By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Hydraulic hoses are stressed in two directions — bending and rotating. Hose is designed with reinforced steel spirals or mesh weave, making it perfect for bending, even while internal force exerts stress upon the hose. Torque, on the other hand, makes friends with no hydraulic hose. If you’ve ever tried […]
Hydraulic
When should you use stainless steel fittings?
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a multi-part series on materials used in fluid power hose fittings. We will cover carbon steel, stainless steel, brass and plastic. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor In this third installment of our four-part series on fitting materials, I discuss stainless steel. Stainless steel offers a level of corrosion […]
A primer on hose fittings materials
By: Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Editor’s Note: This is the first in a multi-part series on materials used in fluid power hose fittings. We will cover carbon steel, stainless steel, brass and plastic. Fittings and adapters used in fluid power are manufactured using various materials selected by designers to suit the specific needs of the […]
How to ensure proper hydraulic fitting assembly
Contributed by Gary Molton • BSc, Owner, Engineering Adventures Poor assembly or using the wrong type of fluid power fitting has been shown to increase risk of fluid leakage and industrial injury. Fitting designs have changed considerably over the last 30 years to reduce these risks but this has resulted in a myriad of assembly […]
When to use (or not use) BSPT fittings?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor If you’re not terribly familiar with hydraulic fittings, you may think BSPT is a typo. Is it supposed to be BSPP (British Standard Pipe Parallel) or perhaps NPT (National Pipe Thread)? No, it’s not a typo – we’re actually talking about British Standard Pipe Taper, which is the version of […]
Are field-attachable fittings truly reusable?
Hydraulic hose fittings are essential components in countless stationary and mobile machines. The parts are critical links in fluid-power systems, designed to ensure safe and reliable operations and prevent equipment shutdowns, catastrophic failures and danger to nearby personnel. And in the hydraulics world, there are generally two types of hose fittings — permanent and reusable […]
What is the proper torque for hose assemblies?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor When installing hydraulic hose assemblies, if tight is good, then tighter is better, right? To be sure a hydraulic hose never accidentally loosens during operation, should we get the biggest pry bar we can find to help lock that hose fitting in for good? Not precisely — torquing your hose […]
When should you use reusable hose fittings?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Hose fittings, also known as hose ends, are critical components of hydraulic systems as they connect hoses to the system’s various fluid ports at the pumps, valves and actuators. There are two primary styles for hose end fittings: permanent crimped-on and field-serviceable screw-on, also known as reusable hose ends. This […]
A review of hydraulic fittings and flanges
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Improper selection or improper use of hoses, tubing, fittings, and assemblies can result in machine failures, leaks, personal injury, or even property damage if the failure is catastrophic. Understanding your plumbing standard chosen for your hydraulic system, and following the generally accepted installation standards reduces the chance of failure and […]
How can metric fittings provide hydraulic system leak protection?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor We use metric fittings to connect and seal hydraulic valves, pumps or actuators to their respective plumbing in a metric-based circuit. They prevent leaks in hydraulic systems by providing a leak-free seal at the component’s fluid port. There are several types of metric fittings, including compression fittings, flare fittings, bite-type […]
