Harnessing the power of moving fluid is nothing new. It has powered civilization for thousands of years. Today, it remains an integral part of human progress.
Early systems used water to turn wheels and push levers. In the last century, hydraulics evolved into modern fluid power. Even as cylinder technology advances, the core principles remain the same. Pressurized fluid still creates powerful forces.
Discovering the Magic of Fluid Power
The use of fluid power goes back thousands of years when ancient Egyptians used hydraulics to irrigate crops. But it wasn’t until much later that the laws of hydrodynamics were discovered and presented to the masses.
1648: French physicist Blaise Pascal realized that pressure on a confined fluid exerted an equal force in all directions, and those forces could be harnessed.
1738: Nearly 100 years later, Daniel Bernoulli put Pascal’s fluid power discovery to use by pressurizing water in pumps and mills using Bernoulli’s principle.
1795: Joseph Bramah patented the first hydraulic press in England. This invention sparked the Industrial Revolution. Hydraulic presses used fluid power to automate manufacturing equipment. They powered everything from printing presses and cranes to cutting and stamping machines.
The Evolution of Fluids Used for Hydraulics
Over time, engineers discovered that water wasn’t the best fluid for hydraulic pumps and motors. Oil quickly became the preferred alternative for hydraulic applications. Unlike water, oil is non-corrosive and naturally lubricates hydraulic components. It is denser and can handle much higher loads. Oil does not evaporate. It also stays cooler even under the intense pressure of hydraulic forces.
As the use of fluid power evolved, so did the use of hydraulic presses. With each technological development came new materials, applications, mounting configurations, and internal designs.
Hydraulic Cylinders Today
Major advancements in the last 75 years have brought the power of hydraulics to every market imaginable. Hydraulic cylinders are used on cranes, aircraft control surfaces and landing gear, ships and large watercraft, offshore drilling and mining equipment, and various types of machinery. Hydraulics is even used in hydroelectric power and energy production applications.
Hydraulics can provide up to 10 times the power of an electric motor, making it ideal for heavy pushing, pulling, and lifting applications. The precise control also makes it safer to work on or around hydraulic equipment.
What started with Blaise Pascal’s initial fluid power discovery and Joseph Bramah designing the first hydraulic press has evolved to technologically advanced “smart” hydraulic cylinders you can control using a computer.
Aggressive Hydraulics is excited to be revolutionizing this over 2000-year-old technology. Our expert team of engineers works daily to design Purpose-Built™ hydraulic cylinders that meet today’s ever-changing needs. Contact us at 866-406-4100 to learn more about the advantages of using custom hydraulics in your equipment.
