Municipal Utility Vehicles

Hydraulic systems are used in municipal engineering to reliably enable the movement, control and drive of various work attachments.

Typical functions include driving, lifting and lowering, swiveling and metering attachments such as sweepers, salt spreaders, snowplows or mowers.

Main areas of application include street cleaning, winter service, green space maintenance, waste management and municipal transport — for example, the drive of a brush roller, a spreading disc or lifting and swiveling cylinders.

In a hydraulic system, a pump generates the required pressure by delivering hydraulic oil. Hoses and pipes transfer the oil to the actuators.

Valves control the flow rate and direction of the oil. Hydraulic motors convert flow into rotational motion, e.g., for brushes or spreading discs, while cylinders convert flow into linear motion, such as lifting or swiveling a snowplow.

Pressure relief valves protect all components from inadmissible pressure spikes.

Core components include pumps (fixed or variable displacement), hydraulic motors (orbital, gear or axial piston motors), cylinders, filters, tanks, pipes, hoses and couplings.

In municipal engineering, compact orbital motors and flange-mounted flow control valves with integrated pressure relief valves are commonly used, e.g., on sweepers or salt spreaders.

Control blocks or valve blocks handle the distribution and control of all hydraulic functions.

Housings of pumps, motors and valve blocks are generally made of quenched and tempered steel or spheroidal graphite cast iron, often with corrosion-protected surfaces.

Internal parts such as shafts, pistons and gears are usually made of hardened steel. Seals are typically made from NBR or FKM.

Bearings are designed as plain or rolling bearings and built for high pressure loads and frequent load changes in continuous operation.

Hydraulic motors for municipal applications cover displacements of approximately 5 to 130 cm³/rev, depending on the series.

Speeds can reach several thousand rpm. Typical operating pressures range from 300 to 450 bar, depending on the application and design.

Higher pressures and larger flow rates are typically required for heavy attachments such as snowplows, cranes or refuse vehicle structures.

Hydraulics offer a high power density and finely adjustable power transmission. They ensure reliable and immediate force output even under demanding conditions.

• Robustness against dirt, moisture and low temperatures
• Overload protection via pressure valves
• Modular design enabling multiple functions in a compact space
• Suitable for continuous and shift operation

Selection is based on three key areas: hydraulic parameters, mechanical interfaces and environmental conditions.

Relevant criteria include required torque or cylinder force, available system pressure, flow rate and desired speed or stroke rate.

For municipal applications, it is proven practice to choose motors so that the required working speed is reached at operating pressure with a safety margin, and to use valves offering integrated pressure and flow control.

The service life of hydraulic systems depends significantly on oil quality, temperature, operating pressure and maintenance.

• Regular oil changes according to manufacturer specifications
• Scheduled filter replacement
• Visual inspection of hoses, fittings and sealing points
• Checking pressure relief and flow control valves using measuring equipment

With proper maintenance, operating hours of several thousand to tens of thousands of hours can be achieved before overhaul or replacement becomes necessary.