A Hydraulic Fuse is similar to an electrical fuse or circuit breaker found in our homes. You may have had to find the fuse box and reset or replace a blown fuse. This happened because the electrical circuit was overloaded and the capacity for carrying electrical current was exceeded. This condition can cause overheating of the circuitry or wiring, the fuse senses the overload and disconnects the electrical circuit effectively shutting it off. In this way, further equipment damage is eliminated and a potential safety hazard is avoided.
The Hydraulic Fuse provides similar protection to a hydraulic circuit. A Hydraulic Fuse is used to detect a leakage condition (such as a broken line or a disconnected hose) and shut off the circuit reducing the loss of fluid. A good definition of a Hydraulic Fuse is:
"A device used as a safety measure in hydraulic systems to prevent fluid loss."
A Hydraulic Fuse is a shut-off valve that actuates (closes) when a predetermined condition has occurred. Depending on the type of hydraulic fuse specified, this condition may be a sudden change in pressure or flow. The fuse shut-off may also be triggered when a specific quantity of fluid has been sensed.
Read more about hydraulic fuses in our fuses white papers available for download
