It’s just a pump, isn’t it?
HYDRAULIC pumps have been around so long that many people assumed the technology was mature and capable of only incremental change.
The challenge for Enerpac was to develop an electric pump that would not only do the job better, but would draw measurably less power and last longer on the toughest jobs dished up by the construction, infrastructure, mining sectors.
The aim was to produce a new generation pump that would more efficiently and reliably power medium-to-large cylinders and hydraulic tools used for common site works, ranging from bolting and maintenance to bridge and foundation repair and post-tensioning. And it had to do that in all weather and site conditions, from blazing sun to deep mud.
The design problems were twofold: too much innovation and designers risked losing the proven performance benefits built up over decades as an international market leader in these industries; too little and they risked losing their lead in responding to industry calls for greater energy-efficiency, quietness, longer life, ease of maintenance, ease of use, portability, ergonomics and safety.
The new ZU4 series portable hydraulic pumps are the result of the years invested this design and proving process. They feature a 1.25 kW universal motor offering an optimum power-to-weight ratio, coupled with a totally new pump element design that reduces oil flow turbulence, producing an industrial workhorse with fewer moving parts and less friction.
“The old maxim that simpler is better, that fewer moving parts means more reliability, was applied with the latest technology available to us,” says Enerpac’s Australasian business manager Anders Mangen.
Typically weighing between 26-33 kg with reservoir capacities from 4-40 litres, the 700 bar pumps’ design has increased flow rates, reduced heat generation and decreased power needs. The ZU4 design team achieved extended pump life through attention to items such as reduced internal friction, heavy-duty oversized bearings, rotating components, and a new motor brush design to increase brush life fourfold.
“An example of the practical thinking that went into the ZU4 is that when its motor brushes eventually wear down, an auto-stop feature stops the motor to prevent expensive damage, says Mangen.
The universal motor offers two important benefits. One is a low starting current draw, much reducing the likelihood of tripping breakers at start-up. The other is outstanding tolerance for low supply voltage.
“A bulkier, heavier induction motor tolerates under-voltage poorly – it quickly overheats. The universal motor is a better match for jobsite conditions, able to operate satisfactorily from a long extension cord or a portable generator,” says Mangen. For frequently used jobsite equipment such as pumps, true portability ranks high on the list of desirable features. The new pump is not only light by design, but also compact and sports a thermally insulated handle.
Source: Construction Contractor
26-Sep-2007