Distributed hydraulic system?

[will gilmore]

I'm currently garageless but dreaming and planning. Anyone have a hydraulic pump that runs multiple things? I'm thinking of a in-floor scissor lift, hydraulic press, hydraulic tubing bender, maybe bifold or single panel hydraulic door. Thoughts?

 

[EOC_Jason]

I suppose it would all depend on what pressures each system needs... But most of those you mention use pretty small pumps... Is it worth saving a few bucks if your one pump dies then everything else stops working? Would they all be connected in series, or use like quick-connect fittings to swap between machines?

 

[tjdux]

I'm currently garageless but dreaming and planning. Anyone have a hydraulic pump that runs multiple things? I'm thinking of a in-floor scissor lift, hydraulic press, hydraulic tubing bender, maybe bifold or single panel hydraulic door. Thoughts?

Unless you need a huge a press/bender those tend to run off bottle jacks. Most lifts im aware of tend to run off their own hydraulic systems although its easy to imagine a big enough shop especally with multiple lifts having a central pump.

How big of a shop you dreaming for? Hydraulic lines are pretty expensive. I can imagine the money saved by running lines all over the shop may outweigh multiple pumps. Having the bifold hyro door near the lift to minimize line length may work out if you can buy/make your own equipment but i personally feel the exoensive high pressure lines are going to quickly overshoot the savings of 1 pump.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[will gilmore]

I haven't put a ton of thought into this yet. This flush in ground lift: http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/FM9SL-In-Ground-Lift has a 2hp pump which is probably about the right size for something like this

. Seems like having two basically identical systems wastes cost and space.

That being said I haven't priced pumps vs line cost.

 

[cvairwerks]

You would need to size the pump based on highest volume and pressure, taking into account the piping losses in the system. For a data point, 4000 psig, at 24 gallons a minute, on 1.5" id flex lines that are 35 feet long, takes a 50 hp pump.

 

[ilovevocs]

Personally my gut instinct tells me that cost benefit, if any, will not outweigh the time spent designing and installing such a system.

As others have stating hoses / lines / fittings are expensive.

Volume and pressure could be independently regulated for each device but again each step taken is going to increase complexity and cost of the design.

Personally if I did such a thing I would hard line everything surface mount over unistrut with stainless tubing and fittings to keep a clean aesthetic and promote ease of service.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[A_Pmech]

It can absolutely be done. Yet, at the power levels you're thinking of the cost of the plumbing can quickly exceed the cost of another hydraulic pump.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Just 'cause I have time on my hands:

IMO, it all depends on how much time, ability, and materials you have access to coupled with what specific equipment you want to run.

I've built systems that are similar in theory, modifying old machinery to operate off of new controls or doing away with obsolete items that have failed.
One was and electric pump setup like most lifts use - when all the electric valves on it became NLA and gone bad, I plumbed in manual control valves and put a momentary switch on the pumps drive motor -- hit the switch and you have oil flow, pull a handle and operate that function.

For what the OP described, there's a lot to consider.

Hose / fittings cost is a big consideration: If you get quality stuff, the prices start around $7 / foot (1/4" hose) with ends being around $10 each. You may find chinese junk supplies cheaper, I dunno, we only sell / deal with Parker brand stuff. Maybe you can find old stock pre-made hose for nearly nothing and make 'em work with some time / patience.

Different items spread out around a shop could easily cost thousands in hose / fittings / adapters just to plumb it all up, if you need to buy all that stuff retail.

You'd need a reservoir about 30 / 40 gallons (just a wild guess). Have to find or fabricate that.

 

[homebuilt burner]

Maybe you could build the pump/motor/hyd tank on a portable cart and have quick couplers on each device. Then you would have the flexibility without the cost. One place I worked we built a hydraulic cart out of old parts we had laying around. We ran it with a 3 hp electric motor and a had a 10 gal. tank with about 6 ft of hose for pressure and return.

Seems to be a good idea depending on you planning and desires.

 

[ddawg16]

It can absolutely be done. Yet, at the power levels you're thinking of the cost of the plumbing can quickly exceed the cost of another hydraulic pump.

I concur with that ^^.

We use numerous hyd pumps that operate different items.

In our case we are talking 3ph 480Vac pumps with good sized tanks and requiring a motor control center and motor starter.

Wait until you see the cost of hyd solenoids...and Swagelok fittings.

But if you really want to do it....look up Dukes valves to save some money

 

[matt_i]

You should probably go thru some exercises on the hydraulic controls. A couple different schemes exist in the above equipment. The press and the lift are basically single-acting cylinders with a closed-center so the cylinder holds its position. A tubing bender and overhead door are likely double-acting cylinders also with a closed-center. The fluid from the pump has to bypass the "center" of the spool when there is nowhere for it to flow (no spools are cracked open).

Also need to figure out flows, its no fun to have a log splitter for example that has a 1hp motor and will split the hell out of any kind of wood with a 5 minute cycle time per log...

As others have suggested, its a huge design problem, that can potentially be solved. A lot to learn about or it won't work correctly, and then its a megabuck waste. I would prepare for leaks as you develop the concept, I would find your closest Parker store as you will either be bending a lot of seamless/DOM tubing with a healthy expenditure on JIC-hoses, plus JIC fittings and Sch 80 pipe.

 

[will gilmore]

Thanks for all the thoughts everyone. Seems like as with everything the devil is in the details. I think the hydraulic tubing bender on a cart with quick connects to power a press or other hydraulic tools is definitely workable.

 

[brownbagg]

i do, but its on quick connects, so I can hook to the press, bender, or firewood splitter.

 

[Spareparts]

Keep plenty of floor dry handy, it's gonna make a mess sooner or later. When I first started working on hydraulics the oil was like $1.75 a gallon now it is around $8.00 to $10.00 a gallon, and a 15 gallon tank is going to be $150 to fill and in a small shop setting that should be plenty. Surplus Center, Bailey's, Baum Hydraulic in Lincoln Neb. could become your best friend. I would hard line to every function and keep the hoses short, that is where the leaks will most likely be anyway. Flow Control, if you build your pump big enough to run the log spliter or press with the 4"/5" cylinder efficiently the tubing bender is going to be way to fast with the 2"/3" cylinder. What I'am getting at is we can build a system that will operate most of your wants most of the time "BUT" if sometimes happens to that system your shop is now shut down until you repair the problem.

 

[rburke65]

Ain't that the truth. I just bought 1.5 gal. hydraulic fluid for my eXmark drive units....OMG....$85!!!!!!! WTF!

 

[will gilmore]

i do, but its on quick connects, so I can hook to the press, bender, or firewood splitter.

pictures?