April-May 2021

HYDRAULICS 20 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS April/May 2021 www.hpmag.co.uk Today’s customers demand more than ever from their machines, especially in the toughest applications. As such, modern machinery must be more powerful and more compact – able to move faster, to steer more precisely, and to lift heavier loads. This exceptional performance can’t come at the cost of reliability or ease of maintenance either. In sectors like construction or agriculture, there’s never any time to waste. Even minor delays can create major problems in the long run. In fact, it’s estimated that a company with 200 machines seeing 30% rates of unplanned downtime could ultimately lose up to $8 million. All this means that high-quality, flexible components are becoming essential for the designers tasked with delivering next-generation machines. With system pressure rising while engine compartments shrink, excellent hydraulic connections are especially important. To maximize machine efficiency, performance and uptime, couplings need to be safe, leak-free, and able to support higher pressures and flow rates. High-pressure couplings typically suffer when it comes to flow rates, but newer designs boasting stronger materials and an optimised flow path can offer the best of both worlds – enabling powerful machines with lower energy loss and better fuel consumption. These capabilities unleash greater design flexibility too, because smaller and lighter hoses can be used. Multiplate systems can multiply the benefits In machines with lots of hydraulic connections, multiplate systems can take these benefits even further. By supporting multiple hydraulic connections at once, these systems can drive greater productivity and performance. When evaluating a multiplate system, there are several crucial questions to ask: Is it smaller and lighter? A multiplate system’s size and weight is always an important consideration. The smaller and lighter a system, the more design flexibility it offers – enabling the creation of more compact, energy- efficient machines. It will also be easier to move attachments and create connections during assembly, installation and maintenance. Is it easy to use? Some multiplate systems can be difficult and confusing to operate, so pick one that keeps things simple. Making and breaking hydraulic connections should be fast, easy, and obvious when completed correctly. Is it reliable? Maximising machine uptime and minimising maintenance costs means withstanding heavy duty cycles in even the most demanding applications. Look for a multiplate system that boasts a robust internal mechanism, as well as long-term corrosion protection. What’s the impact on maintenance? Replacing a failed coupling needn’t be time-consuming or expensive in a multiplate system. Ideally, it should be easy to switch out a coupling in the field to minimize downtime. Can it handle dirt? Dirty environments go hand-in-hand with the toughest machine applications, but any contamination can compromise the entire hydraulic circuit. Look for multiplate systems designed to prevent this. Can it meet your specific needs? Ideally, multiplate systems should be customisable. Some offer construction in different materials, as well as specialised couplings to meet varying requirements. Working hard to make things simple Able to support two to six couplings simultaneously, Eaton’s new multiplate system has been carefully designed with all these factors in mind. Appropriate for any application that demands multiple hydraulic fluid connections for power transmission, the company’s solution aims to make hose connectivity much easier. We’ve worked hard to make managing multiple hydraulic connections simple. We’ve prioritised ease-of-use for operators, with an ergonomic internal connection mechanism that offers a low force requirement and a small rotational angle for connecting. You can end a connection effortlessly at the push of a button too. Supporting pressure and flow rates well beyond ISO 16028 standards, Eaton’s new multiplate system is suited to dynamic applications with moderate hydraulic shocks. Combining a high working pressure and an excellent safety factor makes this a rather unique solution in today’s market. We’ve crafted our multiplate system to enhance all the benefits of our top- performing Flat Face Series with best-in- class flow rates. At the same time, the system’s smaller space requirements and reduced weight enable designers to create more compact and powerful machines that are easier to assemble and maintain.” Eaton’s multiplate system also enables connections to be replaced easily in the field with standard tools. If configured to connect-under-pressure, the system even supports manual connection up to 350 bar, so there’s no need to spend time depressurizing. On Make the right connections to enable exceptional machines By Christian Kuenstel, product manager connectors, Hydraulics EMEA, Eaton. Christian Kuenstel: “In machines with lots of hydraulic connections, multiplate systems can take these benefits even further. By supporting multiple hydraulic connections at once, these systems can drive greater productivity and performance.”