Selecting the correct inside diameter of fluid piping, such as steel tubing, steel pipes and hydraulic hoses

Piping should be sized to avoid drops in pressure. Unstable flow causes unnecessary friction between the walls of the piping and the fluid, ultimately creating lost energy in the system which will raise the temperature of the fluid.  This is due to excessive fluid velocity which causes turbulence and unplanned pressure drops.  By maintaining a practical fluid velocity, pump inlet conditions will be controlled which will reduce the potential of excessive heat. 

Hydraulic systems in heavy equipment are designed utilizing certain principles for performing work using multiple components.  For instance, motors activate pumps; the pumps pressurize hydraulic fluid that passes through tubes to actuators.  As an example, the actuators in an excavator move the arm or bucket. The fluid passes through filters, is recycled through the system, and circulates back to the pump.

Proper Component Selection

Ensuring a leak-free hydraulic system begins with the design, which involves selection of the correct hydraulic fittings, hoses and other components for the application.  This could be a hose-end connection, hose or tube to port, a tube end or flange fitting. 

Lockout and Tagout Safety Procedures 

LOTO, or lockout and tagout, is the most relied upon procedure for maintenance safety.  According to OSHA, "Lockout/tagout refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities.

In January of 2019, Brennan broke ground on the new Global Headquarters facility in Solon, OH. Since then, much progress has been made and completion is nearing quickly. While many external and cosmetic changes have been made, there has also been internal change with a shift toward creating a more sustainable workspace.

Corrective Maintenance
System components should be inspected during preventative maintenance to address any anticipated issue before failure occurs.  Ideally the need for corrective maintenance can be identified and addressed during PM or in preparation for a scheduled or planned shutdown.  Be sure any repair of components is performed properly.  If not, issues may arise that can cause even greater harm.

May 4-7th, Brennan will be in Houston, Texas exhibiting at the annual Offshore Technology Conference at booth 7211.

Preventative Maintenance

Preventative maintenance (PM) of a hydraulic system is a crucial function to maintaining the service life of equipment, reducing costs associated with unplanned equipment shutdown and the safety of personnel.

One the most important considerations in a PM plan is addressing stored hydraulic energy, such as a pressurized hydraulic reservoir.  Pressure must be released from the reservoir before replacing a fitting, hose or any other maintenance procedure.  

Hydraulic system maintenance is critical to the service life of equipment and the safety of personnel.  It is imperative that maintenance technicians comply with necessary safety precautions.  They must have the necessary training and continuing education on the specific equipment and know how to properly take samples, use the right test equipment and record data that can be used for ongoing preventative and corrective maintenance.

Guest Post by Adam Beck, Director of Marketing at CADENAS PARTsolutions

It was not long ago that the way to reach potential customers was a very narrow, strategic arsenal. In ‘the good ole days’ you could buy a billboard, a magazine ad or, if you were really looking to make a splash, a radio or television ad. These strategies were both wildly expensive and extremely inaccurate. For every person within your target group you could reach, you would also hit hundreds for whom your product is completely irrelevant.  Plus, there was a finite amount of “marketing” real estate available. Once all the magazine pages were full, that’s it; they’re gone.

Brennan is open for business while also committed to “flattening the curve” on the worldwide COVID19 virus pandemic and protecting our employees and partners. We are taking measures to follow or exceed guidelines laid out by our state and federal governments, the CDC and the WHO. 

For years, the manufacturing industry was predominantly owned and operated by men—but  times are changing, and in recent years, we have seen a rise in the number of women joining the industry. According to a study done by Deloitte, over half of women in the industry have noted some sort of change in the attitude of their peers toward female professionals.