How do we stop Leaks?
When I run hydraulic courses I ask students what they believe are the benefits and disadvantages of hydraulics. Putting aside the benefits, the largests negative is messy oil leaks.
You would think that after all these years we would have come up with a 100% foolproof method of preventing leaks.
Some methods of sealing include:
1) Nut and ferrule
2) O rings
3) Bonded washers
4) Copper washers
5) PTFE tape
6) Liquid sealants
7) Tapered threads
8) Parallel threads
9) Flared tubes
10) Flanges
I am sure there are some I have missed but all these have their good points and bad.
Hot systems can make o rings become brittle and loose elasticity.
PTFE tape is used with taper threads that can create high stress if used on parallel holes.
Bonded seals are very popular but without a good spot face and perfect finish with the lay of machining not cutting across the seal face, leaks will eventually always work through.
Finding leaks can also be an impossible task. Oil will often drip from one place run from pipe to pipe and eventually create puddle metres away from its origin. I have found that a dose of fluorescent dye put into the tank will often reveal the source under a beam of a fluorescent lamp.
Many hydraulic equipment owners would love a guaranteed leak free system, so would I, but I fear that there is not much chance in the near future unless of course you know different!
Love to hear your views and comments.
Bob
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