What does detent mean?

[jimmyj]

Could someone please help me understand by explaining the meaning of detent? This is of great interest to me but I don't get the concepts of hydraulics very well.

Many thanks

 

[NSBound]

I don't know how it applies to hydraulics, but a detent is a stopping point in a lever or switch. Like there is a detent on most headlight switches where the switch stops "automatically" for the parking lights. Or on an automatic transmission shifter, there is usually a detent for 2nd and 3rd gear in the range of movement of the shift lever. Or when you open your car door, there is a detent about half-way or so when the door has a "stopping point" where it will stay partially open, and not swing freely. That's a detent!

 

[kennyd]

I don't know how it applies to hydraulics, but a detent is a stopping point in a lever or switch. Like there is a detent on most headlight switches where the switch stops "automatically" for the parking lights. Or on an automatic transmission shifter, there is usually a detent for 2nd and 3rd gear in the range of movement of the shift lever.

Good comparison. To add to that, it just means and device (usually spring loaded balls) that hold the joystick or valve lever in a fixed position other than neutral. Like the Float detent on the loader valve-it holds the joystick in that position until it's pulled out.

 

[J_J]

Could someone please help me understand by explaining the meaning of detent? This is of great interest to me but I don't get the concepts of hydraulics very well.

Many thanks

Detent is a position on a valve spool where if you push or pull the lever to detent, the lever will stay at that position and the hydraulic fluid will continue to flow.

Essentially. it holds the lever at the detent position for whatever you are doing.

Detent in the float mode will allow the the fluid to flow with the up/down motion if the cylinders.

Detent on a hyd motor spool will allow the hyd motor to run for as long as the spool in in detent.

It allows for hands free operation.

 

[jimmyj]

Ahhhhhhhh, now I get it. Many thanks to the TBN experts!!!!

 

[jinman]

Detente (French spelling). . . Wasn't that the US Gov't foreign policy with the Soviet Union regarding deployment of nuclear weapons? It meant lessoning of tensions. That's kinda the mechanical effect of a detent in a switch, lever, or actuator too.

 

[BX2230Dude]

Could someone please help me understand by explaining the meaning of detent?
Many thanks

I believe it means "the tent" in some neighborhoods.

 

[Cat_Driver]

...I believe it means "the tent" in some neighborhoods.

You beat me to the punch.... I was going to say " I am going camping and sleep in" - "DE TENT"

 

[20 20]

wouldn't the detent be common on hydraulic wood spliters?

 

[Richard]

Only when we're talking about splitting hairs....

 

[bpattie]

wouldn't the detent be common on hydraulic wood spliters?

Not sure if is case of detent, mine can lock in the return part of the switch, not in the forward movement for safety reasons though

 

[J_J]

Most all log splitters using a log splitter valve, will detent in the retract position. It is a hands free return so you can be picking up the next log.

 

[jinman]

Most all log splitters using a log splitter valve, will detent in the retract position. It is a hands free return so you can be picking up the next log.

Yeppir! It's a beautiful thing.

 

[bpattie]

Most all log splitters using a log splitter valve, will detent in the retract position. It is a hands free return so you can be picking up the next log.

J_J exactly what I tried to say, you just said so much better

 

[20 20]

Most all log splitters using a log splitter valve, will detent in the retract position. It is a hands free return so you can be picking up the next log.

That's what I was thinking of.

 

[J_J]

There is an automatic log splitter valve available now for set and forget splitting.

Automatic log splitter valve. This is a two handle valve that allows you to push both handles forward (they lock into this position), the splitter ram than will move forward a full stroke and than kick itself into reverse and will return back to the starting point of fully retracted.

 

[Opti-Mist]

wouldn't the detent be common on hydraulic wood spliters?

Yes, for the return/contracting stroke.

 

[J_J]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2009110220312669&catname=&qty=1&item=9-6587

 

[jinman]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2009110220312669&catname=&qty=1&item=9-6587

Oh my! JJ, Did you see the price of that thing? $270 You better hurry, they only have 17 in stock.

I think it would be hard to pay that much just for the extra detent. This regular log splitter valve with only one detent is just $60.

Detent on retract only

 

[J_J]

Yes, I saw that price, but as with any thing that makes things better, they seem to want a small fortune to operate it. You have to pay extra for convenience.

Seems like there should be a way of using a solenoid valve, and some relays to cycle the log splitter. First a latching relay would operate, and extend the rod to split , when it got to the end, it would hit a switch and cause the relay to reverse the solenoid, and the cylinder rod would retract, and hit a stop switch at the end and stop operation. Sounds like an automatic process to me.