Attachment releases trapped air in hydraulics12 August 2020

Reduced weight and size of components and increased system pressures are often among the key requirements industrial hydraulic systems, according to supplier The Lee Company.

A problem in such systems is the removal of trapped air. This can cause issues with system performance, as air is compressible, whereas hydraulic fluid is not. Trapped air causes slower system reaction times or a ‘spongy feel’.

One traditional way to remove trapped air is to drill a small 0.5mm-diameter hole in the manifold, allowing this air to escape back to the sump, and so eliminating its negative effect on system performance. However, this drilled hole also allows hydraulic fluid to flow out of the system resulting in significant hydraulic loss, inefficient system performance and wasted energy.

Instead, Lee’s Industrial Micro Hydraulics Group (IMH) has developed a new 5.5mm air bleed orifice. It utilises a small precision flow orifice, with an integral 25-micron safety screen for contaminant protection which allows trapped air to escape but is small enough to restrict the flow of most hydraulic fluid, helping to minimise system losses.

William Dalrymple

Related Companies
Lee Products Ltd

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