Hydraulic

Hydraulic
Terminology
Terminology
 Terminology

ACCUMULATOR -- A container in which fluid is stored

under pressure as a source of fluid power.

ACTUATOR -- A device for converting hydraulic energy

into mechanical energy. A motor or cylinder.

AERATION -- Air in the hydraulic fluid. Excessive aeration

causes the fluid to appear milky and components to
operate erratically because of the compressibility of the air
trapped in the fluid.
 Terminology

ANNULAR AREA -- A ring shaped area -- often refers

to the net effective area of the rod side of a cylinder
piston, i.e., the piston area minus the cross-sectional
area of the rod.

ATMOSPHERE (ONE) -- A pressure measure equal to

14.7 psi.

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE -- Pressure on all objects

in the atmosphere because of the weight of the
surrounding air. At sea level, about 14. 7 psi absolute.
 Terminology

BACK PRESSURE -- A pressure in series. Usually refers

to pressure existing on the discharge side of a load. It
adds to the pressure required to move the load.

BAFFLE -- A device, usually a plate, installed in a

reservoir to separate the pump inlet from return lines.

BLEED-OFF -- To divert a specific controllable portion of

pump delivery directly to reservoir.
 Terminology
BREATHER -- A device which permits air to move in and
out of a container or component to maintain atmospheric
pressure.

BY-PASS -- A secondary passage for fluid flow.

CARTRIDGE

1. The replaceable element of a fluid filter.

2. The pumping unit from a vane pump,

composed of the rotor, ring, vanes and one
or both side plates.
 Terminology
CAVITATION -- A localized gaseous condition within a liquid
stream which occurs where the pressure is reduced to the
vapor pressure.

CHAMBER -- A compartment within a hydraulic unit. May

contain elements to aid in operation or control of a unit.
Examples: Spring chamber, drain chamber, etc.

CHARGE (supercharge)

1. To replenish a hydraulic system above

atmospheric pressure.

2. To fill an accumulator with fluid under pressure

(see pre-charge pressure).
 Terminology

CHARGE PRESSURE -- The pressure at which

replenishing fluid is forced into the hydraulic system (above
atmospheric pressure).

CHECK VALVE -- A valve which permits flow of fluid in

one direction only.

CIRCUIT -- The complete path of flow in a hydraulic

system including the flow-generating device.
 Terminology
CLOSED CENTER -- The condition where pump output is
not unloaded to sump in the center or neutral operating
condition.

CLOSED CIRCUIT -- A piping arrangement in which

pump delivery, after passing through other hydraulic
components, by-passes the reservoir and returns directly
to pump inlet.

COMPENSATOR CONTROL -- A displacement control

for variable pumps and motors which alters displacement
in response to pressure changes in the system as related
to its adjusted pressure setting.
 Terminology

COMPONENT -- A single hydraulic unit.

CONTROL -- A device used to regulate the function of a

unit (see Hydraulic Control, Manual Control, Mechanical
Control, and Compensator Control).

COOLER -- A heat exchanger used to remove heat from

the hydraulic fluid.
 Terminology
COUNTERBALANCE VALVE -- A valve which maintains
resistance to flow in one direction but permits free flow in
the other. Usually connected to the outlet of a vertical
double-acting cylinder to support weight or prevent
uncontrolled falling or dropping.

CRACKING PRESSURE -- The pressure at which a

pressure actuated valve begins to pass fluid.

CUSHION -- A device sometimes built into the ends of a

hydraulic cylinder which restricts the flow of fluid at the
outlet port, thereby arresting the motion of the piston rod.
 Terminology

CYLINDER -- A device which converts fluid power into

linear mechanical force and motion. It usually consists of
a movable element such as a piston and piston rod,
plunger rod, plunger or rain, operating within a cylindrical
bore.

DELIVERY -- The volume of fluid discharged by a pump in

a given time, usually expressed in gallons per minute
(gpm).

DIFFERENTIAL CYLINDER -- Any cylinder in which the

two opposed piston areas are not equal.
 Terminology

DIRECTIONAL VALVE -- A valve which selectively

directs or prevents fluid flow to desired channels.

DISPLACEMENT -- The quantity of fluid which can pass

through a pump, motor or cylinder in a single revolution or
stroke.

DOUBLE ACTING CYLINDER -- A cylinder in which fluid

force can be applied in either direction.
 Terminology
DRAIN -- A passage in, or a line from, a hydraulic
component which returns leakage fluid independently to
reservoir or to a vented manifold.

EFFICIENCY -- The ratio of output to input. Volumetric

efficiency of a pump is the actual output in gpm divided by
the theoretical or design output. The overall efficiency of a
hydraulic system is the output power divided by the input
power. Efficiency is usually expressed as A percent.

ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC SERVO VALVE -- A directional

type valve which receives a variable or controlled electrical
signal and which controls or meters hydraulic flow.
 Terminology

ENERGY -- The ability or capacity to do work. Measured

in units of work.

FEEDBACK (or feedback signal) -- The output signal

from a feedback element.

FILTER -- A device whose primary function is the

retention by a porous media of insoluble contaminants
from a fluid.
 Terminology

FLOODED -- A condition where the pump inlet is

charged by placing level above the pump inlet port.

FLOW CONTROL VALVE - - A valve which controls

the rate of oil flow.

FLOW RATE -- The volume, mass, or weight of a fluid

passing through any conductor per unit of time.
 Terminology

FLUID -- A liquid that is specially compounded for use

as a power transmitting medium in a hydraulic system.

FOLLOW VALVE -- A control valve which ports oil to

an actuator so the resulting output motion is
proportional to the input motion to the valve.

FORCE -- Any push or pull measured in units of weight.

In hydraulics, total force is expressed by the product P
(force per unit area) and the area of the surface on
which the pressure acts. F = P x A.
 Terminology

FOUR-WAY VALVE -- A directional valve having four flow

paths.

FULL FLOW -- In a filter, the condition where all the fluid

must pass through the filter element or medium.

GAUGE PRESSURE -- A pressure scale which ignores

atmospheric pressure. Its zero point is 14. 7 psi absolute.
 Terminology
HEAD -- The height of a column or body of fluid above a
given point expressed in linear units. Head is often used to
indicate gage pressure. Pressure is equal to the height times
the density of the fluid.

HEAT -- The form of energy that has the capacity to create

warmth or to increase the temperature of a substance. Any
energy that is wasted or used to overcome friction is
converted to heat. Heat is measured in calories or British
Thermal Units (BTU’s). One BTU is the amount of heat
required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one
degree Fahrenheit.

HEAT EXCHANGER -- A device which transfers heat through

a conducting wall from one fluid to another.
 Terminology

HORSEPOWER -- (HP) -- The power required to lift 550

pounds one foot in one second or 33, 000 pounds one foot
in one minute. A horsepower is equal to 746 watts or to
42. 4 British Thermal Units per minute.

HYDRAULIC BALANCE -- A condition of equal opposed

hydraulic forces acting on a part in a hydraulic component.

HYDRAULIC CONTROL -- A control which is actuated by

hydraulically induced forces.
 Terminology

HYDRAULICS -- Engineering science pertaining to liquid

pressure and flow.

HYDROSTATICS -- The science of liquid pressure.

LIFT -- The height a body or column of fluid is raised; for

instance from the reservoir to the pump inlet. Lift is
sometimes used to express a negative pressure or vacuum.
The opposite of head.
 Terminology

LINE -- A tube, pipe or hose which acts as a conductor of

hydraulic fluid.

LINEAR ACTUATOR -- A device for converting hydraulic

energy into linear motion -- a cylinder or ram.

MANIFOLD -- A fluid conductor which provides multiple

connection ports.
 Terminology

MANUAL CONTROL -- A control actuated by the operator,

regardless of the means of actuation. Example: Lever or
foot pedal control for directional valves.

MANUAL OVERRIDE -- A means of manually actuating an

automatically-controlled device.

MECHANICAL CONTROL -- Any control actuated by

linkages, gears, screws, cams or other mechanical
elements.
 Terminology

METER -- To regulate the amount or rate of fluid flow.

METER-IN -- To regulate the amount of fluid flow into an

actuator or system.

METER-OUT -- To regulate the flow of the discharge fluid

from an actuator or system.
 Terminology

MICRON -- One-millionth of a meter or about .00004 inch.

MICRON RATING -- The size of the particles a filter will

remove.

MOTOR -- A rotary motion device which changes hydraulic

energy into mechanical energy; a rotary actuator.
 Terminology

OPEN CENTER -- A condition where pump delivery re-

circulates freely to sump in the center or neutral position.

ORIFICE -- A restriction, the length of which is small in

respect to its cross-sectional dimensions.

PASSAGE -- A machined or cored fluid conducting path

which lies within or passes through a component.
 Terminology

PILOT PRESSURE -- Auxiliary pressure used to actuate or

control hydraulic components.

PILOT VALVE -- An auxiliary valve used to control the

operation of another valve. The controlling stage of a 2-
stage valve.

PISTON -- A cylindrically shaped part which fits within a

cylinder and transmits or receives motion by means of a
connecting rod.
 Terminology

PLUNGER -- A cylindrically shaped part which has only

one diameter and is used to transmit thrust. A ram.

POPPET -- That part of certain valves which prevents

flow when it closes against a seat.

PORT -- An internal or external terminus of a passage in

a component.
 Terminology

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT -- A characteristic of a pump

or motor which has the inlet positively sealed from the
outlet so that fluid cannot recirculate in the component.

POWER -- Work per unit of time. Measured in horsepower

(hp) or watts.

PRECHARGE PRESSURE -- The pressure of compressed

gas in an accumulator prior to the admission of liquid.
 Terminology

PRESSURE -- Force per unit area; usually expressed in

pounds per square inch (psi).

PRESSURE DROP -- The reduction in pressure between

two points in a line or passage due to the energy required
to maintain flow; may be deliberate.

PRESSURE LINE -- The line carrying the fluid from the

pump outlet to the pressurized port of the actuator.
 Terminology
PRESSURE OVERRIDE -- The difference between the
cracking pressure of a valve and the pressure reached when
the valve is passing full flow.

PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE -- A valve which limits the

maximum pressure at its outlet regardless of the inlet
pressure.

PROPORTIONAL FLOW -- In a filter, the condition where

part of the flow passes through the filter element in proportion
to pressure drop.
 Terminology

PUMP -- A device which converts mechanical force and

motion into hydraulic fluid power.

RAM -- A single-acting cylinder with a single diameter

plunger rather than a piston and rod. The plunger in a
ram-type cylinder.

RECIPROCATION -- Back-and-forth straight line motion

or oscillation.
 Terminology

RELIEF VALVE -- A pressure operated valve which by-

passes pump delivery to the reservoir, limiting system
pressure to a predetermined maximum value.

RESERVOIR -- A container for storage of liquid in a fluid

power system.

RESTRICTION -- A reduced cross-sectional area in a line

or passage which produces a pressure drop.
 Terminology

RETURN LINE -- A line used to carry exhaust fluid from

the actuator back to sump.

REVERSING VALVE -- A four-way directional valve used

to reverse a double-acting cylinder or reversible motor.

ROTARY ACTUATOR -- A device for converting hydraulic

energy into rotary motion -- a hydraulic motor.
 Terminology
SEQUENCE -- To divert flow to accomplish a subsequent
operation or movement.

SEQUENCE VALVE -- A pressure operated valve which

diverts flow to a secondary actuator while holding pressure on
the primary actuator at a predetermined minimum value after
the primary actuator completes its travel.

SERVO MECHANISM (servo) -- A mechanism subjected to

the action of a controlling device which will operate as if it were
directly actuated by the controlling device, but capable of
supplying power output many times that of the controlling
device, this power being derived from an external and
independent source.
 Terminology

SERVO VALVE -- A valve which controls the direction

and quantity of fluid flow in proportion to an input signal.

SIGNAL -- A command or indication of a desired

position or velocity.

SINGLE ACTING CYLINDER -- A cylinder in which

hydraulic energy can produce thrust or motion in only
one direction. (Can be spring or gravity returned.)
 Terminology

SLIP -- Internal leakage of hydraulic fluid.

SPOOL -- A term loosely applied to almost any moving

cylindrically shaped part of a hydraulic component which
moves to direct flow through the component.

STRAINER -- A coarse filter.

 Terminology
STROKE

1. The length of travel of a piston or plunger.

2. To change the displacement of a variable

displacement pump or motor

SUB-PLATE -- An auxiliary mounting for a hydraulic

component providing a means of connecting piping to the
component.

SUCTION LINE -- The hydraulic line connecting the

pump inlet port to the reservoir or sump.
 Terminology

SUMP -- A reservoir.

SUPERCHARGE -- (See charge.)

SURGE -- A momentary rise of pressure in a circuit.

 Terminology

SWASH PLATE -- A stationary canted plate in an axial

type piston pump which causes the pistons to reciprocate
as the cylinder barrel rotates.

TANK -- The reservoir or sump.

THROTTLE -- To permit passing of a restricted flow. May

control flow rate or create a deliberate pressure drop.
 Terminology

TORQUE -- A rotary thrust. The turning effort of a fluid

motor usually expressed in inch pounds.

TORQUE MOTOR -- An electromagnetic device consisting

of coils and the proper magnetic circuit to provide actuation
of a spring-restrained armature, either rotary or translatory.

TWO-WAY VALVE -- A directional control valve with two

flow paths.
 Terminology

UNLOAD -- To release flow (usually directly to the reservoir),

to prevent pressure being imposed on the system or portion
of the system.

UNLOADING VALVE -- A valve which by-passes flow to tank

when a set pressure is maintained on its pilot port.

VACUUM -- The absence of pressure. A perfect vacuum is

the total absence of pressure; a partial vacuum is some
condition less than atmospheric pressure. Measured in
inches of Mercury (in. Hg.).
 Terminology
VALVE -- A device which controls fluid flow direction,
pressure, or flow rate.

VELOCITY -- The speed of flow through a hydraulic

line. Expressed in feet per second (fps) or inches per
second (ips).

VENT

1. To permit opening of a pressure control

valve by opening its pilot port (vent
connection) to atmospheric pressure.

2. An air breathing device on a fluid

reservoir.
 Terminology
VISCOSITY -- A measure of the internal friction or the
resistance of a fluid to flow.

VISCOSITY INDEX -- A measure of the viscosity-

temperature characteristics of a fluid as referred to that of
two arbitrary reference fluids.

VOLUME

1. The size of a space or chamber in cubic

units.

2. Loosely applied to the output of a pump

in gallons per minute (gpm)
 Terminology

WOBBLE PLATE -- A rotating canted plate in an axial type

piston pump which pushes the pistons into their bores as it
"wobbles".

WORK -- Exerting a force through a definite distance. Work

is measured in units of force multiplied by distance; for
example, pound-feet.