Lesson 11: Aircraft

Hydraulic Systems
 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• The Average modern aircraft utilizes hydraulic

systems to operate several systems.

• Landing gear
• Wing flaps
• Speed and wheel brakes
• Flight controls
 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Pascal’s Law
• Pressure exerted on a fluid in an enclosed
container is transmitted equally and
undiminished to all parts of the container and
acts as right angles to the enclosing walls.
 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Hydrostatic Paradox
• The pressure exerted by a column of liquid is
determined by the height of the column and is
independent of its volume.
 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Neither the shape nor the volume of a container

affects the pressure. Only the height of the column
does this.
 Changes In Velocity and Pressure
(Bernoulli)

• When a fluid or gas is supplied at a constant flow

rate through a duct, the sum of the pressure energy
and velocity energy is constant.

• If pressure increases, velocity decreases

proportionally or, if pressure decreases, velocity
increases proportionally.

• Kinetic Energy = Velocity (Ram Pressure)

• Potential Energy = Pressure (Static Pressure)
Changes In Velocity and Pressure
(Bernoulli)
 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Relationship Between Pressure, Force, And Area

• Pressure is a measure of the amount of force

that acts on a unit of area.

• Pressure is measured in pounds per square

inch (psi).

• Force = Pressure x Area

 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Relationship Between Pressure, Force, And Area

 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Relationship Between Area, Distance, And Volume

• The area of the piston, the distance it moves,

and the volume of the fluid displaced.

• Volume = Area x Distance

 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Relationship Between Area, Distance, And Volume

 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Mechanical Advantage In A Hydraulic System

• Two major advantages

– Ease with which force can be transmitted

over large distances and into sealed
compartments.

– Large gain in mechanical advantage made

possible by varying the size of pistons.
 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Mechanical Advantage In A Hydraulic System

 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• Mechanical Advantage In A Hydraulic System

• If a large amount of movement is need but only

a small amount of force we can use a large
piston to drive a smaller one.

• The fluid moved by the large piston will enter

the cylinder with the small piston and move it a
distance equal to the volume of fluid divided
by the area of the small piston.
 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• All hydraulic systems are essentially the same,

whatever their function.

• Regardless of application, each hydraulic system

has a minimum number of components, and some
type of hydraulic fluid.
 Hydraulic Fluid

• The fluid used in aircraft hydraulic systems is one of

the system’s most important parts.

• The fluid must flow with a minimum of

opposition.
• Must be incompressible
• Good lubricating properties
• Inhibit corrosion and not attack seals
• Must not foam in operation
 Hydraulic Fluid

• Some characteristics that must be considered.

• Viscosity
• Chemical Stability
• Flash Point
• Fire Point
 Hydraulic Fluid

• Viscosity is the internal resistance to flow.

• Gasoline flows easily (has a low viscosity)

• Tar flows slowly (has a high viscosity)

• A satisfactory liquid for a hydraulic system must

have enough body t give a good seal at pumps,
valves and pistons; but it must not be so thick that it
offers excessive resistance to flow.

• The average hydraulic liquid has a low viscosity.

 Hydraulic Fluid

• Chemical Stability is the ability of the liquid to resist

oxidation and deterioration for long periods.

• Excessive temperatures have a great effect on

the life of a liquid.

• Liquids may break down if exposed to air,

water, salt, or other impurities.
 Hydraulic Fluid

• Flash Point is the temperature at which a liquid gives

off vapor in sufficient quantity to ignite momentarily
when a flame is applied.

• High flash point is desirable for hydraulic

fluids.
 Hydraulic Fluid

• Fire Point is the temperature at which a substance

gives off vapor in sufficient quantity to ignite and
continue to burn when exposed to a spark or flame.

• High fire point is required of desirable

hydraulic fluids.
 Types Of Hydraulic Fluid

• Vegetable-base

• Mineral-base

• Synthetic Fluid
 Types Of Hydraulic Fluid

• Mineral-base Fluid
• MIL-H-5606 is the most widely used hydraulic
fluid in general aviation aircraft.

• Kerosene-type petroleum product.

• Dyed red for identification

 Types Of Hydraulic Fluid

• Synthetic Fluid

• Non-petroleum base hydraulic fluid for use in

high performance piston engine and turbine
powered aircraft.

• Most commonly used fluid of this type is

Skydrol

• Colored light purple.

 Basic Hydraulic Systems

• Open Hydraulic System

 Basic Hydraulic Systems

• Closed Hydraulic Systems

 Basic Hydraulic Systems

• More modern brake system

Basic Hydraulic Systems
Power-pack Hydraulic System
 Basic Hydraulic Systems

• System Components

• Reservoirs
• Pumps
• Selector Valves
• Check Valves
• Hydraulic Fuses
• Accumulators
• Actuators
 System Components

• Reservoirs

• In an in-line reservoir, space is provided in the

reservoir for fluid expansion and the escape of
entrapped air.

• Jet aircraft that operate at altitudes where there

is not enough air pressure to assure a positive
feed of fluid to the pump have hydraulic
reservoirs pressurized.
 System Components

• Hydraulic reservoir pressurized by hydraulic system

pressure.
 System Components

• Pumps

• Powered Pumps

– Constant displacement moves a specific

volume of fluid each time its shaft turns.

– Variable displacement does not move a

constant amount of fluid each revolution,
but only the amount the system will accept.
 System Components

• Constant Displacement Pumps

• Gear Pump

• Gerotor Pump

• Vane Pump
 System Components

• Gear Pump

• Medium volume of fluid

under pressure.
 System Components

• Gerotor Pump
 System Components

• Vane Pump

• Moves a large
volume of fluid
under low pressure
 System Components

• Valves

• Selector valve
• Sequence valve
• Priority valve
• Pressure Control valves
 Plug-Type Selector Valve

• Low pressure
systems
Popper-Type Selector
Sequence Valves
Priority Valves
Hydraulic Fuses
 System Components

• Accumulators

• All accumulators consist of a high strength

container divided by some form of movable
partition into toe sections, or compartments.

• One compartments connected to the hydraulic

pressure manifold, and the other is filled with
compressed air or with nitrogen.
 System Components

• Accumulators
 System Components

• Actuators

• Single-Acting Linear

• Double-Acting Unbalanced Linear

• Double-Acting Balanced Linear

 System Components

• Single-Acting Linear (Brakes)

 System Components

• Double-Acting Unbalanced Linear (Landing Gear)

 System Components

• Double-Acting Balanced Linear (Flight Controls)