The invention of hydraulic cranes which came as a result of fluid pressure principle has been a good innovation to the engineers and technicians. Before the invention, lever and string controlled cranes were widely used for the lifting and suspension of loads which made cranes of such model be bulky and require heavy hand control and operation, it also made the height of the crane to be very tall without control thereby limiting the area it can be swing or moved.
The introduction of hydraulic cranes did not only limit the use of the older model, it also gave ideas to manufacturers for more invention such as the extension of the same hydraulic crane working principle to the manufacturing of excavators, forklifts, man lift, etc.
However, despite its warmly welcome in the advancement in such technology, hydraulic and fluid pressure machines using such principle has its limitations such as;
Their inability to be used in suspension of loads for a long time,
Their possibility of leakage leading to power reduction,
The high mechanical force required to pressurize the fluid in the cylinder,
However, despite these few perceived disadvantages, the hydraulic crane has demonstrated advantages far more than the traditional model of cranes, among such advantages are;
Their ability to function smoothly with low noise while lifting and lowering loads,
Hydraulic cranes provide ways of easily determine the lifting limit of the crane and hence the manufacturer can easily specify the “Safe lifting limit” S.L.L. for each crane.
They reduce the space in their position while carrying out their function due to their ability protrude out their cylinders both in and out as the case may be required.
The transportation of hydraulic cranes from one working location to another is easier when compared to the lever controlled cranes.
Among so many other advantages of hydraulic cranes, however; the technology hydraulic cranes has been extended to other construction equipment based on the principle of pressure.
A good example of construction machines and equipment using hydraulic fluid principle are;
Pale loaders,
Fork lifts,
Excavators,
Soil compacting machines,
Hydraulic jack, etc.
It can be seen scientifically that hydraulic fluid technology is speedily replacing the traditional lever controlled systems in mechanical engineering designs and manufacturing owing to its numerous advantages over the later.
