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June 6, 2023 – A new patented hydraulic power unit puts the motor and gear pump in the oil reservoir to protect critical components, limit maintenance, and reduce crane downtime.
Cranes rely on hydraulic power units (HPUs) to provide operational “muscle,” but frequent exposure to moisture and humidity can wreak havoc on hydraulic components.
Yet current HPU design mounts the motor and pump to the outside of the reservoir, exposed to the environment and damage from corrosion.
That exposure and damage can lead to downtime, lost revenue, customer complaints, and premature repair or replacement.
Since crane downtime may put a whole project behind schedule and be extremely costly.
To significantly increase HPU reliability and provide greater design flexibility, a leading hydraulic parts manufacturer, KTI Hydraulics Inc., has created the industry’s first “submerged DC HPU.” Founded in 1998 and based in Santa Ana, California, KTI provides HPUs and components for use in commercial and industrial hydraulic equipment.
In the Submerged DC HPU’s patented design (U.S. Patent: 16/714.592; International Patent: PCT/ US19/ 66410), the motor and gear pump are submerged protectively in the reservoir fluid, rather than mounted atop the reservoir.
Submerging the motor and gear pump reduces maintenance and replacement substantially.
It also results in a longer duty cycle because the oil also functions as coolant.
The new Submerged DC HPUs are particularly ideal for cranes operated in harsh, corrosive environments.
KTI Hydraulics offers the Submerged HPU with a 1.8 kW 12V and 24V DC motor with superior ingress protection (IP) ratings (a measure of an enclosure’s resistance to dust or liquid).
The HPU includes a pressure-loaded gear pump, potted solenoid, and a reservoir with five quarts of usable volume. Several options are available, as well.
The innovative HPU’s compact 15.5” x 9.5” x 8” design is ideal for OEMs looking to minimize the space required for hydraulic components.
To provide more flexibility in design for crane OEMs, the Submerged HPU is offered with a variety of common hydraulic circuits. Custom circuits can be designed upon request.
That configurable approach allows one base unit to work with multiple circuits.
That versatility lets a crane OEM change the manifold to work with a many different standard or custom circuits. This contrasts with current HPU designs that lock the OEM into either a single-acting or double-acting configuration.
Equipment distributors save space and money stocking just one type of HPU plus the needed manifolds instead of inventorying four different HPUs.
For more information, visit ktihydraulicsinc.com.
