The annual LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) acknowledges innovation and engineering achievements from around the globe. Our expert independent judging panel received numerous submissions this year and selected 44 gold, silver, and bronze winners and honorable mentions across 14 categories.
The 2022 Hydraulics category winners are:
Gold
DGD Fluid Power
Cartridge Flow Transmitter (CFT)
The judges commented: “This product lands in the ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ category. One of the major hassles in using a flow meter is installation, packaging, and footprint. Conceptually, the CFT addresses these challenges in a practical and useful way with a form factor that is easy to implement into a circuit.” Congratulations!
The DGD Fluid Power CFT is a turbine flow meter configured as a cartridge valve. It offers easy integration into hydraulic systems, requiring no additional hardware or connections for continuous flow monitoring of all critical hydraulic functions. It also provides real-time data for predictive maintenance and remote troubleshooting and offers turbine flow accuracy. The CFT is available in standard M42 cartridge style design and Sun Hydraulics cavity T-18A.
A patent is pending for the CFT, which is centered around the design of a turbine flow meter within a cartridge body. The speed of the turbine is sensed differently than existing in-line meters on the market. Existing units use a sensor positioned to sense the tips of the turbine blades passing by. Currently, the geometry necessary to do this makes packaging within a cartridge body impossible. To overcome this, the CFT design uses a Hall Effect sensor to monitor the speed by sensing magnets in the turbine’s hub. This allows the sensor to be placed along the axis instead of positioned on the turbine’s circumference. This also removes the need for dynamic seals or rotating parts other than the turbine, which rides on two bearing points on the shaft and with a finite spherical point against the sensing element.
The CFT is unique because it can be designed into a hydraulic manifold. Current manifold assemblies usually require designers to disassemble in-line flow meters and reassemble the internal components inside integrated manifolds. The CFT eliminates the need to do that and makes replacement feasible as needed.
Learn more: DGD Fluid Power
Silver
Danfoss Power Solutions
shhark low-noise gear pump
The Danfoss shhark low-noise gear pump improves operator comfort by reducing noise in the cab of off-highway machinery. Compared to standard gear pumps, the shhark pump reduces noise by up to 10 dBA. Noise generation is at lower frequencies, which operators are less sensitive to, thus improving sound quality. In addition, flow pulsation is reduced by 78%, resulting in less vibration.
The shhark pump features a patented asymmetric gear tooth profile that ensures low-noise performance, better sound quality, and higher efficiency, even after many hours of heavy-duty operation. Unlike dual-contact flank pumps, in which the low-noise performance can decline over time, shhark pumps maintain consistent low-noise performance throughout the pump’s life. When used in place of standard gear pumps, the shhark pump eliminates the need for end-of-line noise reduction measures, reducing costs and saving space.
The shhark low-noise gear pump is available in displacements ranging from 6.18 to 29 cm3/rev. It has a rated pressure of up to 250 bar and an operating speed of up to 4,000 rpm. Multiple pump configurations are available, including a compact configuration with SAE, DIN, and European standard mounting flanges and shafts. It is available with an integral relief valve and is interchangeable with all standard gear pumps.
Learn more: shhark low noise gear pump
Bronze
Webtec
RFS200 Run-time Meter
Webtec’s RFS200 run-time meter is ideal for recording the time that construction or agricultural equipment is operational, apportioning the use of shared hydraulic tools between many users, or accurately monitoring the service interval of attachments. It ensures that maintenance can be conducted on a time-used basis, rather than machine hours, allowing for more astute and cost-effective management of hydraulic system health.
The design is based on Webtec’s Reverse Flow Indicator (RFI) technology and is repackaged and enhanced to provide the desired timing functionality.
In comparison, other products typically rely on hydraulic pressure to operate the timing function. When an attachment is removed from the machine, the hydraulic fluid is invariably isolated in the pipework. As the environment warms, the trapped fluid expands, the pressure rises, and the counter is activated. Webtec’s solution is immune to this phenomenon.
Webtec used its Make it Blue process to create the RFS200. Customers were instrumental and established initial requirements that Webtec adjusted during development to ensure the device meets customer needs within budget.
Learn more: RFS200 Flow Hours Counter
Filed Under: News, Pumps & Motors, Sensors