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Check valves are typically thought of as a very simple component of a hydraulic process. They permit the flow of fluid in one direction and prevent flow in the opposite direction. Simple, right? However, these devices can be one of the best fail safes your process has against a very costly shutdown. Faulty valves can have enormous consequences if they are not functioning with the utmost precision.
Beyond flow control, check valves may also be used as a directional or pressure control in a system. If the pressure becomes higher on the wrong side of a valve, it will close and block flow in the opposite direction. This means the check valve will stop pressure spikes back to the pump. Depending on your process, fluid can flow from a pump through the system at very high speeds. If something in the process suddenly causes the fluid flow to be restricted, the pressure in the line can quickly increase by two to three times, causing damage to the system. The check valve should then close and block the pressure spikes back to the pump.
A check valve can end up costing companies thousands of dollars in replacement pumps and exponentially more in machine downtime. Downtime is one of the largest sources of lost production time in industrial processes and unplanned downtime can be one of the greatest expenses. When unplanned downtime happens, the cost of overhead is still there being consumed, and no value is being produced. These are the most obvious costs of unplanned downtime, but what about the underlying costs as well? Downtime also throws inventory levels off resulting in less than optimal on hand inventory which can lead to increased operational costs. Also, when employees have to focus on fixing a downtime issue this takes away from time they could be using to innovate and create growth opportunities for the company.
One of the highest concerns of a check valve failure is the safety. If a check valve fails, the potential for leakage or even a blow-out is a possibility. A blow-out occurs when the shaft-disk in the valve experiences a separation. This type of failure has occurred even when valves are being operated within their temperature and pressure limits, further justifying the utilization of a high quality product. While a catastrophic blow-out from a faulty valve may be rare, even the smallest of leaks can create safety hazards that can be dangerous for the operators. Ensuring that your check valves are well maintained, and of high quality can help mitigate these risks.
Parker C-Series Check Valves have fully guided poppets. Their superior design eliminates wobble and erratic travel that can commonly occur with less durable ball check constructed check valves. The soft seal poppet on the check valves are standard for sizes up to 1/2” NPT, #10 SAE. They can withstand pressures up to 5000 PSI and flow rates up to 150 GPM. Customers around the world recognize the Parker brand as the benchmark for high performance and best in industry quality. In a product as small as a check valve, performance and quality can lead to big savings in the industrial process.
Parker C-Series Check Valves and N-Series Needle Valves are now available for purchase on Parker.com. Simply add products to your cart for shipment within two days for in-stock items.
Article contributed by Matthew Davis, to be named, product sales manager, Hydraulic Valve Division, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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Throughout the world various types of metrology applications share a common need for increased precision. Metrology is the scientific study of measurement. Metrology applications take some type of measurement to collect certain data. Markets such as life science, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing rely on metrology instrumentation to ensure their process is completed correctly. The need for precision is further underscored when you realize the samples/products can be extremely small (i.e. human cell) as well as highly sensitive (i.e. touch-screen electronics). Having high precision motion technology is key to ensure the application will be completed successfully.
This blog post will cover the basics of metrology applications, but if you are interested in learning more, Parker has published a detailed white paper on the topic, which we encourage you to download here.
Listed below are some examples of metrology applications by market. Many applications can be used in more than one market as well. For example, all the markets will use some type of microscopy in their process.
Life science
Semiconductor
Electronics
There are different types of metrology applications, and each have their own key considerations. This blog post will focus on dynamic metrology.
Errors in positioning are normally specified in terms of the accuracy of positioning and the repeatability of positioning. The actual sources of these errors can occur in three sub categories – linear, Abbe (roll, pitch, yaw) and planar errors. The source for these errors varies and could have occurred during production or while the application is in process. Examples include deflection, friction, bearing and machining inconsistencies and feedback device.
Velocity control relates to the speed of the stage’s motion and the ability to control it. When there is a variation of velocity as compared to the commanded velocity, this is known as a velocity ripple. Velocity control is critical for dynamic metrology applications because if the speed varies throughout the application process, accurate and consistent results will not be obtained throughout.
The best actuator option for dynamic metrology applications requiring high precision and speed is a linear motor driven stage, specifically one with an ironless linear motor. Since the linear motor couples directly to the linear load, backlash, efficiency losses and other positional inaccuracies are greatly reduced compared to screw or belt driven actuators. Also, linear motors typically have a smaller form factor which overall will improve the stiffness and positional errors. Finally, linear motor actuators have the best control of its speed throughout the application.
While maintaining a reasonable commercial cost, linear motor actuators are the only ones that can meet the critical specifications for dynamic metrology applications previously discussed. To confirm this, Parker uses a laser interferometer to measure any potential positional errors. After testing, reports on the actuator’s performance are generated which consistently show that linear motor actuators outperform those with other drive train mechanisms.
Further details on dynamic metrology download the whitepaper, "Understanding Critical Specifications for Dynamic Metrology Applications."
Parker metrology application solutions
Stage stability and velocity control on a linear motor actuator are crucial in order to have a successful dynamic metrology application. With over 20 years of experience in the high technology precision markets, Parker offers the expertise and consulting services to help instrumentation developers optimize the precision of their equipment and their process. These process optimizations will contribute to continued reductions in the customer’s overall spend, while throughput increases. You can learn more about Parker’s linear motor stage capabilities by visiting our website.
Article contributed by Patrick Lehr, product manager for precision mechanics, Electromechanical and Drives Division North America, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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A history lesson isn’t necessary to know manufacturing has evolved over time. From the advent of mechanics to the electrification of factories for mass production to equipping production lines with robotics, the world of machines and processes is evolving before our eyes once again.
Manufacturing facilities are getting leaner. This isn’t by design. Baby Boomers who once dominated the landscape are now exiting the workforce in droves, so much so the industry is facing a deficit of 3.5 million workers. This has put a strain on organizations as they seek younger and less experienced personnel to do more with less. Since many manufacturers are operating with smaller staffs, equipment processes and manual checks are falling through the cracks.
Plant floors are less staffed, but more connected than ever before. Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), data is available at our fingertips to harness and apply the information into predictive analytics to achieve higher levels of intelligence, orchestration and optimization. Logically, this led to condition monitoring.
A major component of predictive maintenance, condition monitoring presumes machinery will deteriorate and eventually breakdown. By being proactive and monitoring the performance of equipment through technology, data can provide the information to strategically schedule maintenance before an issue creates unexpected downtime. This prevents consequential damages and ensures the reliability of machines can remain high.
Condition monitoring utilizes various process parameters such as temperature, pressure, humidity, current, vibration and flow along with fluid media samples to monitor performance. Over time, these indicators of system and equipment health will become more predictable, reducing unscheduled downtime and increasing product integrity.
To achieve condition monitoring and a predictive maintenance program, it’s not enough to purchase test instruments and put them in the hands of untrained personnel. It’s imperative to let go of tried and tested methods and establish a new culture and approach of looking at maintenance. This means constantly developing, implementing, managing, measuring and improving condition monitoring. It requires commitment and full participation, otherwise the vision is lost and the chances of a successful program decline. There are five things you need to know to ensure your condition monitoring program is prosperous.
Read our new white paper, "Why Preventative Maintenance is Holding You Back" to discover how condition monitoring tools allow manufacturing organizations to predict the future, reduce their costs, and do much more with less.
Which equipment are you going to monitor? You’re not going to pick random machines to evaluate. An Equipment Criticality Ranking (ECR) and/or Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) should be performed. An ECR identifies and addresses potential risks associated with the operation of the processing facilities. Failure scenarios are pinpointed, ranked and quantified in relation to the safeguards that protect against the scenario. The RCM focuses on avoiding the failure consequences, not the failure modes by ensuring systems continue to do what its users want in its present operating context. These are comprehensive lists of assets sorted in a ranked order and helps identify and determine which equipment should be tested on a regular basis. By performing ECR and/or RCM, organizations can develop unique maintenance schedules for each critical asset.
Choosing the appropriate personnel to be involved in predictive maintenance and condition monitoring is crucial. A common mistake organizations make is hastily assembling a team of their best mechanics rather than seeking the right technician who has the key attributes to master technology and perform investigative work. The selection of a condition monitoring team is handled in different ways from one organization to the next, but should include individuals who demonstrate loyalty, intelligence and always pursuing training and self-development.
Technicians involved in a predictive maintenance program receive little if any training beyond the information instructed by the vendor system. In fact, personnel seek valuable training that directly impacts the effectiveness and success of the program. It’s crucial that all individuals are educated and can demonstrate the skillset to operate equipment, interpret the data, and report the information in a clear and concise way. A shortfall in this area will affect the quality of the overall initiative.
Practice makes perfect. The same holds true for condition monitoring. There are a number of variables that can affect the accuracy of data. When it comes to testing equipment, collect data in the same location and on the same surface utilizing the same instruments to ensure consistency. Also, reviewing and interpreting information should be conducted in a timely manner. Otherwise, this will lead to unidentified equipment failures and unscheduled downtime.
You’ve inspected the equipment and collected the data, now what? It’s time to take action. Sounds simple enough, but there are many organizations who fail to take corrective action when machine anomalies are flagged. A predictive maintenance program receives the necessary support and funding to ensure success.
In today’s smart manufacturing world, condition monitoring is essential to determine machine health and implement the correct maintenance to ensure maximum performance and longevity. However, this cannot be achieved without having the right equipment, people, training and execution in place. Without a strategic plan, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance can become a wasted resource rather than a benefit component of your operation.
Learn more about condition monitoring strategies on your plant floor.
Article contributed by Dan Davis, product sales manager, SensoNODE™ Sensors and Voice of the Machine™ Software, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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In today’s industrial manufacturing environment, hydraulic cylinders are complex devices that incorporate a wide range of components available in a multitude of sizes, configurations and materials. When it comes to complex hydraulic systems, cylinder specification can be a balancing act for OEM design engineers — as each design factor influences one or more of the many other design details to be considered for the application.
Even though hydraulic system design guidelines like NFPA and ISO exist, many industries have developed their own. Certain cylinder manufacturers offer options that present a wide scope of performance capabilities for standard components, minimizing the need for customization. However, exceptions to this remain. Working with an experienced engineering manufacturer can help to navigate and expedite the design process.
In this blog, we’ll look at some of the many factors that should be considered when specifying hydraulic cylinders and how to simplify the process.
To read all of the factors to consider when specifying hydraulic cylinders, download the white paper “The Art of Cylinder Specification”.
Medium-duty hydraulic systems with pressure capabilities of 1000 PSI are used in the majority of industrial applications. Some applications, such as hydraulic presses and automotive manufacturing require heavy-duty systems. Standard heavy-duty hydraulic cylinders can accommodate pressures as high as 3000 PSI. Load capabilities are relative to the full piston area (in square inches) when exposed to fluid pressure multiplied by the gauge pressure in PSI.
Pressure rating can be a concern with custom stroke distances above 10 feet (3.05m). To handle the load, rod diameter must be determined. A pressure rating on load in thrust (push mode) may need to be specified. Rod sag from horizontal applications may result in premature rod bearing wear. To optimize hydraulic system performance, a best practice is comparing the positive effects to any potential negatives.
The definition of “excessive speed” can vary from one design engineer to another. As a good rule of thumb, standard hydraulic cylinder seals can easily handle speeds up to 3.28 feet (1 meter) per second. The tolerance threshold for standard cushions is roughly two thirds (2/3) of that speed. For higher speed applications, a standard low-friction seal is the better choice. But, what you gain in one aspect of performance, you lose in another. The greater the fluid velocity, the higher the fluid temperature, so when opting for speed increasing customizations, it is essential to consider the impact of higher temperatures on the entire hydraulic system. In some hydraulic systems, over-sized ports may eliminate escalated temperature concerns.
Hydraulic cylinder systems using standard components can be designed to meet application temperatures as hot as 500°F (260°C) and as cold as -65°F (-54°C). But temperatures affect both the “hard” and “soft” design components of cylinders. Applications requiring temperature extremes at either or both ends of the temperature spectrum require extensive knowledge of the interdependence of individual components to achieve the best balance of short- and long-term performance expectations. For example, applications near the north or south poles will see a contraction of the seals and metal parts due to the extreme temperatures.
There are basically three categories of mounting styles. Fixed and pivot styles can absorb forces on the cylinder’s centerline and typically include medium-duty and heavy-duty mounts to accommodate thrust or tension. A third category of fixed styles allows the entire cylinder to be supported by the mounting surface below the cylinder centerline, rather than absorbing forces solely along the centerline. Several standardized mounts are available within these categories. OEM design engineers can use these various mount offerings for a wide range of application requirements. NFPA Tie rod cylinders, which are used in the majority of industrial systems, can usually be mounted using a variety of standard mating configurations from trunnion-style heads and caps to extended tie rod cap and/or head end styles, flange style heads, side-lug and side-tapped styles, a range of spherical bearing configurations, and cap fixed clevis designs. Most mounting options are available for both single acting and double rod cylinders.
The goal of every mounting design is to allow the mount to absorb force, stabilize the system and optimize performance. Cap end mounts are recommended for rods loaded primarily in compression (push). A head end mount is recommended for rods loaded in tension (pull). The amount of tension or compression determines the piston rod diameter. The amount of pull or push determines the bore diameter. Other relevant factors to consider when selecting a mounting style include:
Load
Speed
Cylinder motion (straight/fixed or pivot)
Every mounting type comes with benefits and limitations. For example, trunnions for pivot-mounted cylinders are incompatible with self-aligning bearings where the small bearing area is positioned at a distance from the trunnions and cylinder heads. Improper use of this type of configuration introduces bending forces that can over-stress the trunnion pins. Many performance expectations that appear to require atypical mounts can be accommodated by existing styles, sometimes with only slight modifications — facilitating replacement and reducing costs.
Bore size is related to operating pressure. The amount of push or pull force required is what determines the bore size needed. Earlier generations of steel and aluminum mill equipment often required the use of non-standard bore and rod sizes. Today, virtually every industrial requirement can be met with NFPA standard and/or ISO-compliant components.
OEM design engineers probably request customization of piston rod sizes more frequently than any other hydraulic cylinder component. What is not always considered is the simple fact that push or pull is never independent of stroke length. Just as a pushed rope holds a straight line only in relation to its length (the longer the rope, the more the rope curls), piston rods under compression or tension tend to diffuse force in non-linear directions. Specifying costly materials such as stainless steel or alloy steels for the rods themselves is unnecessary. In most extreme applications, chrome plating provides a high level of corrosion-resistance required to optimize system longevity.
In conclusion, hydraulic cylinder specification can be a time-consuming and complicated process. Partnering with an engineering manufacturer experienced in hydraulic system design, such as Parker Cylinder Division, early in the design process, an OEM design team can save time and money and ensure reliable system operation and long service life.
Download the white paper “The Art of Cylinder Specification” to read all of the factors to consider when specifying hydraulic cylinders.
This blog was contributed by Jim Hauser, senior engineer, and Rade Knezevic, division sales manager, Parker Cylinder Division.
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When a Medium Temp rack subcools a Low Temp rack, the subcooler load will drop off during winter operation. When sizing these valves for this application, the removal of this subcooler load must be considered.
When one has compound cooling compressors or vapor injection be sure to use the subcooled temperature.
Take the total evaporator load x 110% then divide by the number of split condenser valves.
For split suction racks the total evaporator load is equal to the combined evaporator load of each suction.
For suction groups or standalone racks that are externally subcooled use the subcooled liquid temperature.
For suction groups or standalone racks that are self‐subcooled take the design condensing temperature minus 20°F.
For suction groups or standalone racks that are not subcooled take the design condensing temperature minus 20°F.
For split suction racks follow the above rules and calculate the liquid temperature for each suction group then find the weighted average liquid temperature using the formula below. Suction 1 Evaporator Load = SQ1 Suction 1 Liquid Temperature = ST1
Suction 1 Evaporator Load = SQ2 Suction 1 Liquid Temperature = ST2
Total Evaporator load = TQ Weighted Average Liquid Temperature = WALT
[(SQ1/TQ) x ST1] + [(SQ2/TQ) x ST2] = WALT
For single suction group or standalone rack use the design suction evaporator temperature.
For split suction racks calculate the weighted average evaporator temperature using the formula below.
Suction 1 Evaporator Load = SQ1 Suction 1 Liquid Temperature = SE1
Suction 1 Evaporator Load = SQ2 Suction 1 Liquid Temperature = SE2
Total Evaporator load = TQ Weighted Average Liquid Temperature = WAET
[(SQ1/TQ) x SE1] + [(SQ2/TQ) x SE2] = WAET
The above information will provide a general guideline if no other information is available.
One psi pressure drop is required for proper operation of pilot operated solenoid valves. As a guide, try to achieve a 2 psi pressure drop during summer conditions. Where possible using a larger pressure drop will provide more of a cushion for valve operation.
For more information on Solenoid 3-Way Valves see Parker Sporlan Bulletin 30-20.
FAILURE OR IMPROPER SELECTION OR IMPROPER USE OF THE PRODUCTS DESCRIBED HEREIN OR RELATED ITEMS CAN CAUSE DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
HVACR Tech Tip Article contributed by Jim Eckelkamp, senior application engineer, Sporlan Division of Parker Hannifin
Additional resources:
HVACR Tech Tip: What You Need to Know About Flooded Head Pressure Control
HVACR Tech Tip: Considering a Refrigeration System Retrofit? Part 1
HVACR Tech Tip: Considering a Refrigeration System Retrofit? Part 2
HVACR Tech Tip: Considering a Refrigeration System Retrofit? Part 3
Managing emissions is a major challenge for many companies. In Europe alone, a typical refinery can lose between 600 and 10,000 tonnes of fugitive emissions every year; and the majority of those losses are estimated to be caused by plant equipment, such as process to instrument valves and small bore fluid system technologies.
Valve leakage is believed to account for around 50 per cent of emissions within the chemical and petrochemical industries. That can place a major financial burden on companies - not just due to potential plant inefficiency, but also the potential costs of repairing leaks, wasting energy and environmental fines.
Reducing emissions can help businesses to protect the environment, reduce waste and save valuable time and money in the process. Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and end users involved in commissioning may find it helpful to follow a series of checks - alongside any existing processes - to determine prospective supplier capability.
International standard ISO 15848 sets a requirement for zero emissions for processes involving hazardous fluids and volatile air pollutants. The standard is split into two parts:
ISO 15848 defines three leakage classifications that specify maximum leakage rates, with Class A being the most stringent.
Parker products have been compliant with ISO 15848 for some years now.
Pic.1. Lloyd’s Register verification for the Pro-Bloc® 15mm process to instrument valves dates back as far as July 2007.
Typical industry procurement practices require certificates of approval or third-party verifications as a condition of supply. Reputable valve manufacturers, including Parker, can provide signed and witnessed certificates - along with verification from industry-leading organisations and technical advisors such as Lloyds, TUV and DNV.
If verifications are provided by an unknown third party, engineers and procurement specialists may want to satisfy themselves with the quality and level of certification offered - ensuring that any named verifiers are trusted experts in their field. And it’s important that suppliers can provide access to any stated certification, as proof of capability and to ensure practices are up-to-date.
Experience supporting major companies and being on approved vendor lists can also be a useful indicator of supply quality. Manufacturers of process to instrument valves who are working with oil majors typically have to pass stringent pre-qualification checks and approval systems. For example, Shell’s robust enterprise framework agreement requires suppliers to:
Passing these tests is a strong indicator of supplier credentials. Parker is proud to have recently secured a five-year extension to its framework agreement with Shell following a recent factory audit and witness-tested Type Approval Test. The extension was secured due to Shell being satisfied with Parker products and service over the previous five years.
Pic.2. Parker’s MESC compliant Double Block and Bleed valve.
In offshore applications, the implications of insufficient expertise or training can carry significant risk. It’s therefore imperative that any suppliers demonstrate their understanding of the business environment and relevant operations.
Asking suppliers for details of their testing practices and procedures, familiarity with legislation and adherence to industry standards will help to build a clear picture of suppliers’ relative experience and credentials.
EPC contract engineers and procurers commissioning process to instrument valves may find it helpful to consider the following areas when considering potential suppliers:
To find out more about Parker’s fugitive emission credentials and high-quality process to instrument valves, please visit Parker Instrumentation Products Division website.
Article contributed by Jim Breeze - Flange Products Product Manager at Parker Hannifin, Instrumentation Products Division Europe.
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The PASS (Personal Alert Safety System) alarm sounds. Smoke and flames engulf the area. Your breathing air supply is quickly diminishing. Evading the fiery scene is not an option. In this crucial moment, a firefighter entrenched in the middle of a blaze with a dwindling air supply turns to the single-most important piece of equipment.
Firefighters, HAZMAT crews and even underwater scuba divers should have a deep understanding of their breathing apparatus and possess the knowledge of preventative maintenance for the particular unit being employed. Simple issues such as blocked air or improper connections on self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) gear can instantaneously become serious problems under extreme circumstances when time is of the essence. Equipment of this magnitude in which people are entrusting their lives must follow rigorous guidelines.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), founded in 1896, has established more than 300 consensus codes and standards to minimize the possibility and devastating effects of fire and to ensure firefighters and emergency services personnel operate safely in the most hostile environments. Through their own research and outreach to over 9,000 volunteer committee members, NFPA’s codes and standards are revised every three to five years for quality and safety, and range from hazards and risks associated with different types of building construction to inspection requirements and evaluation of firefighting equipment and instruments.
In particular, NFPA 1981 defined the standard of respiratory protection and functional requirements for SCBA. This includes the design, performance, testing and certification of the breathing apparatus. But, did not specify requirements for any accessories that could be attached to the certified product not approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Over time, NFPA 1981 has undergone notable changes including standards for redundant low pressure warning devices, heads up display (HUD) to signal the amount of an air cylinder’s available capacity, new voice communication intelligibility requirements, testing for increased facepiece lens integrity and most importantly of all, acknowledging Emergency Breathing Safety Systems (EBSS), commonly referred to as buddy breathers.
A Buddy Breather is a rescue technique when two people share one air source, alternately breathing from it. There had been great hesitation by NFPA to recognize the buddy breather over technical challenges such as having the ability to deliver twice the volume of airflow to ensure adequate air to both users. To this day, the buddy breather is considered an accessory and not a requirement. NFPA, NIOSH, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or any manufacturer do not recommend or approve sharing air between firefighters.
However, in a compromised emergency situation, the buddy breather could be the single-most important piece of equipment on a firefighters’ protective suit. This survival accessory features a small manifold with a hose that detaches from the regulator. The air bottle can be managed down to 125-135 pounds per square inch (PSI) and attaches to the manifold, which contains a male and female coupling. The setup allows a firefighter in need of compressed air to connect their coupling to another firefighters’ air bottle in the event of an emergency.
Herein lies the problem which the new NFPA coupling standard has resolved. There is a variety of SCBA gear available today for fire departments to utilize. And each one could feature a different type of coupling system. If “Fire Department A” and “Fire Department B” are both on-scene of a fire, chances are high their couplings are not compatible to each other’s buddy breathers, making them non-operational and ineffective across the two groups of firefighters
A Universal Emergency Breathing Safety System (UEBSS) standard has been adopted into the NFPA 1981-2018 Edition. The new UEBSS standard requires all SCBA manufacturers to produce units that accommodate Rapid Intervention Crew Universal Air Coupling (RIC UAC) to be in compliance for firefighting. The universal coupling interface chosen will allow an air bottle lacking compressed air to be transfilled from another bottle regardless of the breathing system manufacturer. Each air bottle would then have equal amounts of air in them after the fill. This means a firefighter can effectively use the buddy breather system to provide air to another firefighter without concern for the brand of SCBA gear.
In fact, the NFPA volunteer committee selected a Parker quick coupling design to adopt as the industry standard for manufacturers to follow for designing and building interchangeable couplings. A universally standard coupling compatible across all new and existing SCBA gear ensures firefighters will not have to remove their facepiece during an air supply malfunction or failure. Plus, fire departments and personnel can become thoroughly familiar with one standardized system and how it works. This ensures connectability of all air line couplings that may need to be connected or disconnected in the event of an emergency.
SCBA is a critical component in the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by firefighters and emergency personnel. Regardless of rank and tenure, firefighters can encounter a problem with their gear. When seconds matter the most, emergency procedures such as the buddy breather has significant influence on firefighter safety. And with a universal coupling system, the chance of survival only increases for firefighters.
Contact us for more information on Parker’s NFPA selected coupling design.
Article contributed by Todd Lambert, market sales manager, Quick Coupling Division, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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Not so long ago, only the largest OEMs could afford to develop complex proprietary control systems. But the recent introduction of versatile digital ecosystems connecting electronic control hardware and software to the Cloud is expected to be a game changer for mobile hydraulic machinery and equipment manufacturers.
By empowering design engineers with real-time access to the most sophisticated data collection and monitoring capabilities, such systems are enabling OEMs to customize electro-hydraulic control parameters to meet highly specific application requirements.
This leveling of the playing field is catalyzing a new era of mobile machine and equipment design innovation, as OEMs across industries, tiers and geographies develop customized solutions that digitally integrate their customers’ hydraulic and machine controls with the Internet of Things (IoT). This article will explore some of the major operational and safety advantages of integrated electro-hydraulic motion control platforms connecting mobile machinery and equipment to the IoT.
Whether customers are managing a fleet of transport trucks, utility vehicles, refuse collection trucks, and material handlers, or complex construction, agricultural and mining machinery, the ability to conduct real-time monitoring of vehicle functions and operator performance enables:
Increased productivity through predictable maintenance and improved uptime
Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty through proactive data-driven service engagement
Improved equipment operator safety, including the ability to field-validate training certifications
Optimized efficiency in energy and fuel usage
The ability to continually track performance variables such as vehicle locations, engine speeds, torque, pressure levels, and aspects of operator behavior
The ability to selectively share data across the distribution and supply channels by assigning multi-tiered user types and permissions
Comprehensive reporting for analysis and improvement
To learn more download the full white paper Today's Digital Ecosystems Take Mobile Hydraulic Systems to a New Level.
Article contributed by Clint Quanstrom, IoT general manager and Hector Rodriguez, IoT product manager, Motion Systems Group, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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Ray Clapp, owner of Coast Range Construction, Homer, Alaska, was searching for a way to increase efficiency on jobsites. In business for 16 years, Coast Range specializes in setting foundations for lodges and cabins as well as performing house-site development for contractors. Homer has very little flat ground to build on. Terrain ranges from sea level up to 1,400 feet in elevation, and drainage issues are quite common. On many jobsites, it is difficult to maneuver machinery, particularly in tight spaces. Machines often need to be moved several times during a job which can extend the time of a project. Additionally, the challenging terrain is often only accessible by water. Equipment has to be transported by barge. In order to differentiate himself from the competition, Clapp needed a tool that could easily work in tight spaces so that the work could be done cleaner and faster.
Clapp ultimately purchased the PowerTilt tilting coupler and added it to his Hitachi ZX200LC. With PowerTilt’s 180 degree side-to-side tilt and versatility, he can operate his Hitachi with surgical precision cutting all the slopes and angles with just one machine and without having to move it several times during the day.
“The PowerTilt is my secret weapon. It has increased the quality and efficiency of our work to give us the edge over the competition.”
Ray Clapp, owner, Coast Range Construction
PowerTilt uses an innovative sliding-spline operating technology to convert linear piston motion into powerful shaft rotation. Each actuator is composed of a housing and two moving parts – the central shaft and piston. As hydraulic pressure is applied, the piston is displaced axially, while the helical gearing on the piston OD and housing’s ring gear cause the simultaneous rotation of the piston. PowerTilt’s end caps, seals and bearings all work in tandem to keep debris and other contaminants out of the inner workings of the actuator, prolonging product life and reducing required maintenance.
The PowerTilt can be used with a variety of attachments. Coast Range mainly uses it for grading projects but some projects have seen the need to attach standard or narrow buckets.
Coast Range used to require three machines for any given project: the Hitachi excavator, a track loader and a small dozer. By adding the PowerTilt to his excavator, projects were completed one to two days faster. The small dozer was only being used an average of 90 hours a year where most machines average about 2,000 hours a year. Clapp estimates a 30 percent increase in productivity with the use of this tool. He also decided to eliminate the small dozer, and now saves one third of the time to complete the same work he used to do with the small dozer. Reduction in equipment decreases transportation costs too.
Purchasing the PowerTilt has given Ray an advantage over the competitors in the area by increasing productivity and creating a clean and more precise finished look on the jobsite. In using this tool for the past 10 years he has had no maintenance issues or downtime.
The PowerTilt is reliable. The PowerTilt has outlasted Clapp’s machinery. Regular scheduled maintenance and greasing have been key but ten years later, Coast Range’s current PowerTilt has up to 8,000 hours on it and is still going strong with no maintenance issues. Clapp has a lot of confidence that the PowerTilt will always finish the job in any type of weather, terrain or environment in Alaska.
PowerTilt is available for equipment up to 75,000 lbs in eight sizes with standard rotation of up to 180 degrees. Each model is designed for a specific class of machinery and individually customized to fit the carrier.
More product information can be found on PowerTilt here.
This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division.
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For automotive engineers looking to reduce vehicle weight, metal-to-plastic conversion is a win-win. At the highest level, injection plastic molds are capable of producing multiples of millions of parts required for automotive programs with ease. Typically, a single tool can support a program for its entire life-cycle, meaning you only must go through the cost and design of tooling just once.
In traditional metal fabrication, you have stamping and die casting, both of which require tool refurbishment, at what can amount to a very significant cost. Although injection mold tooling can be relatively expensive, it is not more expensive than die cast tools and/or stamping tools.
Typically, injection molds will last many times longer than metal tooling. Injection mold tooling are also more flexible than other types of tools, allowing you to incorporate many types of features into a part so that no secondary machining, coating and/or forming is required after the molding operation. And depending on the type of plastic material you select; you can realize excellent strength to weight properties.
Metal has been used for decades now to machine and fabricate parts that need to last long past the product’s life cycle. Today, metal replacement parts, better known as metal-to-plastic replacement technology, offers a lighter, more cost effective solution that is often superior to the metal part it replaces.
Take for instance the cylinder head cover pictured. It has undergone a metal-to-plastic transformation, featuring multiple cable management mounts, coupled with the elimination of the spark plug tube mounting point, which has vastly decreased noise from the engine.
But most importantly, its weight has decreased 47% - a significant weight savings by automotive manufacturing standards.
Selecting the right injection molding plastic resource is critical, especially for companies that do not have in-house plastic expertise. Support engineers can ensure that the plastic part is properly designed for optimum molding capability, and look for opportunities to combine multiple parts into one, eliminating cost and manufacturing operations down the line. Plastic engineers can also support the design process with computer aided analysis, such as mold flow and finite element analysis (FEA).
Finally, plastic engineers can help with selecting the correct plastic resin, noting the user environment and required chemical resistance, operating temperature range, and whether there needs to be electrical properties such as conductivity, thermal properties such as heat dissipation and mechanical strength. Plastics offer more functionality with less weight. With plastics, there is a freedom of design not found in metal parts.
Learn more about Parker Chomerics’ injection molded plastic expertise, including engineering support today.
This blog was contributed by Jarrod Cohen, marketing communications manager, Parker Chomerics Division.
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We are pleased to announce that Parker Low Pressure Connector Europe Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, has been awarded the new International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949:2016 certification.
A Worldwide Recognized Certification
The Division is once again demonstrating its ambition to be the reference partner in high-demand markets. This globally recognized certification indicates that Parker LPCE has achieved a very high level in terms of quality performance, system capability, warranty requirement and customer satisfaction.
The Scope of this New Standard
The global automotive and transportation industry faces significant challenges, including rapid growth of emerging markets and the need to improve performance and reliability while ensuring the best cost-effectiveness. In response to these challenges, the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) has published the new IATF standard 16949:2016. This new international standard describes the requirements for quality management systems for organizations working in the production, service and / or accessory parts of the automotive and transport industry. As IATF points out, this new international standard aims to develop a quality management system designed to:
Provide continuous improvement,
Highlight the prevention of failures,
Include requirements and tools specific to the automotive sector,
Promote the decrease in variation and waste within the supply chain.
The new IATF 169491:2016 replaces ISO / TS 16949: 2009. This new normative reference is based on the requirements of ISO 9001: 2015, supplemented by the demands of the automotive industry. This new framework strengthens the management system in terms of continuous improvement, risk analysis prevention and leadership.
Note that since October 2017, it is mandatory to transition to this new standard IATF 16949:2016.
A Significant benefit for Customers
The LPCE Division has reinforced its quality management demands in order to meet the following criteria within the scope of this certification:
Product safety concepts
Ethical responsibility of the company
Inclusion of specific customer requirements
Production management
Supplier management
Audits
This certification has an additional value because our Division is one of the first French companies to have obtained it.
The LPCE Division confirms the performance of the company's management system, and is a guarantee for the major players of the automotive and transportation industry an assurance in the continuity and reliability of its systems and products.
For more information, please contact our dedicated transportation team.
Download our certificate of compliance IATF 16949:2016 Learn more about this standard For more information on LPCE products, download our transport brochure Visit our website to discover more on our products
Article contributed by Laurent Orcibal, ebusiness manager, Low Pressure Connector Europe, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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When it comes to gearbox test rigs deployed in the automotive and aerospace industries, one thing is certain - there is no margin for failure. A test rig or system that is unreliable or produces erroneous results can have serious consequences to development programmes where designers and research and development engineers are under intense pressure to deliver next-generation solutions to a demanding customer base.
Gearbox test rigs come in many different configurations, depending on the type of transmission being tested. However, most share a common requirement, namely the need for electromechanical components such as high-speed servomotors, inverters and linear motors.
A case in point can be seen at BIA, a French-based industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of test equipment and systems for customers in the aerospace, industrial and automotive sectors. The company has been collaborating with specialists at Parker for a number of years, with the outcome that BIA is now able to combine specific elements and components of its test rigs into completely bespoke, integrated systems that offer higher reliability and performance.
“We very much benefit from Parker’s wide product offering that helps us to efficiently source high quality and reliability components and systems, which finally contribute to BIA’s global success. We appreciate the very constructive spirit with which the dialogue with Parker is conducted." Said OLIVIER CARLIER. Project Leader at BIA
Parker works closely with customers such as BIA to help define the components required for each individual simulation and test system. Here, the company’s extensive portfolio assists in sourcing high quality, reliable products and systems. Products such as Parker’s high-speed servomotors, for example, are adopted widely in gearbox test rigs for the efficiency of their cooling systems, as are Parker linear motors, chiefly as a result of their positioning accuracy.
Beginning with Parker’s brushless, permanent-magnet, high-speed MGV servomotors, these offer the capability to simulate a combustion engine in conjunction with a vehicle’s manual gearbox. Of particular note, MGV motors benefit from water cooling, which in turn permits their dimensions and operating noise to be minimised. Furthermore, the low inertia of the MGV allows for highly dynamic acceleration and deceleration, while in order to achieve maximum precision, motor speed and torque are controlled in a closed loop, permitting the servomotor to be used for simulations in both urban traffic and race conditions.
Parker MS asynchronous motor are also popular for gearbox testing applications. The reason stems from the fact that the MS can deliver 10,000 rpm at 500 kW, which is ideal for gearbox duration testing – a task which requires a constant, medium speed without acceleration.
On the subject of transmission endurance tests, Parker ETT linear motors are often deployed (including at BIA) to actuate the gear lever and engage gears. Here, the rectangular rod configuration connected to ETT cylinders simulates movement through the standard H-slots of the gear lever. ETT linear motors have a high positioning accuracy of 0.5 mm, along with repeatability of 0.05 mm.
Also worthy of mention, Parker AC890 inverters have been developed to achieve optimum performance levels with both asynchronous motors (MS) and synchronous servomotors (MGV), and are able to operate in both motor and generator modes. This functionality can be exploited during gearbox tests: one motor can be connected to the gearbox input, just like a diesel engine, while two other motors (operating in generator mode) can be linked with the output of the gearboxes to simulate rotating wheels. This power generation gives full grid energy recuperation and can enable significant energy savings too.
Article contributed by Michel Finck, market development manager, Electromechanical & Drives Division Europe.
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“We very much benefit from Parker’s wide product offering that helps us to efficiently source high quality and reliability components and systems, which finally contribute to BIA’s global success. We appreciate the very constructive spirit with which the dialogue with Parker is conducted."
Olivier Carlier. project leader at BIA
Parker Aerospace’s Fluid System Division has a long history of supplying fuel pumps to both the civilian and military aviation markets. Detailed analysis and testing, combined with extensive hours of field operational experience, ensure our off-the-shelf pumps provide a proven, low-risk, and cost-effective solution for aircraft fuel system design.
Whether a fuel system requires a boost or transfer pump, each design within Parker’s product-line family has unique features and can be fully customized to meet specific operational requirements for fuel type, delivered flow, inlet/discharge pressures, and temperatures (fluid and ambient). Variations in mounting configuration, available electric drive power, and allowable installation weight can be accommodated to provide a fully customized solution if an existing design is not satisfactory for any new or retrofit applications. All pump models are designed to the requirements of MIL-STD-704, MIL-STD-810, ARP-5794, and RTCA DO160.
Parker Aerospace fuel pumps typically perform two functions within the fuel system. A “boost pump” supplies pressurized fuel from the main supply tank directly to the engine. A “transfer pump” moves fuel from one tank to another to maintain the center of gravity of the aircraft and to ensure the primary tanks remain full during flight. Pump selection is based on the requirements for delivered flow and pressure, as well as the available electric power system of the aircraft. To supply the optimal off-the-shelf solution, any specifications associated with a new application should be sent to Parker so the best available option can be selected and presented to the customer.
Designed for general aviation, business jet, and rotor aircraft, these brushed pumps run on a 28 VDC power system and perform both the boost and transfer functions in the fuel system. The direct-drive motor features carbon brushes that power a wound armature shaft. Hydraulic elements include centrifugal and vane assemblies. Pump mounting arrangements are tank submerged (wall and floor), in-line (outside the fuel tank), and cartridge/canister (wall and floor mounted with the pumping element removable without draining fuel from the tank).
Programs supported:
Designed for civilian and military aircraft, these brushless pumps run on a 28 VDC power system and perform both the boost and transfer functions in the fuel system. The pump is powered by a brushless DC drive system that consists of a permanent magnet motor and an analog electronic controller. Hydraulic elements are centrifugal assemblies. Pump mounting arrangements are tank submerged (floor), and cartridge/canister (floor mounted with pumping element removable without draining fuel from the tank).
Designed for military aircraft, these brushless pumps run on a 270 VDC power system and perform both the boost and transfer functions in the fuel system. The pump is powered by a brushless DC drive system that consists of a permanent magnet motor and a digital electronic controller that runs on configuration-controlled software. Hydraulic elements are centrifugal assemblies. Pump mounting arrangements are tank side-wall (bracket) mounted.
Designed for regional jets, rotor aircraft, and military aircraft, these pumps run on a 200VAC (L-L), 400 Hz constant frequency power input and perform both the boost and transfer functions in the fuel system. The electric drive is a classical induction motor with a copper-wound stator and squirrel-cage rotor. Hydraulic elements include centrifugal and gear assemblies. Pump mounting arrangements are tank submerged (wall and floor), in-line (outside the fuel tank), and cartridge/canister (wall and floor mounted with the pumping element removable without draining fuel from the tank).
Designed for small and large commercial transport aircraft, regional jet, and military aircraft, these small frame and large frame pumps run on a 200VAC (L-L) and 400 VAC (L-L), variable frequency power input (360 to 800 Hz) and perform both the boost and transfer functions in the fuel system. The electric drive is a classical induction motor with a copper-wound stator and squirrel-cage rotor. Hydraulic elements include centrifugal assemblies. Pump mounting arrangements are tank submerged (floor), and cartridge/canister (wall and floor mounted with pumping element removable without draining fuel from the tank).
Parker Aerospace is increasing its production capability to supply fuel pumps to every market segment, from general aviation to military and large commercial transport. Our FSD-Elyria, Ohio, facility works with numerous key sub-tier companies to form a solid supply base, coupled with fabrication, assembly, and test facilities to supply every customer with products from small to large order quantities. Parker is committed to keeping pace with our customers’ needs.
For more information about Fuel Systems Division fuel pumps, please visit the Parker Aerospace off-the-shelf product page.
This post was contributed by senior principal engineer Bill Heilman of the Parker Aerospace Fluid Systems Division.
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Chvalis is an expert on delivering turnkey solutions according to rail manufacturer's specifications, including delivery, installation and commissioning. Chvalis has been using Parker's products since 1992 in its systems for their unmatched quality, reliability and security. Components also meet the most demanding certifications. In the railway industry, Chvalis is the holder of the Certification of Technical Competence of the Czech Railways supplier and the SŽDC Supplier's Certificate.
Thanks to its extensive network of local branches, which are always associated with the ParkerStore service and ParkerStore sales hydraulics and tires, Chvalis is able to provide rolling stock operators 24-hour warranty and post-warranty service. The ParkerStore retail locations are fully equipped for the production of hydraulic hoses and are certified by the "ParkerStore Hose Certification Workshop."
Until 2013, Chvalis supplied hydraulic systems only for auxiliary drives, such as compressor drives for compressed air production; the drive for the combustion engine cooling fans and the electric alternator drive for the production of electric motors. In 2013, the company received a call for a comprehensive design and solution for the supply of a complete hydraulic traction drive, including auxiliary drives for 35 units of MUV series 74.02 001-035 series, for CZ LOKO, the manufacturer and supplier of Czech Railways - SŽDC.
Chvalis has developed a technical solution for its own drive - an unconventional way of using its own innovative, open-circuit hydraulic system instead of competing with a preferred closed circuit. The system, while technically more demanding, precisely and comfortably addresses all the requirements of all traction control conditions controlled by the parent electronic control system of the vehicle. In addition, the circuit allows for hydraulic braking, which was used for the cruise control system. This makes the work of the drivers more efficient and saves the cost of the vehicle operators, reducing the wear of the brake discs of the standard pneumatic braking system of the vehicle. The standard brake is used most of the operating time, using this circuit for braking, until the vehicle stops.
Hydraulic circuits are built using the Parker product portfolio, including Ermeto E02 pipe systems and hose systems from certified hoses for rolling stock. These hydraulic circuits, mainly PV-plus piston control pumps in conjunction with the F11, F12, F1, F2, and F14 hydraulic motors of the V14 series, deliver a minimum fault, provide high reliability and long service life.
Thanks to previous experience with the 35-piece MUV74.02 series, Chvalis was asked by CZ LOKO's customer for the design and delivery of a complete hydraulic traction drive and auxiliary drives for a new series of 50 MUV 75.00 Universal Motor Vehicles. This new unit had the requirement to maintain the same hydraulic traction drive that has proven itself in the past series. In addition, the requirement to increase the hydraulic proportional brake power and increase the number of auxiliary hydraulic circuit circuits has been accepted: hydraulic hand, grass mower, hydraulically independent trolley tipping system, and suspension lock.
After the demanding testing of the first prototype in December 2017, the production of a 50-piece series of cars was launched in January 2018, again using the innovative Chvalis hydraulic system with proven hydraulic components from Parker.
InnoTrans is the leading international trade fair for transport technology and takes places every two years in Berlin, Germany. Sub-divided into the five trade fair segments Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction, InnoTrans occupies all 41 halls available at Berlin Exhibition Grounds. The InnoTrans Convention, the event’s top-level supporting programme, complements the trade fair.
A unique feature of InnoTrans is its outdoor and track display area, where everything from tank wagons to high-speed trains is displayed on 3,500 metres of track. Visit Parker at Booth 206, Hall 10 or learn about our innovations to keep you on track on our solutions page.
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Sealing can often be a frustrating challenge when dealing with flow batteries. Determining what materials are compatible with certain chemistries or developing a profile that provides optimal sealing under available compression can be a time-consuming task for those outside the sealing industry. A trial and error approach can have a significant overall cost impact through multiple prototype iterations, prolonged testing, and ultimately, delaying product commercialization.
Parker’s design and material engineers can provide support to your team in the critical, early stages of product development. With hundreds of engineered elastomeric materials to choose from, our team can identify and recommend a compound that works with your specific electrolytes or other fluids. With the exceptionally long lifetime requirements of flow batteries, our homogeneous rubber provides the elasticity needed to handle the many charge-discharge cycles the battery will see in its life.
Our engineers can significantly reduce design time by utilizing finite element analysis early in the process. FEA is a sophisticated computer modeling program that demonstrates a visual simulation of how materials for a proposed seal design might perform in the application. Material performance over a range of conditions is tested to see if the product will perform as expected. FEA can be repeated as many times as needed to fine-tune the design and make the final product as robust, functional, and reliable as possible. This process can be performed before prototyping, mold design or production is undertaken, greatly reducing the possibility of errors or redesign issues occurring later.
With continuous advancements materializing in the energy storage market, we fully understand the urgency of moving a product from development to commercialization. Parker can provide your team with resources to improve both the quality and speed of seal design in the critical prototyping stage, reducing overall cost. After commercialization, Parker’s O-Ring & Engineered Seals Division can support your high volume production utilizing one of our 14 manufacturing locations dedicated to molding and extruding elastomeric products. To ensure the highest levels of material quality, state-of-the-art laboratories and testing equipment are housed in our two North American technology centers.
For more information, visit Parker O-Ring & Engineered Seals Division online and chat with our experienced applications engineers.
This article was contributed by Wesley Burcham, market manager, Parker O-Ring & Engineered Seals Division.
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Over the last several years, the trend in the oil and gas market has been the near constant decrease in oil prices. As prices continue to drop, companies must find ways to remain profitable by streamlining costs. Design engineers are continually seeking more efficient technologies that can provide the same production capabilities while lowering the cost of operation.
Parker axial piston pumps provide a new-found efficiency. The P1 and PD Series Pumps are a step above the competition because of their energy recovery feature. This feature greatly reduces energy expenditure which saves cost. The pumps are designed to function as a pump to raise the rod string, then as the rod string gravity lowers, the pump is designed to go over center and work as a motor to recover the kinetic energy, which can then be used when raising the rod string or putting the energy back to the grid. In addition, this design allows the pumps to meet duty cycle requirements in applications where competitive products cannot accomplish this.
The P1 and PD series also have exceptional bearing life, which allows it to last longer than competitive product. This reduces down-time and the total cost of ownership. In an industry where down time is extremely costly and operating costs are critical, this feature is invaluable.
The P1 and PD medium pressure axial piston pumps utilize electronic control systems to optimize performance with the ability to work with their own ECU or directly with the machine or vehicle’s ECU. The pumps ECU even feature a CANbus interface to support whole-vehicle CANbus systems.
Besides electronic controls, the P1 and PD series offer a broad range of controls, including load sensing capabilities. In oil and gas applications where there can be wide fluctuations in flow and pressure, load sensing controls can save considerable amounts of input power. A load-sensing controlled variable pump eliminates most inefficiencies created by fixed displacement pumps. This reduces the amount of energy lost when the pump is not operating at maximum flow and electronic controls just take that one step further minimizing losses even more than a load sense control.
As the public continues to demand a lower dependence on foreign sources of oil, companies are hastily trying to find domestic reserves in commercial quantities. This has forced companies to look for and produce oil and natural gas in locations previously thought to be too close to residential and commercial areas, greatly increasing the need for low-noise equipment due to regulations of operating in such areas.
The unique design of the P1 and PD allow them to excel in low-noise applications. They provide exceptional motor function, while leading the competition in noise reduction. They provide such low noise output that they can be used in a wide array of new low noise applications that have never been tapped due to limitations of other products, while still being cost competitive and highly efficient.
P1 and PD Piston Pumps are now available for purchase on parker.com. Simply add products to your cart for shipment from a Parker Distributor.
Article contributed by Keith McDonald, product manager, Hydraulic Pump and Power Systems Division, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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Every fall just outside of Detroit, MI, thousands of electric and hybrid vehicle industry insiders descend onto the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo in Novi, MI. Delivering the largest exhibition of electric vehicle and related industry suppliers in the nation, the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Tech Expo offers a range of informative presentations, interactive events, and fun activities to help drive your projects to the next level.
Whether you're looking for electrical power-trains and components, battery management systems, thermal cooling materials or EMI shielding solutions, you’ll find it at all #EVT.
And this year didn’t disappoint – Parker Chomerics, in its second year of exhibiting, prominently featured a prototype urethane-based, 3.0 W/m-K dispensed thermal interface material (TIM) designed for high volume, EV battery applications requiring reliable thermal cooling performance. With an in-booth dispensing machine provided by PVA, show attendees were introduced to a different technology alternative than silicone dispensed TIMs.
Also, featured at the Parker Chomerics booth was an electric vehicle battery simulation, portraying what the compressed urethane TIM might look like in application against the battery cells and the cooling plate of the battery container. Depending on the manufacturer and design, some battery cells are arranged into a container which could be the size of a queen mattress, so proper wet out and adherence is critical to proper thermal cooling.
Parker Chomerics was also a featured speaker during the Thermal Management: Materials, Packaging & Performance track on Thursday, September 13th. Matthew Finley, global marketing manager of Parker Chomerics, took the viewing audience through an expert presentation focused on the differences between silicone and urethane dispensed thermal interface materials for EV applications.
Other technologies featured at this year's show included a variety of fluid seals, Press-In-Place (PIP) seals, o-rings, and molded shapes. Parker's innovative solutions for gearing and power transfer, battery life and electric motors can withstand a variety of environments, fluids, pressures, and temperatures. Sealing solutions for batteries require low compression set, temperature resistance, fire resistance, media resistance, low closure force and must be adaptable to a wide range of geometries.
Our team members were proud to represent Parker Chomerics at EVT18 and garner the opportunity to network with other professionals, engage with current partners, and nurture relations with future partners. We hope to see you again next year!
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A routine oil change is anything but routine. Fleet engines and industrial machinery pose a variety of challenges that make conventional oil changes time-consuming, messy and hazardous for the technician and the environment. The equipment to perform such a task is specialized and features unique instructions and a level of complexity that requires comprehensive training. These obstacles only increase the chances of human error occurring during an oil change.
It’s best for oil changes to have a standardized approach. Parker’s QuickFit™ Oil Change System can deliver a faster, cleaner and safer oil change every time. This revolutionary way of changing oil utilizes a more accessible, single point connection to purge, evacuate and refill oil. That means no drips, no leaks and no spills. Whether you’re a skilled mechanic or technician trainee, minimum training is involved to use QuickFit. Perform oil changes in a fast and effective manner and have more time to focus on improving the business’ bottom line.
No need to deal with cramped and hard-to-reach spaces and multiple points. QuickFit’s easily accessible single connection point does it for you.
Oil changes can be done in 30 minutes or less. Purge the filter, evacuate the used oil and refill with new oil from a single connection point.
Few tools are necessary to use the QuickFit Oil Change System. The complete oil change system features simple installation to get you changing oil in no time.
A 50% reduction in oil change times. Rather than dealing with complicated instructions and equipment, QuickFit’s 3-step process is a more standardized solution to deliver faster oil changes every time.
QuickFit Oil Change System creates less consumable waste than conventional oil changes.
Reduce exposure to hazardous materials and the possibility of slips, falls and burns. QuickFit’s ergonomic design allows for easier access, simplifying the oil change process.
Eliminate oil spills by 100%. QuickFit valve connects directly from the vehicle to final containment for complete control. This means no leaks, no spills and no clumsy removal of oil pan plugs and filled filters.
Eliminate the hidden costs of oil changes and improve your bottom line with a faster, cleaner and safer oil change through QuickFit Oil Change System.
Experience a faster, cleaner and safer oil change today and visit www.Parker.com/QuickFit to learn more.
This blog was contributed by Matt Walley, product sales manager, Parker Quick Coupling Division.
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One of the challenges faced in any biopharmaceutical process is bioburden control and containment — or how do you keep what is out, "out" and what is in, ‘"n".
For a stainless steel-based manufacturing system, the process is well understood. The lines are set up, the CIP and SIP cycles are run, the appropriate valves are closed and the system is pressurized and then left for a period of time, perhaps overnight, while it is monitored for pressure decay. If the pressure decay is minimal, you have an integral system.
If you tried this method with a single-use system, assuming the bag could take the pressure, at a minimum you would see losses from the tubing as it is a porous material which has a diffusion rate. Identifying a fail in a single-use system based on pressure decay, therefore, becomes difficult. The question is, is the decay due to a leak and therefore a faulty assembly or is it diffusion across the tubing material on an assembly that is intact and fit for use? Commercially available systems are now available which will provide the answers.
A key point for discussion is: should the biopharma industry be talking about integrity testers or should we be talking about leak detection systems? This is an important difference due to the weight this industry places on the word integrity, especially if we talk about integrity tests.
If we use the language of integrity testing, it implies a level of security backed up by validation and a clear binary result. The meaning in this context is well defined and if a system fails an integrity test, a batch ultimately could be rejected, pending any rework or investigation.
At the post integrity testing stage, you can report that a sterilizing grade filter is integral or is not by using recognized and validated methods. However, it may be more difficult to make the same statement for a single-use assembly.
As an industry, we should be sure what integrity means in this context and how it should be described.
Leak detection on a system requires and allows for the interpretation of the results. Of course, if the interpretation is backed up by the manufacturer’s validation package then so much the better. The questions that are open are:
There is no need, however, to revert to stainless steel in bioprocessing operations. Stainless steel is not without its own challenges and potential points of weakness. The connections on a system, many of which are not used in a process — for example blanking ports on a vessel — all need to be assembled and tested. The stresses and strains, when going from ambient temperature to 121oC and back again, which are put on stainless steel systems, are avoided in single-use.
But we should be very clear about what we are testing and what those test results mean, so as not to create a false sense of security. The impact of simply assuming a single-use assembly is integral when there is no knowledge of how testing has been carried out can have serious consequences for a biopharmaceutical manufacturer.
We should also be challenging the vendors of single-use systems to ensure that the facilities and processes used to build and ship assemblies minimize any risk and that those processes are validated.
The old adage "you cannot test in quality, you must build it in", certainly rings true in this case.
Find out about Parker's SciLog SELECT GO single-use assemblies