Hydraulic Resevoirs

[IceStationZebra]

ISZ,
I have seen check valves installed to act as cooler by-pass valves in place of the flow control. This eliminates the need to fine tune the flow control as the temperature changes.

Good point, I've seen that too but forgot about it. I wasn't thinking that the bypass would need to be constantly adjusted, just run it with cool oil and pinch off the flow until the pressure hits ~120psi and call it good. On the forklift somebody actaually did some testing and figured out that they could weld a 1.5" OD washer on the tee fitting so it only cost them $0.25. :shocked::laughing:

ISZ

 

[blackdog2086]

" I've never seen a (commercial) logsplitter with a rad/fan for cooling."

All Wood Log Splitters - Musclewood Series

 

[CJONE]

The prople that made my hyd tank say any use of it in summer would require a cooling fan unit. Its 25 gal tank.

In winter the outside temps will cool it, but in summer, no way.
And dang, those coolers are like 800-900 bucks

If you need a cooler, I sell a 20,000btu unit with a 12v fan 60+ gpm capable for $600, with a built pressure bypass. The checkvalve is used as a pressure spike bypass or when the fluid is too cold it will bypass so as not to damage the cooler. A thermal regulating valve is the only way you can control TEMP of the system.CJ

 

[kiotiken]

" I've never seen a (commercial) logsplitter with a rad/fan for cooling."

All Wood Log Splitters - Musclewood Series

I stand corrected. Nice splitters.

 

[kiotiken]

OK, a lot to think about from everybody and I appreciate all the responses. Here's what I'm thinking. I'll build my own custom tank and feed it from my existing 10 gallon tank. From the 2" outlet on the small tank, I'll move to 3" solid pipe with a 3" inlet on my custom tank. I'm going to give the shape of the new tank a little more thought and see how I can maximize surface area. Since I'll have to buy a full sheet of sheet metal, I'll use some of the left overs to cut strips and add cooling fins to both sides of the tank. It may not be much, but it should help a little. This will be the only year I use the processor in the spring/summer, normally it will be winter use only.

This processor has gone through one major redesign already and if this doesn't work, it may end up going through another. A bigger engine with the pump being belt driven instead of direct mount would allow me to add a fan and cooler. I could also potentially add a hydraulic off shoot conveyor while I'm at it. Unless I'm willing to make that big (and expensive) change, I think my only option is more oil capacity.

 

[CJONE]

Ken, do you run this by somewhere you have water? A cooling loop in one of the tanks will solve your problem. It'll even warm up the water to water your lawn with! CJ

 

[kiotiken]

Ken, do you run this by somewhere you have water? A cooling loop in one of the tanks will solve your problem. It'll even warm up the water to water your lawn with! CJ

Ya, that's a great idea. The problem is in the winter. I guess I could fill up a garbage bin full of RV anti freeze and pump that through the loop, but that just seems like a lot of work. Since it'll be a winter machine after this spring, I think I'm best to stick with the large reservoir. I don't have a conveyor this year and I only have 8 full cord to process, so stopping the machine while I hand bomb the wood into my firewood bags will give it enough time to cool and if that's not enough, a beer in the gazebo will do the trick! My goal is 32 full cord next winter so a conveyor with the machine running hard and for extended amounts of time will be the real test.

 

[CJONE]

Ya, that's a great idea. The problem is in the winter. I guess I could fill up a garbage bin full of RV anti freeze and pump that through the loop, but that just seems like a lot of work. Since it'll be a winter machine after this spring, I think I'm best to stick with the large reservoir. I don't have a conveyor this year and I only have 8 full cord to process, so stopping the machine while I hand bomb the wood into my firewood bags will give it enough time to cool and if that's not enough, a beer in the gazebo will do the trick! My goal is 32 full cord next winter so a conveyor with the machine running hard and for extended amounts of time will be the real test.

Do you need extra cooling in the winter? If not there is no need to run water at all. Anyway increase your reservoir size like you are planning. And on the conveyor add a small belt driven hyd pump or a small gas engine. If you try to run it off the 2 stage pump it will be all over the place with speed and very jerky everytime you use a control. What is the motor on and how are you running the 20+ cu in motor? CJ

 

[kiotiken]

Do you need extra cooling in the winter? If not there is no need to run water at all. Anyway increase your reservoir size like you are planning. And on the conveyor add a small belt driven hyd pump or a small gas engine. If you try to run it off the 2 stage pump it will be all over the place with speed and very jerky everytime you use a control. What is the motor on and how are you running the 20+ cu in motor? CJ

The hydraulic motor is running on the 2 stage pump. When it's engaged, it stops the splitting cylinder from retracting temporarily. It's not a big deal, but it's not ideal. It would obviously not work for the conveyor which needs it's own power or hydraulic circuit. I originally designed this with a budget in mind. That's been out the window for a while now:laughing: To really do this right, I need to ditch the 15 hp engine, go to a 25+ hp engine, have the 2 stage pump belt driven as well as a 2 segment pump for the hydraulic motors on the in-feed and the conveyor and have a belt driven fan for cooling. Now if I wanted to go to a saw blade or hydraulic saw, my requirements would go way up again. Getting to where I am has helped me understand why these machines are so expensive and upgrading to the ideal situation would probably come close to doubling the cost. This machine, with it's two initial tests, seems to be very productive, especially for my own personal firewood needs. Over the years it may get upgraded, especially if components such as the engine fail and need to be replaced, but for now, I just need to get it capable of running for several hours at a time without overheating.

 

[CJONE]

Most of the units I build do not have a 2 stage pump, just a multi circuit pump running the different functions. I am looking at a smaller 50hp engine with a aux a pad I can put a 28 gpm 2 stage on it for the splitter and run a 2 circuit for the saw and aux hydraulics. Sounds like you have it mostly figured out. CJ