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Fluids are continuous, shapeless substances
whose molecules move freely past one another and
have the tendency to assume the shape of its container;
Liquids or Gasses
By itself, fluid has no power,
but when confined and
placed under pressure,
Fluid can transmit power
that can be stored,
directed and made to do work.
Fluid Power Systems
•Amplify Power
•Transmit Power
•Control Power
Fluid power is pressurized liquid or gas in a closed system.
Fluid power can be hydraulic or pneumatic.
Hydraulics use pressurized
oil or other liquids.
Pneumatics use pressurized
air or other gasses.
Blair Pascal was a scientist who lived in
the mid 1600’s. He described how liquids
behave. He built a container like this to
show that water pressure depends on the
depth of the water, not the size or shape
of the container.
A
B
You might think that there is
more pressure under side B,
because there is more water,
but if it had more pressure, it
would push side A up.
Pascal Law states that pressure at any point in a body of fluid is the same in every
direction, exerting equal force on equal areas. Now if you apply more pressure to
one side of the container, the fluid will rise on the other side.
Read “The Basic Idea” from How Stuff Works.
Push on the red arrows to see how a simple
hydraulic system works and how we can obtain a
mechanical advantage by changing the size of
the pistons.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/hydraulic1.htm
Large movement in the smaller piston requires less effort,
but causes the large piston to produce a great amount of force.
The force is measured in pounds per square inch. (psi)
A piston is a solid cylinder or disk that fits snugly into a larger
cylinder and moves under fluid pressure, as in a reciprocating
engine, or displaces or compresses fluids, as in pumps and
compressors.
Fluid Power Applications
Robotics
Wave Pool
Log Splitters
Jack
Hammers
Auto Brakes
Hospital
Beds
Dump Truck
Factories
Injection
Molders
On a 1929 Dodge truck
Animatronics
Jaws of Life
Cranes
Auto Lifts
Automatic
Doors
Theme Parks
Check out the factory
tour!
Nail Guns