Simply put, hydraulic systems are fluid power run machinery that have been relied on by humanity for a long time to convenience their lives- from the ancient Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans to the modern global industry. Today, their applications are universally used in various industries, primarily in the automotive jack technology market.
In fact, much has been spoken about the variety of industries that modern hydraulic systems serve- like aircraft, bridges, cable tensioning, house moving, construction, general industrial, laboratory, locomotive, marine, mobile home, railroad, shipbuilding, shoring and stabilizing such as for tunnels and mines, tractors, and trailers.
In this blog, we will map the chronology of innovations in hydraulic systems. Then, we will focus on Blaise Pascal’s law, a principle in fluid mechanics, that has shaped truck lifting solutions and jack technology. Finally, we will end the discussion with a feature on Stan Design Inc.- its contributions to truck lifting solutions and its jack technology models.
History of Hydraulic Systems- Chronological Map
The ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians of the 6th millennium BC were the ones to modify landscapes based on hydraulic systems and shape the evolution of humanity and other species.
The hydraulic landscapes of alluvial, southern Mesopotamia, dotted with the crevasse splays along raised levees, stand testament to the development of canal systems that were used for agriculture based on irrigation as well as waterways.
Then, around 600 BC, in Ancient Greece, came up the Tunnel of Eupalinos. This was an aqueduct built in Samos that supplied water from across Mount Kastro. The Greeks had developed a complex system of water and hydraulic power, including irrigation systems, and canals.
Ctesibius of Alexandria, known for his work in pneumatics, also dabbled in hydraulics, and developed an advanced version of a water clock, and a water organ. The water clock included a moving pointer and alarms, while the water organ used the weight of water instead of lead to play the pipes.
Later, Hero of Alexandria developed the first known steam engineer Aeolipile. The Romans, like the Greeks, also had many water mills and developed “hushing” for use on gold fields in the region. This method later paved the way for hydraulic mining during the California Gold Rush.
Further east, the ancient Persians completed the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System in the third century CE. The qanat system, a series of underground channels, allowed for minimized evaporation and maximum water availability for agricultural and domestic use. The sophisticated water-lifting devices, such as the shaduf and the sakia, enabled the elevation of water from lower to higher plains.
More recently, at the start of the 17th century, Simon Stevin discovered the hydrostatic paradox and Galileo Galilei studied gravitational acceleration, which played into the movement of water. Evangelista Torricelli applied this to liquid jets and the liquid barometer. Benedetto Castelli rediscovered the principle of continuity.
In 1647, Pascal’s law, a principle of fluid mechanics or hydrodynamics was discovered, and more than a century later in 1795, Joseph Bramah patented the hydraulic press, used in flush toilets, which was based on Pascal’s principle. In 1738, Daniel Bernoulli and Leonhard Euler derived the Bernoulli equation and developed a hydraulic turbine.
Hydraulic Systems Jack Technology Explained
Hydraulic jacks, as the name implies, work based on hydraulic systems that can be explained by Pascal’s law, a principle of fluid mechanics. Basically, it means that when there’s a change in pressure at any point in a confined, incompressible fluid, that change is transmitted throughout the entire fluid without any loss.
Simply put, the law states that if you push or squeeze one part of a fluid, the effect propagates to all other parts of the fluid. So, unlike, say, mechanical jacks, hydraulic jack technology works because of the transfer of motion through a fluid medium within the cogs of their machine.
To understand simply the workings of a hydraulic jack, let us consider the example of a hydraulic system of operation, consisting of the following broad components:
- hydraulic oil,
- reservoir or buffer or oil tank,
- main cylinder or ram,
- release valve,
- control valve,
- check valve,
- lifting arm or pad,
- hydraulic pump with piston or plunger, and
- pump lever or handle.
The reservoir or buffer, or oil tank is the physical compartment of the hydraulic system that holds the liquid or pump oil together when it is not in use. The control valve stays in a closed position to prevent the accidental flow of oil.
The piston is responsible for lifting the heavy load or weight. It is usually mechanically activated by shifting the positions of the handle or pump lever attached to it. This movement builds up pressure in the hydraulic fluid contained inside the reservoir or buffer tank of the hydraulic system.
When the handle or lever of the pump with piston or plunger is mechanically lowered or raised, it activates force and builds up pressure in the adjoining compartment, i.e., the reservoir or buffer tank containing the fluid or pump’s oil, inside hydraulic systems.
The pressure created allows the fluid to move through a check valve into the ram or main cylinder, which then pops out of the main body of the hydraulic system creating the force required to lift the load.
This applied pressure is what transfers the oil from the pump through the check valve and into the main cylinder or the ram, which extends out of the hydraulic system. Finally, the release valve relieves the built pressure for easy retraction and lowering of the ram with the load on it, creating the required lifting force and lifting the load.
Stan Design Inc.- Hydraulic Systems Truck Lifting Solutions in Canada
Stan Design Inc. is a jack manufacturer in North America that has been in the business for more than 25 years. They produce the highest quality hydraulic systems by fusing the science of manufacturing with the art of creative design.
Implementing cutting-edge jack technology gives them the edge to stay ahead of the rest of the world in key offerings. For instance, their Scorpion line of floor jacks come in hydraulic and air motor variants and can lift vehicles in seconds with just the push of a single remote-control button.
Their rolling bridge jacks, also called StanJack, and fast-lube pit jacks also have this same usable design- only better, in the form of two remote-control buttons designed for lifting and lowering respectively.
Apart from this, they offer a three-stage automatic locking mechanism that engages at different heights, eliminating the need for additional chocks or stands. Their powerful hydraulic and air motor methods of operation allow for convenient lifting, without the need for any hand pumping.
They also come with telescoping arms and stackable adapters that can lift across the axle or on the frame, depending on the vehicle size and shape. Besides, their special roller bearing wheels allow for effortless rolling and maneuvering.