Hydraulic System
Who invented it?
Joseph Bramah invented it. He also invented the toilet and a printer that numbered bank bills.
How does it get power?
Hydraulics can receive power from many sources. The most common is a mechanical pump driven by some type of motor. The motor provides pressure to the fluid in the hydraulic system.
How does it work?
A hydraulic system is when a liquid is in a tube, and it is pushed, and the liquid is moved and presses something. For instance, when you are in a car and press the brake pedal, the pedal pushes a liquid called “brake fluid” through a tube where it presses against the brake discs, stopping the car.
The most common method of hydraulic usage is to have a cylinder that contains an internal rod. The rod is connected to a pusher plate. As fluid flows behind the pusher plate, the rod is pushed outwards. The brakes in a car push the brake pads down when fluid is applied. The hydraulic cylinders in a backhoe push the bucket outwards.
In order to reverse the process, some cylinders have active returns. Pressure is released on the front of the plate and pressure is applied to the opposite side to make the rod move inwards.
How dangerous is it?
Hydraulics can be extremely dangerous because of the high powers involved.
What does it do?
It allows heavy loads to be controlled with accuracy.
How does it affect you?
When your car is being fixed, a hydraulic jack may be used to lift the car. Forklift trucks and diggers are also often operated by hydraulics.
How has it changed the world?
Hydraulics, since its invention is being used in many machines, systems. Like cars, cranes, automobile industries etc.
Written for younger readers
Hydraulic System, in simpler words
This version comes from Wikijunior, a set of books written for children aged 8 to 11. It is shorter and uses plainer language than the article above.
From Wikijunior: How Things Work
Joseph Bramah invented it. He also invented the toilet and a printer that numbered bank bills.
Hydraulics can receive power from many sources. The most common is a mechanical pump driven by some type of motor. The motor provides pressure to the fluid in the hydraulic system.
A hydraulic system is when a liquid is in a tube, and it is pushed, and the liquid is moved and presses something. For instance, when you are in a car and press the brake pedal, the pedal pushes a liquid called “brake fluid” through a tube where it presses against the brake discs, stopping the car.
The most common method of hydraulic usage is to have a cylinder that contains an internal rod. The rod is connected to a pusher plate. As fluid flows behind the pusher plate, the rod is pushed outwards. The brakes in a car push the brake pads down when fluid is applied. The hydraulic cylinders in a backhoe push the bucket outwards.
In order to reverse the process, some cylinders have active returns. Pressure is released on the front of the plate and pressure is applied to the opposite side to make the rod move inwards.
Hydraulics can be extremely dangerous because of the high powers involved.
It allows heavy loads to be controlled with accuracy.
When your car is being fixed, a hydraulic jack may be used to lift the car. Forklift trucks and diggers are also often operated by hydraulics.
Hydraulics, since its invention is being used in many machines, systems. Like cars, cranes, automobile industries etc.
Where this page comes from
The article above is adapted from “Hydraulic System” on Simple English Wikipedia, by its contributors. We removed reference markers, navigation boxes and tables, expanded measurement templates into readable numbers, and kept the prose otherwise intact. The simpler version is adapted from Wikijunior on Wikibooks.
Both sources are published under CC BY-SA 4.0, so this page is published under the same licence. You may share and adapt it, including commercially, as long as you credit the original and keep the same licence.
Worksheets, answer keys and printable layouts elsewhere on K5Print are our own work and are not covered by this licence.