1-2 Basis of Hydraulics

Hydraulic systems transfer power by feeding a hydraulic fluid from a closed vessel with variable displacement to
another closed vessel. This section explains“pressure”as the basis of hydraulic power. It is explained in accordance
with Pascal’s principle. Also,“flow rates”and“hydraulic power”are explained by the calculation of“forces”and
“speeds”of a hydraulic cylinder.

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1-2-1 Pascal s Principle 1-2-2 Force and Speed of Hydraulic Cylinders
A static fluid in a closed vessel has the following When hydraulic flow enters into a closed vessel with a
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characteristics, as stated by Pascal s principle. movable piston, the piston is moved by the force applied
(1) Pressure works on a plane at a right angle. to its surfaces. This is the principle of hydraulic cylinder
(2) Pressure is transmitted equally in all directions. operation. The cylinder force and speed are expressed by
(3) Pressure applied on part of a fluid is transmitted the following equations.
throughout the fluid equally. Cylinder Force＝Pressure×Cylinder Area
Pressure P can be expressed by the following formula as Cylinder Speed＝Inlet Flow Rate/Cylinder Area
a force per unit area. The force and speed at the piston and rod sides are
P ＝F/A shown in Fig. 1.6.
P [Pa(psi)]: Pressure, F [N(lbf)]: Applied force, The power of the cylinder, or output [kW(HP)], is the
A [m2(in2)]: Area where the force is applied product of the force and the traveling distance per unit
time, as shown in the expression below.
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Figure 1.5 shows a force multiplier based on Pascal s Cylinder Output Power＝Force×Speed
principle. The force multiplier is a closed vessel having ＝(Pressure×Cylinder Area)
different movable pistons positioned at both ends. Pres- ×(Inlet Flow Rate/ Cylinder Area)
sures everywhere in the vessel are equal; thus, the formula ＝ Pressure×Inlet Flow Rate
P ＝ F 1/ A 1＝ F 2/ A 2 is derived, accordingly resulting in This is generally called the hydraulic power.
F 2＝F 1×A 2/A 1. The force on the larger sectional area F 2
is multiplied by the ratio to the smaller sectional area
●Force
where the force F 1 is applied. The subscripts 1 and 2
indicate the larger and smaller sections of the pistons, Area：A1 Area：A2 Force：F1
respectively. The traveling distance of the piston is
proportional to the multiplicative inverse of its ratio of the
cross sectional area (A 1/A 2); therefore, the piston with Pressure：P1 Pressure：P2
the larger cross sectional area travels a smaller distance. Packing Friction：F0
The traveling distance per unit time, or the product of the F1＝0.1（P1・A1ーP2・A2）ーF0 (kN)
speed and the cross sectional area, is the flow rate.
F1＝（P1・A1ーP2・A2）ーF0 (lbf)

1 000 kN Unit P1, P2：MPa (psi)

F2 (224 800 lbf) A1, A2：cm2 (in2)
F1 40 kN
(8 992 lbf)

2 cm
●Speed
(0.787 in)
50 cm Area：A1 Area：A2 Speed：V1
(19.7 in)

A1 A2 Flow Rate：Q1 Flow Rate：Q2

2 2
2 cm 50 cm
(0.310 in2) (7.75 in2) 6
Q1＝ 1 000 ・V1・A1 Q1＝3.117・V1・A1

1 000 Q1 1 Q1
V 1＝ 6 ・ A1 V1＝ 3.117 ・
Fig. 1.5 Force Multiplier A1
6 A2 A2
Q2＝ 1 000・V1・A2＝ ・Q1 Q2＝3.117・V1・A2＝ Q1
A1 A1・

Unit Q1, Q2：L/min Unit Q1, Q2：U.S.GPM

V1 ：mm/s V1 ：ft/s
A1, A2 ：cm2 A1, A2 ：in2

Fig. 1.6 Force and Speed of Hydraulic Cylinders

WORLD OF HYDRAULIC DRIVE ■ 4