Hydraulic Power Units
Hydraulic power units provide pressurized flow to hydraulic cylinders, motors, and other hydraulically-powered mechanisms. A hydraulic power unit is a pump that draws fluid from a reservoir and sends it to the motor. The fluid moves the components of the motor, which in turn rotates the shaft that supplies mechanical power. The fluid is then discharged into the reservoir, where it will work its way back into the pump and continue the cycle.
In hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic power unit pumps hydraulic fluid into the bottom chamber of the cylinder and pushes the piston rod up, which pushes the fluid in the other chamber back into the reservoir. The movement of this fluid pressurizes the chamber and extends the piston to its full length, giving the hydraulic cylinder its ability to push.
Hydraulic power units differ from regular pumps in that they regulate fluid temperature and have multiple stages. They are an integral part of machines that rely on hydraulic power for operation.