Hello, my name is Roy. For many years, I drove a 1976 Ford estate car around Sydney. The car had belonged to my grandpa. It was passed down to me when I had just passed my driving test at the age of 18. That was in 1986 and the car was already in a pretty bad condition then. Fast forward to 2006 and I was now aged 38 and still driving the same car around. Sometimes the car wouldn't start, white smoke came out of the exhaust and the gearbox made a terrible sound. I did my best to patch it up, but eventually, I had to scrap the car and buy a new one. I decided to start a blog to encourage others to service their cars.
It would be difficult to imagine automobile servicing today without the use of hydraulic equipment. These systems have made it easier for vehicles to be raised, moved and adjusted so that proper maintenance can be carried out on them. Hydraulic equipment refers to the range of equipment that is used to maneuver vehicles while they are being serviced.
Cylinders, jacks, pumps, power packs and automated vehicle hoists all fall under hydraulic equipment used in vehicle maintenance. It is important to understand more about how these hydraulic systems work and why they are so useful in automobile servicing.
How hydraulic systems work
Hydraulic systems work on the principle of equal transmission of force in a liquid. Unlike liquids, solids and gases can be compressed. When enough force is exerted on them, they absorb the pressure and either shrink in size or break apart. On the other hand, liquids cannot be compressed. Therefore, whenever force is applied on a liquid, it simply transmits the force to another nearby medium.
Pressure in liquids is normally transmitted equally in all directions. This principle allows for a force that is exerted on one part of a liquid to be equally felt on all sides of the container. In hydraulic systems, a force is applied on the liquid across a smaller cross-sectional area, which causes the liquid to transmit an equal amount of force across a larger area. This transmitted force is what is used to provide the necessary power to lift heavy machines such as your vehicle.
Types of hydraulic equipment for automotive use
Cylinders and jacks
Cylinders and jacks are normally used to lift your vehicle when you need to change the tires or access the bottom panel. Jacks have different capacity ratings for the load that they can lift. The cylinder contains the fluid that transmits the required force for the lifting of the vehicle. A larger capacity cylinder often means more available force.
Hydraulic presses
Hydraulic presses consist of a sturdy metal frame, equipped with an air hydraulic pump or an electric hydraulic pump. Both designs provide a powerful hydraulic force that can lift various vehicle components to the required height. In addition, the frame of the hydraulic press is adjustable, giving automobile servicers greater flexibility.
Hydraulic tables
Hydraulic tables are designed for lifting a load to the necessary height against the vehicle. For example, if engine replacement is necessary, the new engine can simply be placed on the hydraulic table and installed with minimal effort and inconvenience.
Share26 September 2017
