Auxiliary Hydraulics
An auxiliary hydraulic system delivers hydraulic flow from a hydraulic pump to operate auxiliary equipment or attachments. The addition of an auxiliary hydraulic system to heavy construction equipment increases the versatility of the vehicle by allowing it to perform additional functions with different attachments. Auxiliary hydraulics provides the power to operate heavy construction attachments, such as breakers, brush cutters, compactors, grapples, processors, shears, tilt bucket, and augers. Auxiliary hydraulic systems may vary depending upon the type of vehicle, whether it's an excavator, a back-hoe or a front-end-loader. The system has to be configured to accommodate specific vehicle requirements, such as interface fittings, length from pump to attachment and vehicle control systems. Auxiliary hydraulic systems usually incorporate external fluid fittings enabling the hydraulic fluid supply lines of the attachments to be connected and disconnected easily from the vehicles' hydraulic pump. They also usually include valves specifically configured to control the supply of hydraulic fluid through the fittings. Different attachments also have varying requirements in terms of timing, rate and control of fluid flow. Attachments, such as breakers and compactors only need hydraulic flow in one direction, whereas shears and grapples need two-direction hydraulic flow. Hydraulic flow and pressure are also specific to each attachment. A shear requires a much higher flow and pressure than a tilt bucket. Auxiliary hydraulic systems are also referred to as auxiliary hydraulics, hydraulic kits, wet kits and plumbing kits.