Hydraulic transmission system

If a hydraulic system is not a source of power, what is it? Hydraulics is defined as: The means of transmitting power through pressure applied on a confined liquid. The key word here is transmitting. A hydraulic system is a transmission system; its function is the same as that of the transmission in a car – to transmit the power output of the prime mover so the power can be used to do work.  It is important to note that it is not only the hydraulic pump that is the “transmission;” every component of the hydraulic system is part of a transmission system. A hydraulic system can deliver to the machine no more power than the amount of power put into the hydraulic pump by the engine, and an improperly designed hydraulic system can significantly reduce the power delivered to the working parts of a machine. Need help troubleshooting your hydraulic system? Call us today at 901-794-4884 or email sales@flinthyd.com.

Prime Movers in Hydraulic Systems

Here's another Flint Hydraulics Tech Tip: A hydraulic system is not a source of power. In a hydraulic system, the engine or electric motor that drives the pump, called the prime mover, is the source of power. The typical prime movers of hydraulic systems in mobile equipment applications are diesel or gasoline engines; in industrial hydraulic applications electric motors are more common. Regardless of the type of prime mover, however, the principles of hydraulic power are the same.