Industrial Hydraulic Power
Mechanical Skills
Course 1 – Hydraulic System Operation
Prerequisites: This lesson is designed so that no prior knowledge is required. However, a knowledge of basic mathematical skills is recommended.
Description: This lesson covers the components of hydraulic systems and explains how the components function together to operate a hydraulic system. Interpretation of hydraulic schematics is also taught in this lesson.
Objectives:
- Visually identify and describe the function of each basic component in an industrial hydraulic system
- Use Pascal’s Law
- Interpret hydraulic schematics
- Identify transmission of power and flow path through the system
- Understand the stages of power transmission through a hydraulic system
- Identify and describe the function(s) of hydraulic reservoirs and their components
- Identify common indications of malfunctions in hydraulic piping and connectors
- Identify safety considerations for working with system hydraulics
Course 2 – Hydraulic Pumps, Pumping Principles, and Accumulators
Prerequisites: This lesson is designed for participants who are familiar with the basic operating principles of hydraulic systems, the stages of power transfer through a hydraulic system, hydraulic schematics, and basic hydraulic safety considerations.
Description: This lesson covers hydraulic pumps and accumulators. The lesson shows and explains the functions of pumps in hydraulic systems and the 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 are also covered.
Objectives:
- Describe the operation of positive and non-positive displacement pumps
- Calculate the actual flow rate and the volumetric efficiency
- Recognize symptoms of pump malfunction
- Identify the components and principles of operation for fixed and variable volume vane pumps as well as bent axis and axial piston pumps
- Describe the function of accumulators
Course 3 – Pressure Controls
Prerequisites: This lesson is designed for participants who are familiar with the basic operating principles of hydraulic systems, hydraulic schematics, hydraulic pumps, and basic hydraulic safety considerations.
Description: This lesson covers types of pressure control valves, their functions in hydraulic systems and some of their applications. The lesson discusses the principles of hydraulic pressure control with specific applications of check valves, pressure relief valves, direct-acting valves, pilot operated valves, normally-open valves, unloading valves, counterbalance valves, sequence valves, and pressure reducing valves.
Objectives:
- Explain the operation and applications of pilot-operated pressure control valves, normally-open pressure control valves, unloading pressure control valves, counterbalance valves, pressure control valves in sequencing operations as well as pressure control valves in pressure reducing circuits
Course 4 – Directional and Flow Controls
Prerequisites: This lesson is designed for participants who are familiar with the basic operating principles of hydraulic systems, the stages of power transfer through a hydraulic system, hydraulic schematics, hydraulic pumps, and basic hydraulic safety considerations.
Description: This lesson covers types of directional control valves and flow control valves, their functions in a hydraulic system, and some of their applications. This lesson shows four-way, three-position directional control valves and explains different ways they can be centered, actuated, piloted, and drained. This lesson also covers different flow control valve designs and explains how pressure differential affects flow.
Objectives:
- Identify functions of ports on a directional control valve
- Trace various flow paths through a directional control valve on a system schematic
- Describe the type of actuators used with directional control valves
- Explain how changing flow rate affects the performance of the actuator
- Identify functions of ports on a flow control valve
- Describe the operation of various valves, including a needle valve, pressure-compensated flow control valve, and a check valve
- Describe the operation of meter-in and meter-out circuits
Course 5 – Hydraulic Actuators
Prerequisites: This lesson is designed for participants who are familiar with the basic operating principles of hydraulic systems, hydraulic schematics, flow and pressure controls, and basic hydraulic safety considerations. An understanding of hydraulic pumps, pressure controls, and directional and flow controls is also necessary.
Description: This lesson discusses the designs, operating principles, and maintenance of hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors. The lesson shows and explains pressure and flow requirements for hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motor performance. Test procedures for checking internal leakage in a cylinder are also demonstrated.
Objectives:
- Calculate electrical horsepower and piston speed
- Describe the operation of single-acting, double-acting, and non-differential cylinders as well as the operation of cylinders controlled by regulating flow or pressure
- Identify schematic symbols
- Describe the operation of unidirectional and bidirectional motors, hydraulic pumps, hydraulic gear motors, hydraulic piston motors, hydrostatic drive circuits, braking circuits, and meter-in circuits