Alan Hitchcox

Editor
Penton Media Inc.

Alan became a technical editor in 1981 and joined Hydraulics & Pneumatics in 1987. After serving in the US Army as a wheeled vehicle mechanic, he graduated with a BS in engineering technology from Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio, while working as an industiral service coordinator and project manager at an industrial distributor. He has taken technical courses in fluid power and electronic and digital control at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and has served on several industry committees.

Articles by Alan Hitchcox
Need to get rid of a car? Turn to hydraulics
Time is money, but higher speed doesn't necessarily mean higher production — at least when it comes to industrial shredders for mixed materials.
Software speeds PDF searches
A new service now allows engineers to search PDF (portable document format) catalogues by key word to quickly find specific information without having to view or print large numbers of pages.
Sensor tells machine where it's at
Inertia-Link wireless inertial sensors can enable machines to sense their own angular position and to estimate their linear movement.
An anniversary for two
A lot of history has been written since we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine in 1998. Back then, the Iraqis had been beaten in Kuwait, September 11 was just another day, and Red Sox fans were still lamenting ...
New hybrid actuator finds application in industry
Standard Hy-P hybrid actuator with optional magnetic sensor for position feedback. Hy-P actuator uses pneumatics for power and self-contained hydraulics for control. Since its introduction, the hydropneumatic (Hy-P) ...
More flow . . . less space
Multiple flow passages allow this Bender Jet to outperform standard orifice flow restrictors and also consume less space. The Lee Company has manufactured miniature fluid controls since its inception in 1948. Its capability to ...
Miles and miles of hydraulic hose
Kurt Hydraulics, Lyman, Neb., increased its inventory to include more than 3 million ft of hydraulic hose. Products include SAE 100 R1, R2, R4, R5, R12, R13, R16, R17, 4SH, Teflon, and other types of hose. Kurt's hose products and its complete ...
Piezo actuators: The future of servovalves?
Direct-controlled piezo electrohydraulic servovalve under development is said to have dynamic performance three times better than that of a conventional servovalve. Pilot-operated piezo valve with four piezo stack actuators ...
An Integral Part Of The Food Chain
High speed, high reliability, and clean operation make pneumatics an essential part of food processing equipment.
Seals contain fluid to pressures well above 4000 psi
This offshore handling system is built to weigh less than 50 kg, but it still must produce 50 tonnes of pulling force with a linear stroke of 650 mm — highly unlikely without a carefully designed ...
Software simulates fluid power
ITI simulation tools are used for analyzing and optimizing the dynamic behavior of fluid power components and systems.
Waste reducers bound for Katrina cleanup
Mention the word "shredder," and most people think of a paper shredding machine sitting atop a wastebasket.
Cat's new excavator boasts host of hydraulic features
Caterpillar's new 325C LCR hydraulic excavator features a compact swing radius for high productivity in tight areas.
Lessons learned from cartridge valve testing
It's difficult to predict dynamic forces and impact loads on a valve that shifts in less than 50 milliseconds.
Bearing, aluminum improve pump's power density
Hydraulics is used extensively in mobile equipment for its high power density — a combination of small size, light weight, and high power output.
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