CHAPTER 7
BASIC HYDRAULIC/PNEUMATIC AND
EMERGENCY POWER SYSTEMS
Chapter Objective: Upon completion of this chapter, you will have a working
knowledge of the normal and emergency hydraulic and pneumatic power systems.
You should also be able to identify and maintain the various components in these
systems.
The Navy uses hydraulic and pneumatic power
systems extensively in naval aircraft. These systems have
a number of favorable characteristics; they eliminate the
need for complicated systems of gears, cams, and levers.
Also, they transmit motion without the slack or delay
inherent in the use of solid machine parts. The fluids used
are not subject to breakage as are mechanical parts, and
the mechanisms are not subjected to great wear.
The different parts of a fluid power system can be
conveniently located at widely separated points, since the
forces generated are rapidly transmitted over considerable
distances with small loss. These forces can be conveyed up
and down or around corners with small loss in efficiency
and without complicated mechanisms. Very large forces
can be controlled by much smaller ones, and can be
transmitted through comparatively small lines and orifices.
If the system is well adapted to the work it is required
to perform, and if it is not misused, it can provide smooth,
flexible, uniform action without vibration, and it is
unaffected by variation of load. In case of an overload, an
automatic release of pressure can be guaranteed, so that
the system is protected against breakdown or strain. Fluid
power systems can provide widely variable motions in
both rotary and straight-line transmission of power. he
need for control by hand can be minimized. In addition,
fluid power systems are economical to operate.
The question may arise as to why hydraulics is used
in one application, pneumatics in another, or a
combination of hydraulics and pneumatics, also known
as hydropneumatics, in still another application. Many
factors are considered by the user and/or the manufacturer
when determining which type of system to use in a
specified application. There are no hard and fast rules to
follow; however, past experience has provided some
sound ideas that are usually considered when such
decisions are made. If the application requires speed, a
medium amount of pressure, and only a fair amount of
control, a pneumatic system may be used. If the
application requires only a medium amount of pressure
and a more accurate control, a combination of hydraulics
and pneumatics may be used. If the application requires a
great amount of pressure and/or extremel y accurate
control, a hydraulic system should be used.
TYPES OF POWER SYSTEMS
Learning Objective: Identify the two types of
power systems used on naval aircraft.
Hydraulic and pneumatic systems in aircraft contain
power systems and several subsystems, the number
depending upon the design of the aircraft The power
systems are sometimes called the heart of the system,
and the subsystems are known as the muscle. The
power systems include all the components normally
installed in the system, from the reservoir to, but not
including, the selector valve. In pressurized reservoir
systems, this also includes all components used to
control and direct the pressurizing agent to the reservoir.
The utility hydraulic system includes systems used for
landing gear, arresting gear, nosewheel steering, and
many other systems that will be discussed in chapter 12
of this TRAMAN. In accordance with military specifi-
cations, which set up the requirements for aircraft
hydraulic systems, all hydraulically operated systems
considered essential to flight safety or landing must
have provisions for emergency actuation. The
hydraulic/pneumatic and emergency power systems
are discussed in this chapter.
HYDRAULIC/PNEUMATIC POWER
SYSTEMS
System design must prevent the failure of a single
part, such as a pump, pressure line, or filter, from
disabling the aircraft. Special consideration is given
to the hydraulic flight control system. System design
specifications require two separate systems for
operating the primary flight controls. All aircraft that
use hydraulically operated flight controls have at least
two hydraulic power systems. The systems supply
pressure to the utility or normal system in addition to
the flight controls. The flight control portion is given
pressure priority by an isolation valve. This design
feature isolates nonessential flight functions and
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