ATA 29- Hydraulic System
SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Learning Outcomes:
• Identify the Aircraft’s hydraulics and its purpose.
• Understand the operation and distribution process of the hydraulic system.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
The word “hydraulics” is based on the Greek word for water and originally meant
the study of the physical behavior of water at rest and in motion. Today, the
meaning has been expanded to include the physical behavior of all liquids,
including hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic systems are not new to aviation. Early aircraft
had hydraulic brake systems. As aircraft became more sophisticated, newer
systems with hydraulic power were developed.
The hydraulic system today remains a most effective source of power for both
primary and secondary flying controls, and for undercarriage, braking and anti-
skid systems. From the beginning the use of hydraulics as a means of transmitting
power has not gone unchallenged.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Definition of terms
1. Fire point is the temperature at which a substance gives off vapor in sufficient quantity
to ignite and continue to burn when exposed to a spark or flame.
2. Flash point is the temperature at which a liquid gives off vapor in sufficient quantity to
ignite momentarily or flash when a flame is applied.
3. Hydraulics is the science of liquids under pressure in motion.
4. Pneudraulics is the use of liquids and gases in the same container or system.
5. Pressure is the force applied to unit or area, measured in Pounds per Square Inch (PSI).
6. Viscosity is internal resistance to flow. A liquid such as gasoline that has a low viscosity
flows easily, while a liquid such as tar that has a high viscosity flows slowly.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
The purpose of the hydraulic system is to develop, limit and direct pressure to actuate various
mechanisms on the aircraft:
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
The fundamental principle behind aviation hydraulics is to use a pressurized liquid to
move a specific part of the airplane from one position to another. Depending on the
size of the aircraft and the specific function being performed, the operating pressure in
the hydraulic system can range from a few hundred pounds per square inch to more
than 5000 pounds per square inch in jumbo jets or huge cargo planes.
The underlying principle of any hydraulic system – the science behind what makes the
system work – is Pascal’s Law.
“Pressure applied on a confined fluid is transmitted
undiminished in all directions, and acts with equal force
on equal areas, and at right angles to them”.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Basic Hydraulic System Diagram
A basic system consists of a pump,
reservoir, directional valve, check
valve, pressure relieve valve, selector
valve, actuator, and filter. It is
designed to allow the movement of
fluid to be stopped, varied or even
reversed.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Components of a Hydraulic system
Pumps-All aircraft hydraulic systems have one or more power-driven pumps and
may have a hand pump as an additional unit when the engine-driven pump is
inoperative. Power-driven pumps are the primary source of energy and may be
either engine driven, electric motor driven, or air driven. As a general rule,
electrical motor pumps are installed for use in emergencies or during ground
operations.
Classification of pumps:
1. Constant-displacement pump 3. Variable-displacement pump
2. Vane-type power pump
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
1. Constant-displacement pump-constant-displacement pumps are sometimes
called constant-volume or constant-delivery pumps. They deliver a fixed quantity
of fluid per revolution, regardless of the pressure demands.
2. Vane-type power pump is also a constant-displacement pump. It consists of a
housing containing four vanes (blades), a hollow steel rotor with slots for the
vanes, and a coupling to turn the rotor. The vanes, which are mounted in the
slots in the rotor, together with the rotor, divide the bore of the sleeve into four
sections.
3. Variable-displacement pump-has a fluid output that is varied to meet the
pressure demands of the system. The pump output is changed automatically by a
pump compensator within the pump.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Components of a Hydraulic system
1. Reservoirs-The reservoir is a tank in which an adequate supply of fluid for the
system is stored. The reservoir not only supplies the operating needs of the
system, but it also replenishes fluid lost through leakage. Furthermore, the
reservoir serves as an overflow basin for excess fluid forced out of the system by
thermal expansion
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
The following components are installed on a typical reservoir:
Reservoir pressure relief valve—prevents over pressurization of the reservoir. Valve opens at a
preset value.
Sight glasses (low and overfull)—provides visual indication for flight crews and maintenance
personnel that the reservoir needs to be serviced.
Reservoir sample valve—used to draw a sample of hydraulic fluid for testing.
Reservoir drain valve—used to drain the fluids out of the reservoir for maintenance operation.
Reservoir temperature transducer—provides hydraulic fluid temperature information for the
flight deck.
Reservoir quantity transmitter—transmits fluid quantity to the flight deck so that the flight
crew can monitor fluid quantity during flight.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Components of a Hydraulic system
2. Valves-control the speed and/or direction of fluid flow in the hydraulic system.
They provide for the operation of various components when desired and the
speed at which the component operates. Examples of flow control valves
include: selector valves, check valves, sequence valves, priority valves, shuttle
valves, quick disconnect valves, and hydraulic fuses.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Selector valve is used to control the direction of movement of a hydraulic actuating
cylinder or similar device. It provides for the simultaneous flow of hydraulic fluid both
into and out of the unit.
Check valve allows fluid to flow unimpeded in one direction, but prevents or restricts
fluid flow in the opposite direction. A check valve may be an independent component
situated in-line somewhere in the hydraulic system or it may be built-in to a
component.
Sequence valves control the sequence of operation between two branches in a circuit;
they enable one unit to automatically set another unit into motion. A sequence valve is
somewhat similar to a relief valve except that, after the set pressure has been reached,
the sequence valve diverts the fluid to a second actuator or motor to do work in
another part of the system.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Priority valve gives priority to the critical hydraulic subsystems over noncritical
systems when system pressure is low.
Shuttle valve is to isolate the normal system from an alternate or emergency
system.
Relief valve is used to limit the amount of pressure being exerted on a confined
liquid. This is necessary to prevent failure of components or rupture of hydraulic
lines under excessive pressures. The pressure relief valve is, in effect, a system
safety valve.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Components of a Hydraulic system
3. Actuators- An actuating cylinder transforms energy in the form of fluid
pressure into mechanical force, or action, to perform work. It is used to impart
powered linear motion to some movable object or mechanism. A typical
actuating cylinder consists of a cylinder housing, one or more pistons and piston
rods, and some seals.
4. Filter is a screening or straining device used to clean the hydraulic fluid,
preventing foreign particles and contaminating substances from remaining in
the system.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Components of a Hydraulic system
5. Accumulators-The accumulator is a steel sphere divided into two chambers by a synthetic
rubber diaphragm. The upper chamber contains fluid at system pressure, while the lower
chamber is charged with nitrogen or air.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Indications
A master caution light illuminates if an overheat or low pressure is detected in the hydraulic
system. An overheat light on the flight deck illuminates if an overheat is detected in either
system A or B and a low-pressure light illuminate if a low pressure is detected in system A and B.
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Hydraulic Fluid
Characteristics of Hydraulic fluid
• Able to resist compression
• Flow freely at low and high temperatures
• Non-corrosive
Types of Hydraulic Fluids
-Mineral based (Red)
-Synthetic based (Red)
-Ester fluid (Purple)
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Mineral oil-based hydraulic fluid (MIL-H-5606) which is red in color and is the oldest, dating back
to the 1940s. It is used in many systems, especially where the fire hazard is comparatively low.
MIL-H- 6083 is simply a rust-inhibited version of MIL-H-5606.
Synthetic oil based is a fire-resistant hydrogenated polyalphaolefin based fluid developed in the
1960s to overcome the flammability characteristics of MIL-H-5606. MIL-H-83282 is significantly
more flame resistant than MIL-H-5606, but a disadvantage is the high viscosity at low
temperature.
Ester fluid, which are purple in color, are used in most commercial transport category aircraft
and are extremely fire-resistant. However, they are not fireproof and under certain conditions,
they burn. They are highly toxic
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
Mineral-Based Fluids Synthetic oil based
Ester fluid (Skydrol)
ATA 29- Hydraulic System
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