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Hydraulic Ram Leak
07 May, 2010- A seal failure in
hydraulic ram can be explained with an example where the ram has been
removed from a hydraulic lift owing to a leaking rod seal yet after
inspection it was found that both the rod seal and the surface of the
rod were in serviceable condition.
Now first it is important to understand the anatomy of ram. A hydraulic ram is a single acting hydraulic cylinder that doesn't have a piston and hence, the fluid pressure emphasizes the cross section of the rod.
Diagnosing the Problem
Let's assume that the inspection of the rod seal (U-cup type) and the surface of the rod did not reveal any fundamental reason for failure while a continuous trickle of hydraulic fluid was noticed down the side of the ram. The operator at night, relaxed the hydraulics after shutting off the machine.
This observation here reveals a great deal about the reason of the
problem being faced.
Seal
In order to maintain the seal effectively, a U-cup seal depends on the hydraulic fluid pressure to boost the lips of the seal against the seal groove and seal rod. The seal gets de-energized or de-boosted once the load induced pressure is released from the hydraulic ram.
Solution
This type of problem can be sorted out by discontinuing the practice of unloading the hydraulic ram or changing the seal profile to an energised U-cup with an O-ring fitted in it.
Now first it is important to understand the anatomy of ram. A hydraulic ram is a single acting hydraulic cylinder that doesn't have a piston and hence, the fluid pressure emphasizes the cross section of the rod.
Hydraulic Ram
Diagnosing the Problem
Let's assume that the inspection of the rod seal (U-cup type) and the surface of the rod did not reveal any fundamental reason for failure while a continuous trickle of hydraulic fluid was noticed down the side of the ram. The operator at night, relaxed the hydraulics after shutting off the machine.
Seal
In order to maintain the seal effectively, a U-cup seal depends on the hydraulic fluid pressure to boost the lips of the seal against the seal groove and seal rod. The seal gets de-energized or de-boosted once the load induced pressure is released from the hydraulic ram.
Solution
This type of problem can be sorted out by discontinuing the practice of unloading the hydraulic ram or changing the seal profile to an energised U-cup with an O-ring fitted in it.
