Innovative, patented design places motor and gear pump in the oil reservoir to protect critical components while limiting maintenance and equipment downtime

In the agricultural industry, hydraulic processes are essential to efficiently accomplish virtually all aspects of modern farming today. Tractors use hydraulics in steering and braking systems as well as to raise or lower heavy agricultural implements to aid in plowing, planting, cultivating, and fertilizing crops. Combine harvesters take advantage of hydraulics to simultaneously reap and thresh while harvesting. Skid steers use hydraulics to increase production with various attachments such as buckets, bale spears, backhoes, forks, grabs, tillers, augers, and flail mowers. Essentially, Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs) provide the "muscle" behind all this operating machinery.

However, frequent exposure to moisture from irrigation as well as weather, washdowns, humidity, and other corrosion-causing factors can wreak havoc on the hydraulic component parts.

For decades, there has been little variation in the basic component configuration of HPUs, which convert electrical power to hydraulic energy. Highly complex hydraulic systems consist of many components including manifolds, directional valves, and the system's motor and pump, which are mounted to the top of the oil reservoir. Additional components such as filters, pressure gauges, and heat exchangers may also be needed to meet application requirements.

While the design is technically sufficient, OEMs have long sought ways to improve the overall reliability of hydraulic systems that must operate in inhospitable, moisture-prone environments.

One challenge is that high-value components like the motor and pump are also the most likely to require repair or replacement in many cases. Yet current HPU design involves mounting the motor and pump to the reservoir, which exposes the components to the environment and potential corrosion damage.

Even if the HPU is in a toolbox with the vehicle battery, it is regularly exposed to moisture from various sources. Accelerated corrosion only leads to premature service, repair, and replacement.

Since critical equipment and machinery cannot function without a sound hydraulic system, downtime and lost revenue can result as well. When this occurs, OEMs receive service calls and complaints from customers that are having problems with the unit.

In agriculture, keeping all the equipment running is crucial to maintain farm production. Any heavy equipment downtime due to the unplanned breakdown of hydraulics can be extremely costly if it delays essential tasks like plowing, planting, cultivating, fertilizing, and harvesting - which can compromise both crop output and quality. Excessive repair or replacement costs can also seriously impair a farm's profits and cash flow.

In addition, while not a concern in all applications, smaller, more compact HPUs are generally preferred where space is limited.

To significantly increase HPU reliability and provide greater design flexibility, a leading hydraulic parts manufacturer, KTI Hydraulics Inc., redesigned these vital components to create the industry's first "Submerged DC HPU." Founded in 1998, the Santa Ana, CA-based company provides Hydraulic Power Units and components for use in commercial and industrial hydraulic equipment.

In the patented design, the motor and gear pump are protectively submerged in the reservoir fluid, rather than the typical configuration of mounting the motor/gear pump and manifold to the top of the reservoir.

Protecting the motor and gear pump in this manner has many benefits. When the motor and gear pump are submerged, the high-value parts require substantially less maintenance and replacement. The new units are particularly ideal for equipment and machinery operated in harsh, corrosive environments. The oil also functions as coolant, resulting in a longer duty cycle.

KTI Hydraulics Inc. offers the Submerged HPU with a 1.8 KW 12V and 24V DC motor with superior ingress protection (IP) ratings (a measure of an enclosure's resistance to dust or liquid intrusion). The HPU includes a pressure-loaded gear pump, potted solenoid, and a reservoir with five quarts of usable volume. Several optional add-ons are available as well.

The new, innovative HPU configuration also enables a more compact design (15 1/2" x 9 1/2" x 8"), which is ideal for OEMs looking to minimize the space required for hydraulic components.

To provide more flexibility in design for OEMs, the Submerged HPU is offered with a variety of common hydraulic circuits. Custom circuits can be designed upon request. This configurable approach allows for one base unit to utilize multiple circuits.

The Submerged HPU allows the OEM to change the manifold to work with a multitude of different standard or custom circuits. This contrasts with current HPU designs that lock the OEM into either a single-acting or double-acting configuration.

For hydraulic equipment distributors, the capability eliminates the need to stock four different types of HPUs, conserving inventory space and capital. With the submerged HPU, the distributor can purchase a single SKU item to hold in inventory and then the needed manifolds.

Given the critical importance of Hydraulic Power Units in the ag industry, Submerged HPUs are bound to appeal to equipment OEMs experiencing excessive service calls. By ensuring the motor and gear pump are protected within the oil reservoir from wet, corrosive environments, the result will be fewer repairs and better equipment reliability as well as greater crop production and quality.

For more information, visit ktihydraulicsinc.com or call 949-752-8818. U.S. Patent: 16/714.592; International Patent: PCT/ US19/ 66410.