How does this power pack work?

[ell81Participant @ell81]

OK. So I have just bought this hydraulic powerpack out of sheer curiousity at auction. Could someone please tell me if I could use it to power a hydraulic cylinder for a press?

Also what are the things numbered 1 to 6, and what do they do please?

Is there anything missing that I need to get it working? Thanks.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Right ! I see no sign of a motor ? 6 is the reservoir. 1 is the filler cap. 2 look for letters A and B they should be the tappings for flow and return on A and B, they are metric fittings. 3 is a control solenoid, the coil will tell you what voltage, anything from 12V up. 5 the nut may be a relief or limit valve and there are other settings with security paint. 4, don’t know. A picture of the data plate on the right may help.

If there is no motor then it will power nothing. A picture of the other side would be helpful near the white cable gland. Good luck. Noel.

[vintagengineerParticipant @vintagengineer]

Sure it’s not an accumulator?

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Petty certain ! The reservoir is a thin pressing sealed with an O ring and held on with 4 small screws. Noel.

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

Ell81 Sarasae make a lot of hydraulic stuff, used in oilfields, this could be an accumulator. If you have a part number you may find it on the Sarasae website.

If you want something to operate a hydraulic press, i have a hand pump that may have come off a dump truck or cement mixer. I did clean it up and rebuild it, I had 2 , one i used with great success on a home made press. Its yours if you want it, you will need to collect it.

Chris Gunn

[ell81Participant @ell81]

Thanks for the offer Chris. I will investigate this power pack looking thing further and see what it is, and keep your offer in mind.

[ell81Participant @ell81]

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

There are two data plates on the item.

As yet, they are illegible. If you want help, please have the courtesy to provide clear photographs. Check the photo before you upload it. If you cannot read the numbers, nor can we.

Ten minutes spent putting those numbers into a search engine will be a more productive use of your time than multiple blurred images here.

Some consideration of the scope of the auction would also narrow down the field. If it the asset disposal of a specific company, the company name helps. If it is (for example) an agricultural-themed auction, the oilfield application suggested above might not be appropriate

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

As noted detail of the data plates would be useful. However it looks like a reservoir and valve block rather than an integrated power pack. There is no visible motor or pump. They could be under the cover but that is not a common arrangement. The cover looks like a thin pressing held with 4 caphead screws.
I’d drain it and remove the cover.

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

I’d give it to the scrap-man..😁

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi ell81, it doesn’t look like any power pack I’ve ever seen for a hydraulic press ram. The black part arrowed 3 is a solenoid, which might control an internal valve, and those nuts with the red paint on are most likely some type of flow pre-sets.

It was probably replace by a new unit on a dedicated machine, when it reached the recommended maximum number of hours of use.

Regards Nick.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Just to add a couple of thoughts to the pool that might help.  I think the most useful picture is the first of the two just above.  In that it is plain to see that you have an electrical box on the left and a valve block on the right.  On the valve block you have a solenoid valve that almost certainly operates a shuttle valve inside the valve block.  This is more likely to be directing flow via the high pressure connectors on the right hand side.

It is also worth noting that the orange knob appears to say HP Filter on it, which would indicate that an oil filter is fitted behind it.  Possibly to protect the solenoid valve.  Also of note is the fact that there are four adjusting screws on the valve block which are locked with a lock nut and marked with orange paint as anti interference indicators.  This tends to make me think that whatever valve arrangement there is in this block is a fairly complicated set up and adjusting those four screws would be pointless without instructions.

Firstly this is most definitely not something that generates hydraulic power.  It is an oil accumulator, or reservoir, with a solenoid valve arrangement mounted on top designed to direct flow, possibly to either side of a hydraulic ram or rotating hydraulic motor etc.  If you want to know more about it, as has been mentioned better pictures of the labels would be a great help and it might be worth taking the lid off the electrical terminal box to see if there are any clues there.  My guess, and its only a guess, is that one of the high pressure connections on the right is high pressure oil into the block and the other two connections are high pressure oil out to either side of a hydraulic ram.  The reason the block is so complicated is that, when oil is supplied in one direction, it must be returned via the other side to the accumulator.  If you refer to the following diagram you can see that the valve block, mounted on the reservoir is only a part of the total system. I suspect that the return line is internal.

This unit, I’m afraid, is of little value without the other components of the hydraulic system.

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Judging by the way the tank(?) part is secured (4 small screws and a thin flange), I’d guess it’s just a cover for some other components inside.

As suggested above, a little careful disassembly (tank and terminal box) might be your best initial course of action.  What have you got to lose?

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

A mystery!

• Noel spotted the outer cover is thin and held by 4 screws.  Also made in two parts welded together, so very unlikely to be a pressure vessel.   My feeling is it’s a cover, and we need to see what’s inside.
•  On top is a heavy block with connectors for hydraulic hoses; it is designed to take pressure.  My guess is the block contains valves, function unknown so far.  The sealed things look like adjusters, so pressure relief maybe.    The black item (3), looks very like a solenoid, if so one of the valves is controlled electrically.  Or, maybe it’s a pressure sensor, that connects back to a remote display or control unit.
• To the left is an electric terminal box, with a clipped off lead. Could be power in or information out.  I guess it connects to something inside Noel’s cover.  Might be a motor/pump, but if so it’s small.
• The plastic cap is labelled ‘Filter’.   Maybe removing the cover would reveal that’s what’s inside.   If the terminal box is information out rather than power in, the wire could be connected to pressure sensors mounted  both sides of the filter. When the pressure differential rises above a certain level it’s time to change the filter .

All guesswork!  Clear photos of the markings are probably the best way forward.  At the moment, it’s unlikely to be a power-unit;  might be an accumulator except there are clues suggesting it’s not.   I guess is it’s a filter, but the evidence is thin – don’t bet the farm on it. We’re agreed it’s part of a hydraulic system and hard to repurpose, but there are too many unknowns to be sure.

The markings are the best hope of identifying exactly what it is.  Otherwise, take the cover off and show what’s inside.

Dave

 

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

The Flutec data plate seems to show a motor/pump – a clearer image of that plate may help.

The solenoid coil is for 24 volt DC operation, so this could be from a mobile system.  It does bear some resemblance to power packs found on small tipper trucks, though they often have an obvious fluid reservoir which I don’t see on this one.

The 3 ports for hydraulic connection have got me stumped.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Of the many types of very clever hydraulic valves out there The block with the solenoid + tappings on the right and numerous locked settings puts me in the mind it is an over centre valve. Think skip truck where the load is lifted by the arms, when the arms are vertical there is no load on the hydraulics, at this point the valve flips ports so that the load can now be lowered to the bed of the truck. This type of valve has many applications, but using it to operate a press ram is not one of them. Whilst you could use a double acting cylinder as opposed to a single acting spring return type it then needs for the cylinder to be powered in both down and back up. This is fine if power operated but tiresome if hand pumped. A common pressure for ordinary hydraulics is 2000 to 2500 psi whilst for presses of the type we use is 10,000psi, then there is piston area and flow. A ram that only has it’s piston rod in tension will be much thinner than one where it is in compression ( a press ). Whilst it would be interesting to know what it is I don’t think it will be much help in building a press.

If building ANYTHING hydraulically powered NEVER operate without a system relief valve.  Noel.

[ell81Participant @ell81]

I have got it home now and will take more pics soon.

[ell81Participant @ell81]

More pics:

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Don’t see any pictures, but I have a similar unit with a 2Hp electric motor where the solenoid is. There will be little point in taking the reservoir off as it’s full of oil I suspect, unless the wiring gives a clue.

2 screws missing, the wiring cut off and the plug for the solenoid missing, I think it could be a dead end ?

The orange cap may be an air filter as when operating the fluid level will rise or drop as a cylinder works due to the volume of the piston rod and to draw dust in the air in is not good. Dave spotted the weld seam on the reservoir I wonder if there is a motor inside, though the cut wiring is not big enough for a 24v motor of any size. Interesting. Noel.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi. it could just be a pump inside the cylinder, with one of the three ports on the side being supplied with oil, and the other two connected to a machine, with the black solenoid reversing the direction. Just a thought.

Regards Nick.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

It could be driving a hydraulic motor in which case it could have 3 ports, flow, return and case drain. Noel.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, from ell81’s photos, it looks like there maybe a pump inside.

Regards Nick.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

SaraLBS specialise in Loading Bay Systems – doors, lifts, ramps, levellers etc.

Judging by the labels, ell81 was right –  this is a power unit.  It’s a 1.1kW hydraulic pump with a 3-phase electric motor.  Max pressure 210 Bar, a bit over 3000psi, and the unit is designed to produce a force of 60kN (about 6 tons force).

Kurtis at CEE (recommended viewing) uses his hydraulic press as vice to hold the monster parts he moves about his workshop with a forklift or crane.  This unit could drive something like that, though the size and weight of the frame needed is intimidating!

Dave

 

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Now we have the pictures all is revealed ! Dave has it. 3 Ph 1.1Kw, 3.7 L flow at 210 bar. P is the outlet T is tank/return. The port with the screw cap is a test point. What letters are on the face with the hydraulic tappings ? The single solenoid may indicate single acting.  It will not have enough pressure to be used instead of a hand pump on a press. If you have 3 Phase and want to build/adapt a press then you need a cylinder with a PISTON diameter of 3″ or more and a stroke to suit the job with a stout piston rod.  The Flutec pack has a valve block added which could be any thing is there a plate on it ? You have removed the valve block the 2 small ports are your P and T and depending what you are going to use it for will dictate what valve block you use. An adaptor plate to give P and T as 1/4″ BSP and then an open centre double acting spool valve with system relief valve, plus a ram to do what you want and your in business. Or go the whole hog and use a solenoid valve of the same type and now you have remote control. Have fun. Noel.

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