Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2016
Looking back to the early days of aircraft hydraulic systems, a steady upward trend in the operating pressures used can be observed.
One of the reasons for this increase is weight saving, which has become of particular importance in recent years on account of the increased complexity and power demand of the modern hydraulic systems.
The trend in the direction of higher pressures has been necessarily gradual because of the lack of knowledge and experience in this field, and prudence has precluded the adoption of large steps.
Another step has been achieved in Great Britain by successfully raising the working pressure to 4,000 lb./in.2 on several modern aircraft.
A Section Lecture given before the Society on 3rd Nov. 1953.
† Based on Developments in High Pressure Hydraulic Systems by H. G. Conway.