Lecture 10

HYDRAULIC ACTUATORS

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 Introduction
• Hydraulic systems are used to control and transmit power.
• A pump driven by a prime mover such as an electric motor
creates a flow of fluid, in which the pressure, direction and
rate of flow are controlled by valves.
• An actuator is used to convert the energy of fluid back into
the mechanical power.
• The amount of output power developed depends upon the
flow rate, the pressure drop across the actuator and its
overall efficiency.
• Hydraulic actuators are devices used to convert pressure
energy of the fluid into mechanical energy.

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 Introduction
• Depending on the type of actuation, hydraulic
actuators are classified as follows:
1. Linear actuator: For linear actuation (hydraulic
cylinders).
2. Rotary actuator: For rotary actuation (hydraulic
motor).
3. Semi-rotary actuator: For limited angle of
actuation (semi-rotary actuator).

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 Types of Hydraulic Cylinders
• Hydraulic cylinders are of the following types:
1. Single-acting cylinders.
2. Double-acting cylinders.
3. Telescopic cylinders.
4. Tandem cylinders.

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Single-acting cylinders

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 Double-acting cylinders
Double-acting cylinder with a piston rod on one side

Double-acting cylinder with a

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Telescopic Cylinder

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Tandem Cylinder

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 Directional Control Valves
• There are three types of valves:
1. Directional control valves (DCVs): They determine the
path through which a fluid transverses a given circuit.
2. Pressure control valves: They protect the system against
overpressure, which may occur due to a sudden surge as
valves open or close or due to an increase in fluid
demand.
3. Flow control valves: Shock absorbers are hydraulic
devices designed to smooth out pressure surges and to
dampen hydraulic shock.

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 Directional Control Valves
• DCV is mainly required for the following
purposes:
– To start, stop, accelerate, decelerate and change
the direction of motion of a hydraulic actuator.
– To permit the free flow from the pump to the
reservoir at low pressure when the pump’s
delivery is not needed into the system.
– To vent the relief valve by either electrical or
mechanical control.
– To isolate certain branch of a circuit.
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 Directional Control Valves
• Classification of DCVs Classification of DCVs based on
based Fluid Path Design Characteristics
1. Check valves. 1. An internal valve mechanism that
directs the flow of fluid. Such a
2. Shuttle valves. mechanism can either be a
3. Two-way valves. poppet, a ball, a sliding spool, a
4. Three-way valves. rotary plug or a rotary disk.
5. Four-way valves. 2. Number of switching positions
(usually 2 or 3).
3. Number of connecting ports or
ways.
4. Method of valve actuation that
causes the valve mechanism to
move into an alternate position.
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 Directional Control Valves
• Classification of DCVs
• Classification of DCVs based
based on the Construction
on the Control Method
of Internal Moving Parts
• Direct controlled DCV: A valve is
actuated directly on the valve • Rotary spool type: In this type,
spool. This is suitable for small- the spool is rotated to change the
sized valves. direction of fluid. The rotary
spools are usually manually
• Indirect controlled DCV: A valve is
operated.
actuated by a pilot line or using a
solenoid or by the combination of • Sliding spool type: This consists
electrohydraulic and electro- of a specially shaped spool and a
pneumatic means. The use of means of positioning the spool.
solenoid reduces the size of the The spool is fitted with precision
valve. This is suitable for large- into the body bore through the
sized valves longitudinal axis of the valve
body. The lands of the spool
divide this bore into a series of
separate chambers.
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 Actuating Devices
• There are four basic methods of actuation:
1. Manually operated: In manually operated DCVs, the spool is
shifted manually by moving a handle pushing a button or stepping
on a foot pedal. When the handle is not operated, the spool
returns to its original position by means of a spring.
2. Mechanically operated: The spool is shifted by mechanical
linkages such as cam and rollers.
3. Solenoid operated: When an electric coil or a solenoid is
energized, it creates a magnetic force that pulls the armature into
the coil. This causes the armature to push the spool of the valve.
4. Pilot operated: A DCV can also be shifted by applying a pilot signal
(either hydraulic or pneumatic) against a piston at either end of
the valve spool. When pilot pressure is introduced, it pushes the
piston to shift the spool.

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 Check Valve
• The simplest DCV is a check valve. A check valve allows flow in
one direction, but blocks the flow in the opposite direction. It
is a two-way valve because it contains two ports.

Ball-type check valve

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 Shuttle Valve
• A shuttle valve allows two alternate flow sources to be
connected in a one-branch circuit. The valve has two inlets P1
and P2 and one outlet A

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