Hydraulic & Pneumatic Prints

Hello Team Members;

  Some of the main challenges of hydraulics and pneumatics is direction flow, leaks, loss of pressure and seized valves. In most cases (not all lines), the flow is in one direction only, kind of like DC electricity. When troubleshooting liquid and air issues, it is good to start at the reservoir or supply, i.e., the motor or pump. The main action to do before you jump into the systems be sure to use “all safety” action items first! When it comes to hydraulics, those systems can be under a great amount of pressure that could cause serious injury or death! A strong blast of air can be fatal as well. It is very important to know how these two systems work and know how to utilize the proper safety techniques for yourself, others and the equipment.

  Without knowing the details of hydraulic and pneumatic schematics, we could easily be looking at a bunch of lines with symbols and numbers intermediately throughout. Once we grasp the understanding of the symbols and how they operate on the schematic, then we can easily find them on the equipment and make the necessary repairs or changes as needed. There is three “W’s” that you need to work with when you troubleshoot these two types of systems…

Before beginning repair of a system, stop and ask these three questions:

• What is or is not occurring in the system’s operation?
• When did the problem begin? Was it a sudden failure or a gradual failure?
• Where in the machine cycle does the problem occur? Was it at startup or after the system has been operating for a while?

  The system operator can often answer What is or is not occurring in the system. Asking, When did the problem begin? can often lead to troubleshooting steps looking for worn components or leaks.

Asking, Where in the machine cycle does the problem occur? can reveal a reoccurring condition.

   After knowing these three steps, and using the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) Manual, you can easily track down the problem and make the repairs. In most cases, the OEM will also explain the symbols used on their equipment.

  I have data mined out of the web some good information that will assist you in reading and understanding the symbols and how both of the systems work. Most of what I have found are files that you can print off and keep in your industrial maintenance library. I have also found a few good web sites to share with you too. All of this information will guide you through the understanding, identification of the systems and troubleshooting. One of the great things about the two systems is that they use the same symbols! Just one of them is shaded in and the other is not, and we will go over that together.

  Here is a small list of PDF’s that I have for you to print off and add to your industrial library…

Basic Pneumatics

Basic Hydraulics

Introduction to Pneumatics and Pneumatic Circuit Problems

A Publication of Hydraulic Training

  Once you have the knowledge of the systems, you can begin to make repairs and troubleshoot the equipment. The first this thing to do is conduct a visual inspection. This inspection should be thorough and searching-checking all lines, units, mechanical linkage, and components for evidence of leaks, looseness, security, material condition, and proper installation. During this visual inspection, the hydraulic system should be checked for proper servicing-reservoir for proper level, accumulators for specified preload, etc

With the information that you now have, you will be able to…

• Troubleshoot hydraulic and pneumatic systems
• Identify symbols
• Identify flow and flow paths
• Identify the difference of the two systems

  One of the websites that I have found that can be a great source of industrial support is called Teach Engineering.

Teach Engineering is a digital library comprised of standards-based engineering curricula for K-12 educators to make applied science and math come alive through engineering design.

   On the surface, this may seem too basic for some, but it is a great start to new technicians that needs the basics to get started in the maintenance department.

Another Great Navel PDF

  I have found a website that have many resources on it and this was one of them. To this date, I have found many PDF’s that came out of the Navy that has been a great resource and support in my industrial maintenance knowledge!

  This Navel PDF that covers many areas that you need to know when dealing with Hydraulics, such as…

Introduction to Fluid Power, Forces in Liquids, Hydraulic Fluids, Pumps, Fluid Lines and Fittings, Valves, Sealing Devices and Materials, Measurement  and  Pressure  Control  Devices, Reservoirs,  Strainers,  Filters,  and  Accumulators, Actuators, Pneumatics, Basic Diagrams and Systems

Here is an introduction of the PDF…

• Fluid power is a term which was created to include the generation, control, and application of smooth, effective power of pumped or compressed fluids (either liquids or gases) when this power is used to provide force and motion to mechanisms. This force and motion maybe in the form of pushing, pulling, rotating, regulating, or driving. Fluid power includes hydraulics, which involves liquids, and pneumatics, which involves gases. Liquids and gases are similar in many respects. The differences are pointed out in the appropriate areas of this manual.

  In any major Warehouse or Fulfillment Center, we may not have many hydraulic systems, but we do have use pneumatics throughout the FC, mainly in the Print & Apply area, Pop-up Diverts and Sorters. As said earlier, hydraulic and pneumatic share the same characteristics; this PDF will assist in how the systems work.

  As a service technician in a major Fulfillment Center, maintaining the MHE (material handling systems) is vital to our systems operations in getting packages out to our customers. 12 Steps to troubleshooting hydraulic/pneumatic systems should be a start when making repairs. This could also help greatly when doing PM’s and replacing old parts.

  Troubleshooting a pneumatic system is neither art, nor science, nor should it be viewed as hit-or-miss; it is a procedural effort requiring 12 steps to accomplish.

• Think safety first.
• Ask the three W’s – What, When, and Where.
• Visually inspect the machine.
• Have a thorough understanding of the system. Use a schematic.
• Operate the machine.
• Recheck all services to the machine. Think safety.
• Isolate subsystems on the machine.
• Make a list of probable causes.
• Reach a conclusion about the problem.
• Test the conclusion.
• Repair or replace as necessary.
• Report the findings.

  As you read this week’s blog, you now have a better understanding of “Hydraulic & Pneumatic Print Reading”, one of the first items on the RME Assessment Categories. I hope that you look at the Navel PDF on Fluid Power and get it down loaded for your use!

Red Vector Spotlight!

I have several PDF’s to send out this week…

• Valves: Introduction to Actuators
• Valves: Basic Types and Operation

   If you would like a copy of these two short guides, I can email them to you! I will also post others as we go along this journey.

  In Conclusion my friends; what are some of this topics that we talked about here supported your needs? What are some of the challenges in hydraulic and pneumatic print reading do you need support on? We are almost done with print reading subjects and will move into Power Transmission & Basic Preventive Maintenance.

  I hope that this blog supports your needs and delivered good content for you! Please feel free to leave a comment!

Best Regards. Joe DeLoach

Disclaimer: some info was copied from the web such as this site called “Plant Engineering.”