The Development of Ultra High-Pressure Hydraulic Systems

Abstract

Most engineers seek to reduce weight and bulk by the use of higher specific loading of their material. The hydraulic engineer is no exception to this; but his choice of working pressure determines to an unusually large extent the detail construction of most parts of the system. The purpose of this paper is to examine briefly the reasons which lie behind this choice of pressure, with particular reference to the possibility of using a higher working pressure than is in common use at present for the lighter forms of equipment in aircraft, automobile, and industrial design. Within the scope of this paper it will only be possible to examine the essentials of the problem, and to suggest likely solutions, with the knowledge that time and experience will probably provide other and better answers.