LifeTrac hydraulics primer

LifeTrac Hydraulics Primer

Initial LifeTrac hydraulic schematic

LifeTrac uses one or two Powercube modules, each containing a 28hp gasoline engine and a 12gpm, 3600 psi hydraulic pump. The pump RPM must be matched to the engine RPM. PSI. or pressure, is defined as force per area - or pounds per square inch. This pump provides the high pressure fluid flow to the entire tractor. The hydraulic fluid powers every single aspect of LifeTrac - wheels, turning cylinder, front end loader, power take off generator, auxiliary power outlets.

The basic principle of fluid flow is continuity of flow. This flow starts with the engine, which powers the hydraulic pump. The pump is pumping fluid at all times that the engine is turned on. There is no way to disengage the pump - the pump is always on and pumping at high pressure. Therefore, the fluid must have a path to make a complete circuit. The pump takes fluid from the reservoir, which then passes through the pump and attains 3600 psi of pressure.. This fluid must circulate back to the reservoir to complete the continuous cycle through the pump.

Continuity of flow requires that if a valve is engaged or not engaged - fluid must have a path to flow in both cases. If it doesn’t, the engine stalls (typical at low throttle) orå bursts a hose (possible at high tractor throttle). If a valve is disengaged, fluid flows right through the valve and back to the reservoir. If a valve is engaged, fluid flows through the working device and then back through the valve and then back to the reservoir.

Continuity of flow has a fundamental effect on all tractor operations. For example, if the wheel control valve is engaged suddenly, the wheels spin out and burn rubber in typical conditions. This is because a rush of fluid suddenly enters the wheel motors - and because the 55 hp engine suddenly transfers all its power to the wheels, the wheels spin out.

For the reason of sudden fluid flow onset to the wheels, a cushion valve is installed. Instantaneous flow to the wheels can mean that the hydraulic pump may put out more than its rated 3600 psi - since the engine has a flywheel and inertia. Even if pressure does not exceed 3600 psi - the cushion valve serves to bypass fluid to the return line, providing a smooth start. It also allows fluid to circulate through the wheel motor upon stopping, therefore smoothing out tractor motion upon stopping. In general, the cushion valves smoothes out bumps - such as hitting an obstacle in the road - by letting fluid bypass accordingly.

Dedicated wheel control valves, which can vary flow smoothly from closed to open - are recommended for the wheels for smooth starting. Presently, we have plain on-off control valves.

Continuity of flow has serious effects on loader operation. If a heavy load is being lowered on the front end loader, and the valve is closed suddenly, a major shock will occur due to the inertia of the lowerering load. This can cause damage to the tractor in extreme conditions - such as the tractor snapping in half. The shock occurs because fluid flow is stopped suddenly, so the lowering motion is locked instantly. This causes the shock. This shock has been eliminated with the use of a cushion valve on the front loader circuit.

Flow continuity must be considered carefully when operating spinning rotors with high intertia. This is the case with the PTO generator, which jas about a 300 pound rotor spinning at 1800 RPM. If the valve to this motor were turned on suddenly, there would be pressure release occurring through the valve - assuming that we are working with valves with built in pressure releases. Upon turning the valve off suddenly, major damage would occur, most likely to the PTO generator. A valve that is turned off allows no fluid back into itself from the working device. If the PTO generator valve would be turned off, then all the intertia of the PTO genarator would be transfered to the fluid - as any motor also functions as a pump when it is not being driven. This would either blow the hose or rip the PTO generator rotor right off its shaft. For this reason, we installed a check valve that can circulate fluid freely through the hoses when the PTO generator is spinning down.

For the sawmill, we will use 2 of the 3 auxiliary hydraulic outlets with quick connects. We can consider a single motor to the main cutting blade, and another motor to the edger blades. We can consider setting the pressure relief on the auxiliary valves (what is the pressure rating?) to the max, to drive more powerful hydraulic motors. We need to match the pressure rating of the valves to the motor - in which case we may consider purchasing dedicated valves and motors.

We have 24 gpm available from after the steering cylinder flow divider - such as at the 3 auxiliary power take-off valves. We can also tap in our sawmill before that point, where we have 5 more gpm available. If we tap at the auxiliary outlets, we need to remember that the quick couplers are rated for only 12 gpm each, so we need to use multiple outlets.

Questions:

1. Calculate the force obtained from a 2.5” hydraulic cylinder operating at 2000 PSI.

2. What is the minimum PSI rating requirement for the outlet hose from the pump for regular operating conditions?

3. If the 3/4”outlet hose from the pump is to resist bursting upon being plugged suddenly for some reason, what PSI rating is suggested for the hose?

4. What is the power output of a hydraulic motor rated at 25 gpm and 3600 psi?

5. How well is our hydraulic pump matched to the diesel engine, both in power and rpm?