Hydraulic circuits can include cylinders, motors, valves, pumps, and other components, all interconnected through hydraulic pipes and tubes. Given their complexity, a standardised set of hydraulic symbols has been developed to visually represent fluid power systems in schematic drawings.
At first glance, hydraulic schematics may seem overwhelming, but they follow a structured visual language—one with a clear, concise vocabulary that simplifies system interpretation.
The International Standards Organization ISO 1219-1:2012 standardised symbols don’t indicate component size or exact positioning, but they provide critical insights into system configurations and flow paths. Below, we’ve summarised some of the most common hydraulic symbols you’ll encounter.
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Hydraulic Symbols
Discover Hydraulic Lines & Essential Symbols
Understanding hydraulic lines and symbols is key to interpreting fluid power systems. In this guide, we break down the different types of hydraulic lines, their functions, and the standardised symbols used in circuit diagrams.
Whether you’re reading or designing hydraulic schematics, mastering these symbols ensures accurate system representation and efficient troubleshooting.
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Learn about other Essential Hydraulic Symbols
In this chapter, we explore key hydraulic symbols frequently found in circuit diagrams – including magnets, springs, switches, coolers, and temperature gauges and more.
Understanding these symbols ensures accurate system interpretation and efficient troubleshooting.
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Hydraulic Motor & Pump Symbols
Hydraulic pumps ensure a constant flow of hydraulic fluid in a system. Hydraulic motors serve a different function – they use hydraulic pressure in order to rotate a shaft. This chapter contains common symbols that can be used to represent these vital components.
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Learn About Hydraulic Cylinder Symbols
When people imagine hydraulics systems, they often picture articulated machines, powered by hydraulic cylinders. Like muscles to hydraulic systems, cylinders are extremely common and varied. Here, we cover the most widespread cylinder symbols that you’re likely to encounter.
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Discover Hydraulic Accumulator Symbols
Accumulators store pressurised fluid that can be released into a system to increase the hydraulic pressure. Next up we explore the symbols for the different types of accumulator that you’re likely to encounter.
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Explore Hydraulic Valve Symbols
By opening and closing, valves direct and control the fluid within a hydraulic system. Though this seems simple, there are so many different types of valves that in this section we cover almost 60 different symbols used to represent them!
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Hydraulic Symbols E-Book
Want all your hydraulic symbols in just one place? Download our full hydraulics symbols e-book, containing more than 140 of the most common symbols! This PDF ebook covers basic lines and symbols, pumps and motors, cylinders, accumulators and valves.
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Hydraulic Calculations
Need help with hydraulic calculations? Our experienced technical engineers can assist with the detailed number-crunching for your particular project and application. To get you started we’ve provided a quick summary for your reference.
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Need more help? Our Hydraulics Glossary explains nearly 500 key terms….
Learn the language of hydraulics from ‘Abrasion’ to ‘Working Pressure’ and everything in between!
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The Ultimate Guide to Hydraulic Cylinders
A hydraulic cylinder is the actuator or ‘motor’ side of a hydraulic system. They are sometimes referred to as the ‘muscles’, making light work of lifting, lowering, moving or ‘locking’ heavy loads.
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The Ultimate Guide to Hydraulic Motors
All hydraulic motors convert flow and fluid pressure into rotary motion, so why are there so many different kinds and what factors should affect your choice of hydraulic motor?
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Specifying Hydraulic Hoses
Hydraulic hoses convey hydraulic fluid around the system; they are not minor accessories. Careful consideration must always be given to their specification and installation… a hose burst failure is always a catastrophic incident.
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