Calculate the force exerted by the ram piston if an effort of 200 N is applied to the lever of a hydraulic press.

The mechanical advantage of the lever is 15 and the efficiency on the press is 93% The diameter of the plunger is 0,1 times that of the diameter of the ram.

1 answer

To find the force exerted by the ram piston in a hydraulic press, we can utilize the concepts of mechanical advantage (MA), efficiency, and the relation between the areas of the pistons involved.

  1. Calculate the force exerted by the lever (Input Force): \[ F_{\text{input}} = \text{effort} = 200 , \text{N} \]

  2. Calculate the output force using mechanical advantage: The mechanical advantage is defined as the ratio of output force (\(F_{\text{output}}\)) to input force (\(F_{\text{input}}\)): \[ \text{MA} = \frac{F_{\text{output}}}{F_{\text{input}}} \]

    Rearranging gives: \[ F_{\text{output}} = \text{MA} \times F_{\text{input}} \] Given that the mechanical advantage of the lever is 15: \[ F_{\text{output, ideal}} = 15 \times 200 , \text{N} = 3000 , \text{N} \]

  3. Adjust for efficiency: The actual output force of the hydraulic press is affected by its efficiency (\(\eta\)). The effective output force can be calculated by: \[ F_{\text{output}} = F_{\text{output, ideal}} \times \eta \] Given that the efficiency is 93% (or 0.93 when expressed as a decimal): \[ F_{\text{output}} = 3000 , \text{N} \times 0.93 = 2790 , \text{N} \]

  4. Relate the piston areas and the diameter: We are given that the diameter of the plunger (\(D_p\)) is 0.1 times the diameter of the ram (\(D_r\)). The area of a circular piston can be calculated with the formula: \[ A = \pi \left(\frac{D}{2}\right)^2 = \frac{\pi D^2}{4} \]

    Therefore, the area of the plunger (\(A_p\)) and the ram (\(A_r\)) can be expressed as: \[ A_p = \frac{\pi (0.1 D_r)^2}{4} = \frac{\pi D_r^2}{4} \times 0.01 = 0.01 A_r \] Here, \(A_r\) is the area of the ram.

  5. Apply Pascal’s principle: In a hydraulic system, the pressure applied to the fluid is the same throughout. The relationship between force and area is given by: \[ F_p = P \cdot A_p \quad \text{and} \quad F_r = P \cdot A_r \] Since pressures are equal: \[ \frac{F_p}{A_p} = \frac{F_r}{A_r} \quad \Rightarrow \quad F_r = F_p \frac{A_r}{A_p} \]

    Substituting \(A_p = 0.01 A_r\): \[ F_r = F_p \cdot \frac{A_r}{0.01 A_r} = 100 F_p \]

    Using \(F_p = 2790 , \text{N}\): \[ F_r = 100 \times 2790 , \text{N} = 279000 , \text{N} \]

Thus, the force exerted by the ram piston is 279,000 N.