The Applications of Hydraulics
The invention of machines has served humankind since ancient times. Many tasks would be much more difficult or even impossible without them. From the most basic such as fulcrums and levers, inclined planes, and the wheel, through the most complex computers and spacegoing vehicles, machines have changed the work. One particularly useful concept that has had many applications for centuries is hydraulics.
How Hydraulics Work
Hydraulics are used for many purposes. Your car has hydraulic systems, for example, the brakes. Larger trucks and vehicles usually require custom brake lines Ashland KY. Hydraulics work by using pressurized liquids to generate, transmit, and control power. The liquid may be water, oil, or some other type. In fact, the human body uses hydraulics in the vascular system in which the liquid is blood. The liquid under pressure can move parts of a machine and be controlled by levers or buttons.
Hydraulic Applications
The braking system of a motor vehicle is a common example of hydraulics at work. Depressing the brake pedal, forces pressurized brake fluid into the lines and causes the calipers to close on the disc, slowing the wheel and bringing the car to a stop. Power steering is another example of automotive hydraulics as is the automatic transmission.
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Hydraulics are used in heavy machines such as backhoes, bulldozers, and earthmovers. Hydraulic fluid pushed through heavy-duty lines controlled by levers, moves blades, buckets, and scoops along multiple axes allowing these machines to effectively perform the work they are designed for. Forklifts use hydraulic systems as well for raising, lowering, and tilting forks. The are many other applications and hydraulics is one of the most useful discoveries in history.
It’s such a simple concept, yet the use of liquids under pressure can be used to do so many things. Hydraulic systems are used every day by pretty much everybody.