Improving Hydraulic Quick Connect for Tractor-Trailers

 

 Hydraulic fittings and quick couplers are used in many market segments where they must withstand intense stress and pressure without malfunctioning or leaking. Quick couplers that undergo hydraulic shock and heavy vibration may experience brinelling, damage to the locking groove which can cause equipment downtime and fluid leakage. This poses safety risks to workers and causes environmental contamination along with added cleanup costs.

This is particularly true in the transportation sector when trailers are connected with hydraulic circuits and quick couplers. A faulty coupling on the line could cause a malfunction which could lead to an unmanageable vehicle and serious accidents on the highway. Hydraulic fittings, couplings and adapters must meet the requirements of the two main categories of the transportation haulage industry which includes Road Trailers and Self- Propelled Motor Trailers.

Road trailers: quick couplers provide the connection between the powerpack and the trailer when road trailers are coupled to street legal, motorized vehicles for use on motorways and urban roads.

Self- Propelled Motor Trailers (SPMT): quick couplers provide connection between several trailer units and long vehicles which are equipped with several sets of wheels and designed to handle bulky, heavy loads. Typically used on private areas such as factories or building sites.

Hydraulics Provide Critical Functions on a Tractor-Trailer

The suspension system and a tractor-trailer is controlled by a hydraulic system and hydraulic lines which control the suspension and also provide steering of the wheels. Quick couplings located on the trailer should be protected as much as possible from dirt and impact while paying attention to the radial loads the pipes generate. Hydraulics may also be used to control the drive and drainage lines.

Hydraulic fittings used in the transportation, tractor-trailer sector come into contact with medium to high conditions for wear and corrosion.  This makes it critical to carefully choose all components on a tractor-trailer transportation system including heavy duty, leak-free, thread to connect hydraulic quick couplers.

Stucchi Offers Heavy Duty Quick Couplers That Improve Tractor-Trailer Hydraulics

Stucchi offers heavy duty hydraulic quick couplers for use in many demanding mobile applications such as construction, demolition, snow removal, forestry applications and more, including the transportation industry. Our heavy-duty threaded flat face coupler, the VEP HD series, provides a greater degree of safety and protects the environment with leak free quick disconnect.

Stucchi provides hydraulic solutions that improve your overall process for improved safety, efficiency, and overall productivity. Our multi-coupling plates improve uptime by providing easy quick connect and disconnect of multiple lines at once, significantly improving trailer connection and disconnection procedure times and safety. With our multi-couple plates, there is no chance for human error or cross connection mistakes. Couplings connect and disconnect easily with one simple movement requiring minimal force. The GR series of Stucchi’s multi-coupling plates provides solutions to the transportation industry with improved efficiency, safety, and uptime.

Stucchi offers hydraulic solutions for many industries and segments with a wide range of quality hydraulic fittings, couplings, and adapters. We offer custom design solutions to meet your specific application requirements. Contact us with any questions on improving your hydraulic system for transportation tractor-trailers or any mobile equipment.

This article was previously published at: https://www.stucchiusa.com/blog/improving-hydraulic-quick-connect-for-tractor-trailers/

 

Hydraulic Quick Coupling Solutions for Tractors

Hydraulic quick couplings for tractors must hold up in harsh environments and rugged applications. Tractors plow through rough terrain, landfill, dirt, mud or snow and may be exposed to extreme temperatures. Tractors put in long days and are expected to be ready to go first thing in the morning.

 You can make sure your tractor is ready to go after a long, hard day’s work by maintaining your hydraulic circuit with reliable and durable hydraulic connections.  It’s important to prevent contamination back into circuit as well as preventing hydraulic spills onto the ground. Contamination can occur when performing quick release functions and dirt finds its way back into the quick coupler connection.

 Stucchi Offers Leak Free Flat Face Quick Couplers for Tractors

 Threaded flat face quick couplings help to prevent this from occurring, especially flat face quick couplers from Stucchi. Stucchi set the industry standard for ISO 16028 flat face quick couplers, designing quick couplings with internal mechanisms that prevent leaks upon quick release.  Stucchi offers hydraulic quick couplers compatible with any brand-name tractors and skid steer machinery such as John Deere, Bobcat, Caterpillar and Kubota.

 We help to analyze your hydraulic application and equipment to provide the best hydraulic quick coupling solution for you. Our experienced and knowledgeable hydraulic specialists will recommend the best products or the customized solutions to meet your needs.

 High quality hydraulic adapters and couplings are mandatory to support demanding and pressurized operations.  Stucchi offers a wide selection of flat face quick couplings as well as threaded, flat face quick couplers to meet demanding applications with heavy duty equipment. 

 Stucchi provides proven quick release and quick connect hydraulic coupler solutions which improve your overall operations.  We offer 60 years of experience in manufacturing high performance, leak free hydraulic quick couplers.  Contact us to speak with a hydraulic specialist and learn more about our quick connect solutions for agricultural, tractor and skid steer equipment.

 

How to Improve Hydraulics on Cat Skid Steer Equipment

Skid steer utility vehicles provide the unique benefit of switching out various attachments to suit the task at hand.  Skid steer operators must choose the right attachment for the job while making sure the hydraulic circuit is interchangeable for quick changeovers.  While focusing on making efficient changeovers of attachments, it is just as important to ensure that your hydraulic circuit provides maximum power and performance with leak-free connections.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when pairing your Cat® skid steer or any utility vehicle with attachments:

1)  Know your equipment’s hydraulic circuit specifications, pressure, and flow

It is important to know the hydraulic pressure, psi, and the hydraulic flow, gpm, of your equipment.  Some skid steer attachments may need additional hydraulic functional capability that not all machines come with.  It is just as important to know the type of hydraulic quick couplers in use when shopping for attachments. 

You should also know if your vehicle is a standard flow (typically 22 gpm) or high flow (26 gpm or greater).  Attachments designed for standard flow should operate fine on a high flow machine, but not the other way around.  You wouldn’t want to run attachments designed for high flow on a standard flow machine. 

2) Know the difference between hydromechanical and fabricated attachments

Hydromechanical attachments are powered by an auxiliary hydraulic system and should be from the same manufacturer as your equipment. Cat skid steer equipment and attachments are engineered to operate together. 

Fabricated attachments are versatile in that they do not require auxiliary hydraulics and can often operate on equipment from another manufacturer.

 

3)  Consider renting an attachment before purchasing it

Most equipment suppliers will let you rent an attachment prior to purchasing it to see how it works for you on your equipment. 

4)  Evaluate your hydraulic quick couplers

Evaluate your hydraulic quick couplers for the possibility of improving them with flat-face, threaded couplers that provide a secure connection that prevents leaks. 

Stucchi Offers Skid Steer Hydraulic Solutions

Stucchi is a leading hydraulic specialist, offering high quality and custom designed quick couplers for a multitude of industries and applications.  Our hydraulic specialists will work with you to determine the best quick connect and quick release solution for your equipment, your attachments and your application. 

Stucchi offers hydraulic quick couplers for skid steer, excavators, backhoes and many other rugged and demanding applications. Our skilled hydraulic specialists offer process analysis and custom designed hydraulic solutions to meet your specific needs. Contact us to be sure you are using the right quick couplers for your skid steer and all mobile and agricultural equipment.