Hydraulic equipment uses pressurized fluid to perform various operations. In hydraulic machines, a motor or motor drive drives a pump that pressurizes the hydraulic fluid.

This fluid is then sent through hydraulic pipes to the machine’s actuators, which use the pressure of the fluid to complete the given task. The liquid then passes through a filter and back to the pump where it is pressurized again. Typically hydraulic fluid is composed of mineral oil polyalphaolefin or organophosphate ester, although other compounds are also used.

Hydraulic equipment works with the help of a wide range of valves, pumps, filters and actuators. In summary, these include check valves that prevent backflow of fluid; balance valves that provide flow resistance in certain situations; hydraulic cylinders that convert fluid pressure into mechanical force, usually by operating a piston; and pump filters that remove harmful chips and particles from the fluid.