Glossary of Terms

A
A chamber in which a fluid/ gas can be stored
ACCUMULATOR under pressure, and can be taken on system
demand
Converts hydraulic energy into mechanical energy.
ACTUATOR
A motor or cylinder.
Air in the hydraulic fluid. Aeration causes the fluid
AERATION to appear milky and components to operate
erratically because of the air trapped in the fluid.
A ring shape area. Often refers to the effective area
ANNULAR AREA
of the rod side of a cylinder piston.
B
Pressure existing on the discharge side of a load. It
BACK PRESSURE
adds to the pressure required to move the load.
To reduce a portion of pump delivery to the
BLEED-OFF
reservoir.
BYPASS Alternative passage for fluid flow.
C
Where fluid does not completely fill the existing
CAVITATION
space. Commonly associated with the pump inlet.
The amount of fluid required to fill the device at its
CAPACITY
maximum usage point.
(SUPERCHARGE)1. To fill a hydraulic system
CHARGE above atmospheric pressure. 2. To fill an
accumulator with fluid under pressure.
The pressure that fluid is forced into the hydraulic
CHARGE PRESSURE
system.
CHECK VALVE A valve that allows flow in one direction only.
A system designed so that when the fluid has been
used in the system and Hydraulic components,
CLOSED CIRCUIT
bypasses the reservoir and returns directly to the
pump inlet
A displacement control for variable pumps and
COMPENSATION CONTROL motors which alters the displacement in response
to pressure changes in the system.
CONTROL An item that can change the function of a unit.
Consists of two parts Male (Probe) and female,
Can be disconnected and connected quickly and
COUPLING
contain check valves to prevent leakage of fluid
when not fitted together.
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 double-acting cylinder
 to support weight or prevent uncontrolled failure.
CRACKING PRESSURE The pressure at which a valve begins to pass fluid.
Built into the ends of a cylinder which limits the
CUSHION hydraulic flow to the outlet port, in turn decreasing
the speed of the piston.
A cylinder barrel with a piston rod for pushing and
CYLINDER
pulling using pressurized fluid
D
The release of pressurized fluid to steadily reduce
DECOMPRESSION
the pressure of the fluid in the system.
The amount of fluid expelled by the pump in a set
DELIVERY time. Commonly expressed as litres per second
(L/s).
Any cylinder in which the two opposing piston
DIFFERENTIAL CYLINDER
areas are not equal.
A valve that controls the direction of fluid flow
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVE
into predetermined paths.
A measurable amount of fluid that passes from the
DISPLACEMENT inlet port to the outlet port of an actuator in a single
revolution.
Hydraulic force can be applied in either direction.
DOUBLE-ACTING CYLINDER
(Extend or retract)
Used in a hydraulic system to direct fluid back to
DRAIN
reservoir.
F
For the removal of particle contamination from a
FILTER fluid by using internal materials like paper or mesh
screen.
FLOW CONTROL VALVE A valve which controls the rate of flow of the fluid.
Units of volume of fluid passing any given point in
FLOW RATE one period of time. For example - litres per second
(L/s).
A force is often defined as a push or a pull or
movement that can modify motion. The basic unit
of force is a Newton, which is force required to
accelerate ONE kilogram mass by ONE meter per
FORCE
second for each second it is applied. In hydraulics,
the total force is shown as the product of the
pressure (force per unit area) and the area on which
the pressure acts. F = p x A.
A directional control valve with four flow paths
FOUR WAY VALVE
(ports).
A condition where the connections are on the
FRONT CONNECTED
exposed surfaces of components.
G
 An instrument used to display the pressure reading
GAUGE of an area or device in the system often displayed
in BAR, Psi, KPA or Mpa.
H
The force exerted by a column of fluid due to its
HEAD
height and weight (density).
A device in which heat is added or removed from
HEAT EXCHANGER
fluids to control a set temperature.
Equal and opposed hydraulic forces acting on a
HYDRAULIC BALANCE
part in a hydraulic component.
A method of control that is actuated by
HYDRAULIC CONTROL
hydraulically induced forces.
A flexible tube used to transmit fluid / hydraulic
HOSE energy to a desired location or device in the
system.
L
A tube, pipe which acts as a conductor of fluids
LINE
and transmits the fluid energy.
A device for converting fluid/ gas power energy
LINEAR ACTUATOR into a straight line motion. For example- A cylinder
or ram.
M
( From the Latin ‘ Manus’ the hand) A control
MANUAL CONTROL actuated by the operator, through e.g. lever, foot
pedal or button etc.
A chamber that has several outlets through fluid or
MANIFOLD gas is distributed or gathered to or from different
parts of the system.
Operated by machine linkages, gears, screws, cams
MECHANICAL CONTROL
or other mechanical elements.
METER To regulate the rate of fluid flow.
To regulate the amount of fluid flowing into an
METER-IN
actuator or system.
To regulate the amount of fluid flowing out of an
METER-OUT
actuator or system.
A device which converts other energy forms into
MOTOR rotary mechanical energy For example - Rotary
actuator
O
A small opening found in various devices and
ORIFICE components throughout hydraulic systems. Used to
control and restrict flow for many applications.
P
PASSAGE A way or means for fluid to flow in a system.
 Cylindrical shaped part that fits inside a cylinder or
PISTON
ram barrel and transmits or receives motion.
PLUNGER A part which is used to transmit thrust.
A part within valves which prevents flow when it
POPPET
seals against a seat.
The open end of an internal passage. Usually
PORT
within or at the surface of a components exterior.
System pressure used to control components. May
PILOT PRESSURE
be at a lower pressure.
A stand alone hydraulic system containing a pump,
POWER PACK reservoir, relief valve and drive unit. To produce its
own power, often compact.
The pressure reading of gas (nitrogen) in an
PRECHARGE PRESSURE
accumulator prior to the addition of fluid.
The exertion of force upon a surface by an object,
Pressure is created by resistance to flow due to
PRESSURE increased load or friction. For example - one
Newton per meter square equals ONE Pascal. 1
Nrn = 1 Pa. In fluid power.
The reduction in pressure between two points in a
PRESSURE DROP line or device caused by the increase in resistance.
May be induced by fitting an orifice in the system.
The difference between the cracking pressure of a
PRESSURE OVER-RIDE valve and the pressure reached when the valve is
passing full flow.
A valve that limits the maximum set pressure at its
PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE
outlet regardless of the extreme inlet pressure.
A switch operated by increase or decrease in fluid
PRESSURE SWITCH
pressure
The male section of a coupling that is inserted in to
PROBE
female coupling half join the two sections together.
A device to convert mechanical energy into fluid
PUMP
energy.
R
A pressure operated valve which by-passes pump
RELIEF VALVE flow to the reservoir, limiting system pressure to a
preset level.
REPLENISH To add fluid to a hydraulic system
To control the operation or performance of a device
REMOTE
or apparatus from a distance or mobile position.
A reduced area in a line/hose or passage which
RESTRICTION creates a pressure drop at the other side of the
system.
Used for converting hydraulic/pneumatic energy
ROTARY ACTUATOR into mechanical energy. For example - Hydraulic
motor
S
Pressure operated valve which diverts flow to a
SEQUENCE VALVE secondary circuit once the primary circuit goes
above a preset pressure.
A cylinder in which fluid energy produces thrust or
SINGLE ACTING CYLINDER motion in one direction only. Commonly spring or
gravity returned.
A term applied to any moving cylindrical shaped
SPOOL component which moves to change fluid flow
through the component.
A component that removes solids from fluid
STRAINER
commonly by a wire mesh.
The length of travel of a piston or plunger.* Also
used to explain the changing of the displacement of
STROKE
a variable pump or motor. For example - To de-
stroke the pump.
A sudden rise in pressure. Can be associated with a
SURGE
sudden shock or blockage to flow.
T
Allow the passing of a set amount of fluid flow.
THROTTLE
May control flow or create a pressure drop.
Rotary energy or force of a turning shaft like a
TORQUE hydraulic motor. Measured in Newton Meters
(Nm).
A directional control (DCV) valve with two flow
TWO WAY VALVE
paths or ports.
U
To release flow to the reservoir to prevent
UNLOAD increased pressure being exerted on the system or
components.
A valve that directs flow to reservoir when a set
UNLOADING VALVE
pressure is maintained on its pilot port.
V
For controlling flow rate, flow direction or pressure
VALVE of a fluid. Can be manually, electrically,
mechanically or pilot controlled.
To allow a non pressurized reservoir to breath to
VENT
atmosphere.
The measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow. The
VISCOSITY greater the resistance to flow, the higher the
viscosity number.
An arbitrary scale for lubricating oils that indicates
VISCOSITY INDEX the extent of variation in viscosity with variation of
temperature.