The topic of hydraulic lifting devices has been hovering in my head for a couple of weeks. Yesterday, a terrible accident with a hydraulic lifting device took the life of a 19-year-old kid. Maybe we can learn SOMETHING from the tragedy.
For this week's topic, I'm using the www.howstuffworks.com article, How Hydraulic Machines Work.
In short, "The basic idea behind any hydraulic system is very simple: Force that is applied at one point is transmitted to another point using an incompressible fluid. The fluid is almost always an oil of some sort. The force is almost always multiplied in the process."
I have grown up and still live in logging country. Hydraulic log splitters are probably as common as chainsaws out here.
The tools used to rescue people from terrible accidents are also hydraulic machines. Until recently, I didn't realize that "Jaws of Life" is actually a brand of hydraulic tools. "The Jaws of Life is actually a brand of tools that is trademarked by the Hurst Jaws of Life company, but the name is often used when talking about other brands of rescue systems. The term "Jaws of Life" refers to several types of piston-rod hydraulic tools known as cutters, spreaders and rams, which are used to pry open vehicles involved in accidents when a victim may be trapped." http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/jaws-life.htm
Sadly, the kid who was killed by hydraulics couldn't be rescued by using hydraulics. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
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