A hydraulic jack, or any device using hydraulic power, consists of five fundamental components:
A. Hydraulic Reservoir
The hydraulic reservoir stores the hydraulic oil, which is the medium used to transmit force and motion. The oil must be thoroughly clean, whether the reservoir is integrally built-in or a separate tank.
B. Pump
The pump, either integral or remote control type, comprises highly precision-engineered components, including:
- Pump plunger
- Cylinder
- Suction and delivery valves
- Safety valves with conical or steel balls
O-rings and special seals made from treated leather, synthetic nitrile rubber, or Teflon enhance wear resistance and sealing power. Regular cleaning and flushing of foreign particles are essential to maintain peak efficiency and prevent damage to the valves and seals.
C. Valves
A system of valves governs the flow of hydraulic oil to perform the desired functions.
D. Hydraulic Circuit
The transmission of hydraulic oil from the reservoir through the pump and valves to the ram and cylinder converts hydraulic pressure into mechanical force. This is achieved via a hydraulic circuit, a network of passages formed with:
- Steel tubes
- Flexible hydraulic hoses
- Internal holes or cavities in metal blocks
The circuit must be leak-proof and free from obstacles. All joints and couplings should be securely tightened, and no air locks or foreign particles should block the flow of hydraulic oil.
E. Hydraulic Cylinders
All hydraulic cylinders consist of two basic elements: the cylinder body (outer housing) and the ram (inner sliding element) that converts hydraulic pressure into mechanical force. The ram moves in line with the cylinder under pressure. Hydraulic oil is pumped into the cylinder, building pressure until the ram moves to lift, press, push, pull, or bend objects as needed. The ram and cylinder are precision-engineered with high-quality seals to ensure compression and prevent leaks.
Operational Steps
- The release valve is closed tightly to ensure the flow of oil from the pump to the cylinder only.
- When the pump is operated, oil is sucked in from the reservoir. The suction valve opens to allow oil into the pump cylinder.
- Pressing the pump plunger down opens the delivery valve, allowing oil to flow into the cylinder while the suction valve closes to prevent backflow.
- By repeating the above steps, more oil is pumped into the cylinder, generating pressure and lifting the load.
- To lower the load, release the pressure within the cylinder by operating the release valve, allowing oil to flow back into the reservoir.
Safety Features
To prevent damage from excessive pressure, a safety relief valve is located between the cylinder and reservoir. This valve opens to release pressure when it exceeds safe limits. Sometimes, the safety relief valve is positioned between the reservoir and pump, cutting off the pump’s oil delivery when excessive pressure is generated.
By understanding these components and following proper operational steps, you can effectively and safely use the VABER hydraulic jack.