FLUID POWER
STUCCHI
Coupling up
CHOOSING HIGH QUALITY QUICK COUPLINGS
FOR HYDRAULICS SYSTEMS IS ESSENTIAL TO
HELP MINIMIZE LEAKAGE
one shared by all industries, not least those which
use hydraulic systems. A single fault can cause
not just damage to costly devices resulting in
downtime but also possible injuries to operators
and contamination in the work area.
One of the most sensitive points for hydraulic
systems is the connections. In sectors like
agriculture, earth-moving, gas and crude oil
extraction, much of the equipment used must be
connected by sealing off the hydraulic circuit and
making sure it stays that way even when subjected
to high pressure and strong mechanical stress.
If the connection system fails, there are a
number of risks. Accidents in the workplace may
occur. The fluids used in hydraulic systems are
pressurized so a leak, no matter how small, can
result in liquid being ejected with great force,
potentially causing serious physical injury to
operators in the vicinity.
Financial losses may be incurred. Machinery
blocked due to inadequate couplings can cause
losses in the range of tens of thousands of euros
due to production downtime.
58 The concern over tools and work
machinery always functioning at 100% is
iVT International Off-Highway 2020
Then there is cost of repairs. Repairing the
hydraulic system and machinery, as well as
replacing the lost fluid, calls for the company to
make a significant capital investment. In the
worst cases, the damage can extend to buildings
or places where the equipment is housed, further
increasing the expenses to be covered
Lastly environmental contamination is possible.
Hydraulic fluid leakages onto the ground and into
water sources can irreparably compromise these
natural resources. Contamination can also lead to
serious fines and, in the farming sector, damage to
the company’s income.
Choosing quality couplings is therefore an
essential investment to safeguard your company
and employees, as well as the environment.
The preservation of the environment is
increasingly important for the industry, and the
choice of the correct quick couplings for hydraulic
systems can improve eco-friendly practices.
Quick couplings to prevent leakage
Research and development in the quick coupling
industry is advancing at pace, and focuses on
manufacturing leak-free quick couplers which
RIGHT: The A Series is
the evolution of Stucchi
technology and quality
applied to flat face couplings.
The series has an internal
design combined with a high
resistance material to allow
the achievement of higher
operating pressure and
minimal pressure drop
also minimize impact to the environment.
According to the US National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), every year
more than 370 million liters of hydraulic fluid
runs off from hydraulic systems and ends up
on the ground or in water sources such as rivers,
lakes and aquifers.
As more businesses have improved standards
for eco-friendly practices, more opportunities
have arisen to improve the environmental impact
of Stucchi’s products. Sustainability and efficiency
can actually support each other to create new
hydraulic solutions.
Sustainable and efficient flat face couplers
One example is the flat face coupling system
which includes a flat face valve, spring
mechanism, safety closing system and specific
seals in order to minimize fluid loss during
disconnection. Eliminating the intermediate
space between the male and female couplers
prevents fluid from gathering in the coupler and
leaking into the environment.
Flat face coupling systems which prevent
hydraulic fluid from collecting in the coupler also
provide a remarkable impact to cost efficient
production activities. Industrial benefits of leakfree
flat face couplings include:
• Minimizing fluid leakages and clean-up
efforts – saving time and money by not