servo valves, jet pipe servo valves and flapper servo valves. The concept of null is explained, and methods for adjusting the null position of the servo valves covered are demonstrated. This program also demonstrates a frequency response test performed on a servo valve and explains how dither frequency input can increase valve response.