Product category:
Hydraulic Components
News Release from: Parker Hannifin | Subject: Parker Hannifin hydraulic cylinders
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 21 May 2007
Company provides waves for Pirates movie
Parker Hannifin developed a system to hold full-size replica sailing ships and to provide realistic wave motion safely, reliably and at realistic filming costs.
Parker Hannifin has joined forces with Disney Studios in California for the production of Pirates of the Caribbean II - Dead Man's Chest The challenge they faced involved the development of a floating motion base to hold full-size replica sailing ships and to provide realistic wave motion safely, reliably and at realistic filming costs
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 14 Mar 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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The special effects team and film crew at Disney wanted to shoot film footage that gave the impression of a variety of eighteenth-century vessels sailing and being manoeuvred in heavy seas, including sinking slowly underwater.
The ship movement had to be sufficiently realistic so as to simulate the pitching and yawning motion, characteristic of that encountered on a rolling or stormy ocean.
Additionally, an efficient ship swap process had to be established, which enabled one ship to be filmed while a second or third ship was being prepared.
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Parker designed, developed and manufactured an innovative hydraulics system that controlled the floating motion base or cradle, which was located in a protected natural harbour and fixed directly to each replica vessel.
Motion was achieved by means of high-tensile cables running from each corner of the cradle downward through a sleeve to tethers on the ocean floor; from here the cables ran to four large Parker hydraulic cylinders mounted in a secure area onshore.
The cylinders and cradles were controlled by means of Parker pumps and accumulators, operating through a series of Parker hydraulic valves, which in turn were connected via custom built electronic signal conditioning cards to a central programming system.
This enabled the cradle, and thus each ship, to be rocked from bow to stern and from side to side, and to be pulled downwards to simulate a foundering motion.
Using this system it was possible to produce the effect of a vessel sailing in seas with over 3m waves.
The hydraulic system incorporated both closed loop position control and closed loop force/pressure control and was capable of operating at high flow rates of almost 4000 litres per minute, with up to three cylinders being driven simultaneously at an operating pressure of 225bar.
In addition, absolute valve signal splitters were developed to enable bipolar voltage commands to be sent to the valves, which were then driven by unipolar voltage signals.
This feature allowed two two-way throttle valves to provide the seamless three-way control function for the cylinders.
Disney's Tom Pahk, explained that the system, "Worked like a dream and more than justified our choice of Parker technology and expertise".
"Indeed, with Parker, we knew we had a company that would support the project all the way from start to finish and their products and technical support throughout this undertaking were highly instrumental in the success of the film itself". Request a free brochure from Parker Hannifin ...
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