Hydraulic Principles and Machine Circuits
A Practical Beginner's Workbook on Symbols, Valves, Force and Speed Math, and TroubleshootingBy Curtis Vandermolen
Length9h 10m
About this audiobook
Hydraulics stops being guesswork the moment you can compute the force and read the print.
This practical beginner's workbook takes you from the fundamentals of pressure, force, and flow to reading and troubleshooting complete hydraulic circuits. You'll start with Pascal's law and the arithmetic of area, force, and pressure, then master the standard symbol set until a circuit drawing reads like a sentence. From there, you'll follow flow through the reservoir, pump, relief valve, directional valve, and flow control to the cylinder, building a working understanding of every major component.
Each chapter pairs clear explanations with hands-on drills. You'll calculate extend and retract forces and speeds from bore and rod areas, compare meter-in and meter-out flow control, set accumulator precharge, size hose by velocity, and trace real press, log splitter, and excavator circuits. Troubleshooting drills cover no pressure, slow cycles, drifting cylinders, and overheating, all with answer keys so you can check your work and build confidence.
What you will learn:
• Apply Pascal's law and calculate pressure, force, and area in hydraulic systems
• Read and interpret the full standard symbol set used in hydraulic schematics
• Trace flow from reservoir through pump, relief valve, directional valve, and flow control to the cylinder
• Calculate extend and retract forces and speeds using bore and rod areas
• Compare meter-in and meter-out flow control and their effects on actuator speed
• Set accumulator precharge and understand stored energy in hydraulic circuits
• Size hose and conductors by velocity and understand fluid condition requirements
• Read complete machine circuits for press, log splitter, and excavator applications
• Troubleshoot common faults including no pressure, slow cycles, drifting cylinders, and overheating
Whether you are a maintenance technician, apprentice, mobile equipment mechanic, or trade student, this workbook gives you the practical skills to work with hydraulic systems confidently. The step-by-step drills and answer keys make it ideal for self-study or classroom use, helping you move from novice to capable troubleshooter.
Audiobook details
GenreTechnology
Length9 hrs 10 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateSep 27, 2026
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Hydraulic Principles and Machine Circuits
2Foreword
3Preface
4About This Book
5Important Safety Notice
Show all chaptersShow less
6Chapter 1: Pressure, Force, and Flow
71.1 Pascal’s Law and the Meaning of Pressure
81.2 Area, Force, and the Cylinder Equation
91.3 Flow Rate and Actuator Velocity
101.4 Unit Conversions Technicians Get Wrong
111.5 Pressure, Force and Flow Drills
12Chapter 2: Reading Hydraulic Symbols
132.1 The Symbol Language and Its Rules
142.2 Envelopes, Ports and Flow Paths
152.3 Working, Pilot and Drain Lines
162.4 Symbol Drills
17Chapter 3: The Power Unit
183.1 Reservoir Construction and Function
193.2 Pump Drives and Couplings
203.3 Suction and Return Filtration
213.4 Heat, Fluid Selection and Condition
22Chapter 4: Pumps and Flow Delivery
234.1 Gear, Vane and Piston Pump Types
244.2 Displacement, Flow and Volumetric Efficiency
254.3 Pump Curves and Operating Points
264.4 Pump Drives, Controls and Destroking
274.5 Pump Drills
28Chapter 5: Pressure Control Valves
295.1 Relief Valves and Pressure Setting
305.2 Sequence, Reducing and Counterbalance Valves
315.3 Unloading, Sequence and Pressure Switch Circuits
325.4 Pressure Valve Drills
33Chapter 6: Directional Control Valves
346.1 Ways, Positions and Port Connections
356.2 Spool Center Conditions
366.3 Solenoid, Pilot and Manual Actuation
376.4 Directional Valve Drills
38Chapter 7: Flow Control and Actuator Speed
397.1 Meter-In, Meter-Out and Bleed-Off
407.2 Pressure Compensation and Speed Stability
417.3 Deceleration, Overcenter and Load Control
427.4 Flow Control Drills
43Chapter 8: Cylinders and Motors
448.1 Bore, Rod and Effective Areas
458.2 Extend and Retract Force and Speed
468.3 Regeneration Circuits
478.4 Hydraulic Motor Torque and Speed
488.5 Cylinder and Motor Drills
49Chapter 9: Accumulators and Stored Energy
509.1 Bladder, Diaphragm and Piston Accumulators
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