Technologies

Advanced Science and Evolving Technologies are at the core of every Hydra-Electric product.

Here are some of those tech details :

Materials:

Since pressure switches need to be long lasting and durable, they have to be machined out of solid stainless steel or aluminum. Hydra utilizes multi-axis CNC machines to lathe and bore rod material down to finished component shapes. Common stainless materials used are 304, 347 and 17-4PH alloys, while the aluminums include alloys such as 2024T and  6061.

Seals and O-rings help keep the units sealed, and they are generally made from aerospace grade thermoplastic elastomers. Electric connectors involve common aerospace insulator materials and conductor materials. Durable interior components including the negative rate disk springs and force transfer arms are made from hardened stainless steel or Ni Span C. Overall, Hydra uses only high grade, durable materials. 

Transducers & Sensors

Technology behind pressure sensing transducers has been in use for decades, but the demands of aerospace environments requires more dynamic, rugged and protected solutions to withstand the rigors of flight. With patent-pending solutions, Hydra Electric engineers have created new generations of transducer product families which surpass these demands, incorporating new combinations of barriers, buffers and shields. Hydra Electric transducers and sensors feature significantly higher safeguards insuring reliability and accuracy in high temperature, high vibration, high pressure and EMC challenged environments.

Negative Rate Disk Spring:

The Negative Rate Disk Spring is the heart of the operating pressure switch… it’s the mechanism that allows the whole switch device to operate for thousands and thousands of cycles. Basically, it is a convex disc spring with a center hole… shaped like a doughnut.   The disk spring snaps to a concave shape when it reaches a certain pressure. It then snaps back when pressure is released.   

The Negative Rate Disc Spring technology is much more superior than other older pressure switch technologies, such as bellows, bourdon tubes, or basic metal diaphragms. Our technology gives the switch two simple operating states, a basic “on” or “off”. There is no “elastic creep deflection” that is seen with conventional pressure switch designs.

The snap action of the Hydra disc spring eliminates “tracing” of fluctuating pressures. The Negative Rate Disc Spring technology also prevents effects from surge pressures or pump ripples, which give false signals. Our units are resistant to contact chatter, vibration, or premature fatigue. Plus, the set points remain very constant with this design.

Snubbers:

One common issue with pressure switches is the fact that quick and temporary pressure spikes in hydraulic lines may cause false signals or pre-mature actuation of the switch.  These pressure spikes can be caused by “pump ripple”, where the on-off cycle of a pump causes rapid pressure variations. Hydra-Electric solves this problem by installing pressure snubbers inside our products, which impede fluid flow and allow pressure to rise and fall more slowly inside the switch. This permits proper activation of the switch at the design pressure levels.