Trends and Topics Technical Papers “Cyclone” concept represents new twist in hydraulic filter design Challenge: Prevent debris, dirt and particles from reaching sensitive highpressure hydraulics, while avoiding clogged filters, reducing the need for replacement or maintenance Provide hydraulic equipment operators with advance warning when a hydraulic filter begins to become saturated with particles Rexroth Solution: 110 LE(N) hydraulic filter series with specially developed filter head that propels hydraulic media in a spiral, cyclone-like path New filter bowl design for filter mounting Cyclone pattern directs dirt particles toward filter bottom, where they can be removed Mechanical/electronic contamination indicator for filter monitoring and advance indication of saturation Rexroth Results: Increased reliability and uptime Better repeatability and accuracy in positioning for hydraulics Improved filter life and reduced maintenance Electronic indicator can be added during machine operation No need for bypass check valve Download the complete technical paper (PDF - 451 KB) Hydraulic fluids flow through filter in a spiral pattern that improves flow, increases absorption capacity, keeps filter cleaner and protects hard-working industrial and mobile equipment from contamination For as long as industrial and mobile hydraulic equipment has existed, keeping hydraulic fluids clean and free from contaminants has been an ongoing challenge. And that challenge has only increased as new types of fluids are introduced and more is demanded from high-tech hydraulic systems. Greater demands for precision, positional accuracy, repeatability and durability have led to more sophisticated, specialty-engineered hydraulic components such as high-performance valves. Today’s industrial applications demand tighter tolerances as well. These developments have had an unwanted side effect: the more sophisticated the hydraulic component, the more damage that dirt and other contaminants can do. Designers have responded over the years by steadily increasing the sensitivity of filters, so that micron-level filtration is not uncommon today. The filter bowl design improves filter element mounting and stability and helps to ensure constant pressure distribution. The mechanical/electronic contamination indicator gives operators advance warning when filter maintenance will soon need to be performed, without opening the hydraulic line. The science of dealing with filtration issues in actual hydraulic applications, however, has tended to remain rather low-tech: wait until the filter gets clogged, then clean or replace it. All filters eventually become saturated with contaminants and need to be replaced or serviced before reduced fluid flow compromises hydraulic performance. The question becomes, when and how often should maintenance be done? Often, the first sign of a problem is a sudden drop in hydraulics efficiency, which often results in a shutdown until the filter is replaced or cleaned. In some hydraulics applications, a system of regularly scheduled maintenance is used, but this can be inefficient if the system is shut down or filters replaced when there’s no need. Filter clogging rates do not generally conform to a user’s schedule, either, so sudden drops in machine performance can’t always be avoided. Learn more about this technology and download the complete technical paper (PDF - 451 KB)