ATA-29 Hydraulic power

Larger aircraft normally have a hydraulic services panel in the crew compartment, which
contains indicators covering parameters such as fluid quantity, pressure and temperature, and
switches to control operation of emergency pumps and valves.
The instruments and switches for each separate hydraulic system are normally grouped
together, and the panel may be marked with a mimic diagram to assist the crew in transferring
hydraulic power, or in overcoming an emergency situation.

Quantity Indicators:
A clear window fitted in the reservoir provides a means of checking fluid level during
servicing, but the reservoir may also be fitted with a float-type contents unit, which electrically
signals fluid quantity to an instrument on the hydraulics panel in the crew compartment.

Pressure Relays:
A pressure relay is a component which transmits fluid pressure to a direct reading
pressure gauge, or to a pressure transmitter which electrically indicates pressure on an
instrument on the hydraulics panel. In some cases both types of indication are provided, the
direct reading gauge being fitted in the hydraulic equipment bay, adjacent to the relay. A typical
pressure relay is shown in Figure 25. During normal operation the piston acts as a separator,
transmitting fluid pressure to the gauge side. If a leak develops on the gauge side, the piston
moves to the gauge end of the cylinder and the valve seats in the cylinder head, thus
preventing leakage from the system. The valve also permits bleeding when a new gauge, or
gauge line, is fitted.
Pressure Gauges:
Electrically operated pressure gauges are fitted on the hydraulics panel, to register main
and emergency system pressures. Direct reading gauges are often fitted to the accumulators
and reservoirs, to enable servicing operations to be carried out.

Pressure Switches.
Pressure switches are often used to illuminate a warning lamp, and to indicate loss of
fluid pressure, or loss of air pressure in a reservoir. Such switches contain a diaphragm, which
flexes under fluid or air pressure, this movement being transmitted to a micro switch, which, at
the appropriate pressure, makes or breaks contact with the warning lamp.

Flow Indication:
A flow indicator valve is often fitted in the outlet line from a pump, and is used to
provide warning of pump failure. The valve comprises a body, a spring-loaded plunger
connected to an actuator arm, and a micro-switch. During normal operation, fluid pressure
overcomes spring pressure, and the plunges moves to allow full flow through the valve. If pump
output decreases below a predetermined minimum, the spring loading overcomes fluid
pressure, moving Hit- plunger and actuator arm, and closing the micro-switch contact to
illuminate the warning lamp.

Temperature Indication:
Warning of fluid overheating is normally provided by a temperature sensing element in
the reservoir. Warning of overheating of electrical motors which are used to operate
emergency pumps is normally provided by fitting a similar element in the motor casing. The
sensing element tales the form of a bimetal strip or rod arrangement, which operates a snap-
action switch when the warning temperature is reached. Operation of the switch closes the
contacts to an associated warning lamp.

Hydraulic Systems
The Boeing 777 has three independent 3,000-psi hydraulic systems; the left, right, and
center systems. Each system has its own reservoir, pumps and filters.
The left system has one engine-driven pump (EDP) and one AC motor-driven pump
(ACMP). It supplies hydraulic power to the flight controls and to the left engine thrust reverser.
The right system also has one EDP and one ACMP that supplies power to the flight controls, the
normal main gear brakes and the right engine thrust reverser.
The center system has two ACMPs, two air driven pumps {ADPs) and one ram air turbine
(RAT) pump. Pneumatic: power from the two engines or the auxiliary power unit (APU)
operates the ADPs. The center system supplies power to:
 • Flight controls
• Leading edge slats
• Trailing edge flaps
• Alternate and reserve main gear brakes
• Normal and reserve nose gear steering and nose gear extension-retraction:
• Main gear extension-retraction
• Main gear steering.
The ram air turbine deploys automatically during flight and supplies emergency hydraulic power
to the primary flight controls if any of these conditions occur:
 Both engines are shut down.
 Both AC buses’ are not powered
 All three hydraulic system pressures are low.
Only the flight controls use hydraulic power from the RAT.
The EDPs in the left and right systems and the ACMPs in the center system are the
primary pumps. They operate continuously. The ACMPs in the left and right systems and the
ADPs in the center system arc the demand pumps. They operate automatically when there are
heavy demands on the systems. This part time operation increases pump life, system efficiency
and reliability.
Hydraulic fuses are installed in some of the fluid lines to protect against a loss of fluid in these
systems:
o Main gear steering
o Brakes
o Main gear actuation
o Flight controls
All of the electric pumps as well as all of the air driven pumps and engine driven pumps are
interchangeable. The hydraulic reservoirs and filters are all near the pumps they supply, and all
of the reservoirs may be filled from a single-point reservoir servicing station.

Hydraulic System Indications

Each pump has an amber fault light that illuminates when a pump overturns or is
producing low pressure, and there is a green light that shows high RAT output pressure and an
amber light illuminates when the RAT is unlocked. The Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting
System (E1CAS) displays a number of hydraulic system alerts and their levels, these are:
 RAT unlocked
 Low system pressure
 Low pump pressure
 Pump overheat
 Reservoir low quantity
  Reserve brake and steering failure
 HVDIM (Hydraulic Interface Module) failure.
The status display shows the reservoir quantity and system pressure for each system. The
hydraulic synoptic display shows a real-lime diagram of the operational status of the entire
hydraulic system, and the hydraulic maintenance page displays all of the pertinent hydraulic
data needed by the maintenance personnel.

Automatic Control
The Hydraulic Interface Module (HYDTM) cards are the computer components that control
the automatic operation and indication of the hydraulic system. There is one card for the left
system, two for the center system, and one for the right system. These cards receive data from
the various sensors and send it to the Airplane Information Management System (AIMS). They
control these functions:
 Demand pump AUTO operation
 RAT deployment
 Landing gear Auto-Off operation
 Center hydraulic system isolation
These cards also control these hydraulic system indications:
 System pressure
 Pump pressure
 Pump temperature
 Reservoir quantity
 Reservoir temperature
 Reservoir pressure

HYD INDICATING SYSTEM

Hydraulic Fluid Quantity Indicating System
The hydraulic fluid quantity indicating system gives indications of fluid quantity in the
hydraulic system A, B and standby reservoirs. The system uses quantity transmitters at the
system A and B reservoirs to send signals to the common display system. The quantity for
system A and system B show as a percentage of full on the systems display.
The system uses a quantity switch in the standby reservoir to send signals to the STANDBY HYD
LOW QUANTITY light on the flight control panel.

Hydraulic Pressure Indicating System

The hydraulic pressure indicating system gives indication of system pressure in the flight
compartment. The system uses pressure transmitters on the hydraulic system A and B pressure
modules to send signals to the common display system. The pressure for each system shows on
the systems display.

Hydraulic Pump Low Pressure Warning System

The hydraulic pump low pressure warning system gives indications when the pressure of
any hydraulic pump on the airplane decreases to less than normal. The system uses pressure
switches on the hydraulic system A and system B pressure modules to send signals to the HYD
PUMP LOW PRESSURE light on the hydraulic panel.
The system uses a pressure switch on the standby hydraulic system module to send a signal to
the STANDBY HYD LOW PRESSURE light on the flight control panel.

Hydraulic Fluid Overheat Warning System

The hydraulic fluid overheat warning system gives indications when the temperature of
hydraulic system A or system B electric motor-driven pump (EMDP) is more than normal. The
system uses temperature switches in the pump case drain lines to send signals to the HYD
PUMP OVERHEAT lights on the hydraulic panel.