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Hydraulic Circuit Diagrams: Importance and True Value
In any hydraulic system, a circuit diagram becomes very essential, especially while troubleshooting problems with the hydraulic equipment. To find out whether there is any problem with the system or not, the first is to conduct a visual inspection of the hydraulic system, and find out all the warning signs that could cause the related problem and the second is used to study a circuit diagram for the hydraulic system.
A circuit diagram is a graphical representation of an electrical circuit in a simplified and conventional way. A hydraulic circuit diagram make use of simple images of components, which is different from a hydraulic schematic diagram which shows the components of the system as standard symbols. Like hydraulic symbols, hydraulic circuit diagrams are also very important. A circuit diagram is a road map of the hydraulic system. It plays an immense role for the technician to read and interpret and identify the possible causes of a problem. A hydraulic circuit diagram can save time and money in a troubleshooting situation.
Importance of Hydraulic Circuit Diagram
If a circuit diagram is not available, the technician must first of all find the hydraulic circuit, and then find its components so as to identify the possible causes of the problem in the hydraulic system. This is a very time-consuming process, and more complex the problem is, more time consuming it is. And in the worst case, if the circuit contains a valve manifold, the manifold has to removed and dismantled to find out the actual cause of the problem. If the function of a component within a system is not known, it becomes very very difficult to find out the actual cause of the problem. Hydraulic circuit diagrams remove the need to reverse-engineer the hydraulic system.
At times , it becomes very difficult to get the hydraulic circuit diagram as most hydraulic equipment owners don't place a lot of importance on them and hence that get misplaced or lost or don't get transferred to the new owner. In some cases, the machine owner is not even issued a circuit diagram.
However, for any technician who is responsible for the maintenance of hydraulic equipment, to have the circuit diagram is a must. For your used machines or new ones, get the circuit diagrams before you need them. The hydraulic circuit diagram should be available from the equipment manufacturer on request. If the machine is custom-built, the circuit drawn should be drawn from scratch. When obtaining circuit diagrams, both electronic (dwg format) and hard copy are required. Having an electronic copy makes it easy to update the drawing if the circuit is modified at any time. And always remember to issue circuit diagrams for any additional hydraulic machines you acquire.
Now what is a circuit diagram ?
Graphical Circuit Diagram
Types of Hydraulic Circuit Diagrams
There are four types of hydraulic-circuit diagrams:- Block Diagrams: They show the components of a circuit as blocks joined by lines. These lines indicate connections and/or interactions.
- Cutaway Diagrams: They show the internal construction of the components and flow paths. Colors, shades or patterns are used to display the lines and passages. They are useful for illustrating different flow and pressure conditions and they are ideal for training purposes.
- Pictorial Diagrams: These circuit diagrams show a complete piping arrangement of a circuit. The components are seen externally. These component represent a close reproduction of their actual shapes in scaled sizes. These diagrams help in component identification and recognition.
- Graphical Diagrams: Graphical circuit diagrams are the representations of the shorthand system of the fluid power industry. They are simple, geometric symbols, designed as per the rules of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards or American National Standards Institute (ANSI). They are the representation of components, their controls and connections. Graphical diagrams are mainly used for design and troubleshooting purposes.
Importance of Hydraulic Circuit Diagram
If a circuit diagram is not available, the technician must first of all find the hydraulic circuit, and then find its components so as to identify the possible causes of the problem in the hydraulic system. This is a very time-consuming process, and more complex the problem is, more time consuming it is. And in the worst case, if the circuit contains a valve manifold, the manifold has to removed and dismantled to find out the actual cause of the problem. If the function of a component within a system is not known, it becomes very very difficult to find out the actual cause of the problem. Hydraulic circuit diagrams remove the need to reverse-engineer the hydraulic system.
At times , it becomes very difficult to get the hydraulic circuit diagram as most hydraulic equipment owners don't place a lot of importance on them and hence that get misplaced or lost or don't get transferred to the new owner. In some cases, the machine owner is not even issued a circuit diagram.
However, for any technician who is responsible for the maintenance of hydraulic equipment, to have the circuit diagram is a must. For your used machines or new ones, get the circuit diagrams before you need them. The hydraulic circuit diagram should be available from the equipment manufacturer on request. If the machine is custom-built, the circuit drawn should be drawn from scratch. When obtaining circuit diagrams, both electronic (dwg format) and hard copy are required. Having an electronic copy makes it easy to update the drawing if the circuit is modified at any time. And always remember to issue circuit diagrams for any additional hydraulic machines you acquire.
