- Home » Editorial » Hydraulics
Stäubli CBX connectors for compact, spill free solution
Stäubli CBX connectors provide automatic locking, compact design and spill free connection of hydraulic circuits in the plastics sector and across general industry. Spill-free connection and disconnection ensures operator safety, eliminating any discharge or workplace contamination, protecting tools and the production environment. The flat faced design guarantees circuit integrity; no pollutants can enter the circuits on connection or disconnection. Connection is automatic, just push and its connected, providing easy, single handed, operation even in difficult to reach and ‘blind’ locations. The compact design makes this coupling most suitable for restricted access applications. Robust construction provides excellent mechanical strength; the long plug guiding in the socket provides the strength to withstand high mechanical stresses in hydraulic circuits up to 450 bar. For applications where dynamic loading could occur then Stӓubli’s SPX range should be considered and for the most demanding hydraulics applications the HPX range provides secure double locking and excellent vibration resistance. Selecting the appropriate hydraulic connector calls for evaluation of many parameters in the planned application. Frequently companies rely on the experience of Stäubli engineers who are trained to fully consider all aspects of the application and are skilled in evaluating the combination of requirements. They will provide advice from the design stage onwards on the most suitable connection solution for any hydraulic application to ensure excellent performance, long term reliability and requiring the minimum of maintenance. www.staubli.com
The online advantage
Hydraulics & Pneumatics spoke with Dave Manning-Ohren, condition monitoring manager at ERIKS UK, about the benefits of online monitoring as part of a company’s maintenance, repair and overhaul regime. Any condition monitoring strategy has to start with looking at the criticality of the plant and the failure modes that are to be expected from particular pieces of equipment. A host of issues related to vibration, temperature, speed, pressure and airflow or hydraulic oil ingress etc. have to be taken into account to avoid equipment failure and resultant production downtime wherever possible. Regular on-site inspections are therefore important. However, due to their time-consuming nature and the fact that equipment failure could potentially occur, say, as soon as the day after an on-site inspection has taken place, ERIKS’ Dave Manning-Ohren believes online monitoring has to be considered as a viable complementary option. While online condition monitoring systems were outside the available maintenance, repair and overhaul budgets of many companies just a few years ago, Manning-Ohren explains that there are now a number of effective online condition monitoring solutions available for less than £1000,” explained Manning-Ohren. “These can be permanently online, depending on what type of plant and equipment the user has on site, and the data acquired can quite easily be relayed to, and stored in, a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), PLC (programmable logic controller) or BMS (Building Management System).” Cloud option Although SCADA and PLC systems might be capable of carrying sizeable amounts of condition monitoring and other engineering-related information, quite often the level of data communication required is considerably high. Moreover, on some of the older SCADA and PLC models the throughput might be slower than a modern 3G modem. Consequently, Manning-Ohren believes a Cloud or an externally hosted system connected via 3G or 4G or straightforward broadband is a highly compelling option worth serious consideration. “Taking the hosted route means condition monitoring data can be stored on a system that is outside the user company’s network,” he explained. “It is therefore available on a separately hosted system that individual people such as the maintenance engineer or the equipment manufacturer can buy seats to access remotely. Through all authorised personnel being able to access this single up-to-date source of conditional data at any given time remotely, this ensures they are able to make the best informed maintenance decisions.” Manning-Ohren added that another benefit of the hosted option is that all parties concerned are only able to access data related to condition monitoring. “There is no risk of them inadvertently accessing data on a server that is of a sensitive nature, such as non-disclosure agreements, sensitive data etc.,” he said. As part of a Cloud-hosted regime deployed to monitor the condition of more high-value equipment, RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags can be installed in required locations. These facilitate maintenance routines specific to the location and the technician inspecting the equipment. “Putting in place this type of methodology, a Cloud-based database of maintenance routines can be established,” explained Manning-Ohren. “This could include test values, alarms, check items, process and condition monitoring information, along with RFID plant/equipment/area identification, and inspection routes written based on visit frequency and the skills necessary for the tasks and routines.” Once the RFID tags are embedded, on subsequent visits the engineer can carry a data acquisition device, preloaded with the route and supplementary information (risk assessments, method statements, COSHH information etc.). “The software will then produce a list of tasks at each location, to be performed on the particular piece of equipment or in the specified area,” said Manning-Ohren. “As each one is completed it is entered into the engineer's handheld device and, once the route is complete, the information is uploaded to the database on the Cloud server. This is programmed to respond immediately on receipt of the data, generating inspection, diagnostic and other reports specific and relevant to the tasks undertaken on the plant, and to the recipients. The database also links and integrates other work that has been carried out off-site, such as repair reports, oil analysis and other post-data acquisition condition monitoring reports.” Manning-Ohren added that this system can also be used to send alerts from fixed monitoring equipment direct to ERIKS' specialists, or other nominated contacts on-site, when pre-set limits are reached. “This enables a quicker reaction time, which in turn can help to prevent shutdowns and damage to critical equipment,” he said. “Having all this information available in one place saves time, facilitates an easier flow of information, and can increase uptime.” Interpretation Manning-Ohren added that gathering data through a proven condition monitoring methology, whether on-premise or in the Cloud, is only half the story. “The other half is interpretation of that data by highly-qualified condition monitoring specialists such as those at ERIKS, who are expert at using it to gain insights into the nature of the problem,” he said. “ERIKS not only offers a number of condition monitoring options, but can also provide a high level of support and listen carefully to the customer to determine exactly what is needed. We can then deliver a bespoke solution based on these options; all of which helps to ensure that the customer’s equipment runs more efficiently and is maintained more cost-effectively.” www.eriks.co.uk Photo caption: Dave Manning-Ohren: Online monitoring has to be considered as a viable complementary option to on-site inspection.
Eaton pumps-up lead-time muscle in EMEA
Eaton has made a significant investment its manufacturing capability in EMEA. The company claims this will enable it to meet ‘industry-leading’ delivery times for its X20 pumps range. Eaton’s X20 pumps are used in wheel loaders, agricultural vehicles and road sweepers as well as other mobile and marine applications. The investment of more than €2.4 million will enable the localisation of a regional assembly and test programme for X20 piston pumps at the Eaton Havant UK site, with the aim of providing customers with a ‘best in class’ delivery lead time across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Mark Foreman, plant manager, said: “We are expecting to see an upsurge in demand for open circuit piston pumps in the next few years as the manufacturers of original equipment increase production to meet their orders. Normally, this would mean that lead times would increase for products such as the X20 pump but this investment means we can actually reduce lead times to approximately half that which is industry standard now.” Rick Jacobs, president of Eaton’s hydraulics business for EMEA commented: “[The new investment] will offer a huge advantage to Eaton’s customers in EMEA. By significantly reducing lead times on the X20 pumps we will play a major role in helping manufacturers fulfil their order books and the quality and robustness of our technology, plus our ability to provide a global after-sales support network, gives companies across EMEA a superb choice.” www.eaton.com/hydraulics
Moog extends radial piston pumps range
Moog, designer and manufacturer of high performance motion control solutions, has extended its range of variable-displacement radial piston pumps, with the RKP 250 for displacements up to 250 cm³ per revolution. The largest pump in Moog’s RKP series, the RKP 250 is intended for applications requiring high system pressures, such as metal forming, presses, injection moulding and other types of industrial machinery. It is capable of delivering continuous pressures up to 350 bar (5000 psi). The Radial Piston Pump is known for its robust design and reliability even in extreme environments. For machine applications where even higher displacements are required, the RKP 250 can be configured in a double-pump arrangement with full torque available across all displacements up to 500 cm³. It also can be combined with other RKP pumps and pumps with standard SAE interfaces (A, B, and C). All RKPs have short axial dimensions, making them ideal for compact multi-pump arrangements. Highly dynamic control The RKP 250 provides highly dynamic control of hydraulic flow and pressure. Designed to be used in open-circuit systems, its large suction port and flow-optimized suction path ensure robust suction behaviour, a high speed limit and low noise emission. The pump has a maximum speed of 1800 rpm at an inlet pressure of 0.8 bar absolute (11,6 psi abs), enabling it to operate in machines located at high altitudes without the need for a pre-load pump. The new piston pump incorporates a nine-piston rotary group. The design of the pistons provides a very low pressure ripple and noise emission behaviour. Robust control system As with the smaller models in the RKP range, the RKP 250 is equipped with Moog’s proven, robust control system with a sliding stroke ring. The exclusive use of ferrous metals with hardened, wear-resistant contact surfaces leads to outstanding longevity in use. Special versions are available for use with water-glycol (HFC) and synthetic esters (HFD) fluids. An RKP-D version of the pump, with highly dynamic electro-hydraulic control of flow and pressure through advanced digital on-board electronics, can be configured easily with the Moog Pump Configuration Software. Status information, set values and actual values are displayed graphically for quick and easy performance monitoring, troubleshooting and tuning. As part of Moog’s modular design concept, various compensator options are available including: Pressure (F2), combined pressure and flow (R1), fixed displacement (B1), and dual displacement (N1) compensators. The RKP 250 will also be available in explosion-proof versions. www.moog.comCustomised valve actuation – when standard products are not the answer (June 2014)
The overriding majority of valve actuation applications in today’s industries are fulfilled with standard products. In some cases an actuator may need to be modified to suit specific operating requirements, but here again a solution based on a standard product can usually be found. There are occasions, however, when the physical and operational demands of an application rule out anything other than an entirely customised approach to the problem. The long-standing experience of Rotork-Hiller in the fluid power and motion control industries has been mostly built on the provision of actuators for critical and vital applications calling for the design and manufacture of solutions to suit customers’ individual requirements. Unlike other manufacturers therefore, customised valve actuation is the cornerstone of the company’s activity. Among many examples, an actuator recently built in compliance with customer specifications serves as a practical illustration of this activity. The specification called for a self-contained electro-hydraulic modulating actuator to operate a three-way globe bypass valve within a reactor water chemical clean-up system. This was a non-safety related application, but the specification also dictated a strict weight limitation and a maximum overall dimension envelope. Rotork-Hiller engineers put together a package incorporating all the requirements, including a number of components manufactured uniquely for the application. Meetings with the customer and design reviews enabled modifications to be made during the production process until the compact final package was completed. One of the engineers closely involved with the project takes up the story: “Everything was achieved in a timely fashion during which we designed and built a prototype for proof of concept and life testing in only six weeks, prior to design modifications and final design approval. The design demanded a lot of project specific direction to produce a modular electro-hydraulic actuator with a wide range of linear travel and thrust outputs. The lightweight and compact design delivers a highly accurate and responsive modulating performance and incorporates an intelligent positioner with HART communication protocol. “The complete package was successfully tested to industry standards for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) at an independent laboratory. The project illustrates how Rotork-Hiller is willing to go the distance and provide customer service at a level that is exemplary.” www.rotork.comAmarinth wins its first order from Ineos for flare knock-out pumps
Amarinth – the company specialising in the design, application and manufacture of centrifugal pumps and associated equipment to the Oil & Gas, petrochemical, chemical and industrial markets – has won an order from Ineos to supply two API 610 OH2 pumps with Plan 53B seal support systems for the flare knock-out system at the Ineos onshore refinery at Grangemouth, Scotland. The mercaptan oxidation (Merox) process at the Ineos Grangemouth plant required two API 610 OH2 pumps to remove the condensate that collects in the flare knock-out drums during the refining process. The pumps would only be operated infrequently, sometimes being dormant for weeks, but would then have to start reliably on-demand when the trigger level in the knock-out drums was reached. The Grangemouth refinery is situated next to the sea and so the pumps would be exposed to the often hostile Scottish elements. Ineos also had stringent site specifications that had to be met as well as needing the pumps on a tight 33 week delivery. Amarinth designed the pumps to withstand temperatures of -20C for the coldest of Scottish winters. The pumps were also painted to offshore specifications to survive the harsh coastal saline environment. Due to the low usage of the pumps, special oilers were incorporated so that any water in the bearing oil could be easily identified and removed. To ensure reliable on-demand operation, Amarinth worked with Ineos to develop a specific maintenance schedule for the pumps to minimise the risk of damage caused during the periods of inactivity, particularly around preventing the seal faces sticking. Given the demanding requirements, Ineos also wanted to ensure that Amarinth could provide support on-site for the pumps and so Amarinth sent its trained site engineers to Grangemouth to carry out the installation and commissioning of the pumps. Oliver Brigginshaw, managing director of Amarinth, commented: “We are delighted with this first order from Ineos, which allowed us to apply our extensive offshore experience to this order despite it being an on-shore application. We are noticing more customers requesting on-site commissioning when they place their orders and this provides us with useful feedback from site when we send our trained engineers to carry out this work which we can then incorporate into future designs and enhancements. It is also encouraging to see that the levels of opportunity within the UK offshore and on-shore markets continue to remain buoyant.” www.amarinth.comEaton hose for where performance is critical in extreme cold environments
The British Fluid Power Association launches new Hose Integrity, Inspection and Management Training Programme
The British Fluid Power Association (BFPA), incorporating the British Fluid Power Distributors’ Association (BFPDA),has introduced a new practical, workshop-based course
-
Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week
05 - 06 June, 2024
NEC, Birmingham -
HILLHEAD 2024
25 June, 2024, 9:00 - 27 June, 2024, 16:00
Hillhead Quarry, Buxton, Derbyshire UK
