Current throttling hydraulic systems involving multiple actuators and a single hydraulic power supply have poor efficiency. The purpose of this project is to implement switch-mode control in a multi-actuator circuit and demonstrate the improvement in efficiency over a traditional hydraulic system with throttling valve control. To accomplish this task a hydraulic crane arm powered by two actuators, high pressure low flow and low pressure high flow, was designed and constructed. After designing and testing the hydraulic crane, the team concluded that high-speed switch technology with multiple actuators is feasible. This new technology, once implemented on a larger scale in realistic applications, will reduce losses in hydraulic systems that depend on multiple actuators to function.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Gove, Brendan C.
• Ennis, Patrick James
• Wellington, Christopher C.
• Forte, Peter A

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042211-161753

Advisor

• Van de Ven, James D.

Year

• 2011

Date created

• 2011-04-22

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright