Hydraulic systems are the power transmitting assemblies employing pressurized oil to transmit energy from an energy generating source to the application area.
The general structure of a hydraulic system is depicted in figure below. General layout Schematic diagram
The main components and their functions are
1.Oil tank : To act as reservoir for the working medium oil.The oil passes through various pipelines and after doing useful work in actuator; the oil returns back to oil tank. In the regions of low temperature, oil heaters are attached to air tanks.
2. Filter : To prevent the foreign particles from entering into circuit.
3. Motor: To provide mechanical power to pump.
4.Pump : Hydraulic pump is heart of any hydraulic system. Its main function is to create the flow of oil under pressure through entire hydraulic system and hence to assist transfer of power and motion
5. Pressure regulator : To limit the pressure developed in the circuits to a limiting value. To drain oil to tank when pressure exceeds this limit.
6.Direction control valve; To change the direction of oil going to actuator.
7. Actuator ; To convert pressure energy of oil into mechanical work.