HYDRAULIC PUMPS

Hydraulic pumps are used in hydraulic drive systems and can be hydrostatic or
hydrodynamic. A hydraulic pump is a mechanical source of power that converts
mechanical power into hydraulic energy (hydrostatic energy i.e. flow, pressure). It
generates flow with enough power to overcome pressure induced by the load at the
pump outlet. When a hydraulic pump operates, it creates a vacuum at the pump
inlet, which forces liquid from the reservoir into the inlet line to the pump and by
mechanical action delivers this liquid to the pump outlet and forces it into the
hydraulic system. Hydrostatic pumps are positive displacement pumps while
hydrodynamic pumps can be fixed displacement pumps, in which the displacement
(flow through the pump per rotation of the pump) cannot be adjusted, or variable
displacement pumps, which have a more complicated construction that allows the
displacement to be adjusted. Although, hydrodynamic pumps are more frequent in
day to day life. Hydrostatics pump which are of various types works on the principle
of Pascal's law. It states that the increase in pressure at one point of the enclosed
liquid in equilibrium of rest is transmitted equally to all other points of the liquid,
unless the effect of gravity is neglected.(in case of statics)

Hydraulic pump types

Gear pumps
Gear pumps (with external teeth) (fixed displacement) are simple and economical pumps. The
swept volume or displacement of gear pumps for hydraulics will be between about 1 and 200
millilitres. They have the lowest volumetric efficiency of all three basic pump types (gear, vane
and piston pumps. These pumps create pressure through the meshing of the gear teeth, which
forces fluid around the gears to pressurize the outlet side. For lubrication, the gear pump uses a
small amount of oil from the pressurized side of the gears, bleeds this through the (typically)
hydrodynamic bearings, and vents the same oil either to the low pressure side of the gears, or
through a dedicated drain port on the pump housing. Some gear pumps can be quite noisy,
compared to other types, but modern gear pumps are highly reliable and much quieter than older
models. This is in part due to designs incorporating split gears, helical gear teeth and higher
precision/quality tooth profiles that mesh and unmesh more smoothly, reducing pressure ripple
and related detrimental problems. Another positive attribute of the gear pump, is that catastrophic
breakdown is a lot less common than in most other types of hydraulic pumps. This is because the
gears gradually wear down the housing and/or main bushings, reducing the volumetric efficiency
of the pump gradually until it is all but useless. This often happens long before wear causes the
unit to seize or break down.
Rotary vane pumps
Rotary vane pumps (fixed and simple adjustable displacement) have higher efficiencies than gear
pumps, but are also used for mid pressures up to 180 bar (18,000 kPa) in general. Modern units
can exceed 300 bar (30,000 kPa) in continuous operation, although vane pumps are not regarded
as "high pressure" components. Some types of vane pumps can change the centre of the vane
body, so that a simple adjustable pump is obtained. These adjustable vane pumps are in general

constant pressure or constant power pumps: the displacement is increased until the required
pressure or power is reached and subsequently the displacement or swept volume is decreased
until an equilibrium is reached. A critical element in vane pump design is how the vanes are
pushed into contact with the pump housing, and how the vane tips are machined at this very
point. Several type of "lip" designs are used, and the main objective is to provide a tight seal
between the inside of the housing and the vane, and at the same time to minimize wear and
metal-to-metal contact. Forcing the vane out of the rotating centre and towards the pump housing
is accomplished using spring-loaded vanes, or more traditionally, vanes loaded
hydrodynamically (via the pressurized system fluid).
Screw pumps
Screw pumps (fixed displacement) consist of two Archimedes' screws that intermesh and are
enclosed within the same chamber. These pumps are used for high flows at relatively low
pressure (max 100 bars (10,000 kPa)).[clarification needed] They were used on board ships where a
constant pressure hydraulic system extended through the whole ship, especially to control ball
valves[clarification needed] but also to help drive the steering gear and other systems. The advantage of
the screw pumps is the low sound level of these pumps; however, the efficiency is not high.
The major problem of screw pumps is that the hydraulic reaction force is transmitted in a
direction that's axially opposed to the direction of the flow.
There are two ways to overcome this problem:
(1) put a thrust bearing beneath each rotor;
(2) create a hydraulic balance by directing a hydraulic force to a piston under the rotor.
Types of screw pumps:
(1) single end
(2) double end
(3) single rotor
(4) multi rotor timed
(5) multi rotor untimed.
Bent axis pumps
Bent axis pumps, axial piston pumps and motors using the bent axis principle, fixed or adjustable
displacement, exists in two different basic designs. The Thoma-principle (engineer Hans Thoma,
Germany, patent 1935) with max 25 degrees angle and the Wahlmark-principle (Gunnar Axel
Wahlmark, patent 1960) with spherical-shaped pistons in one piece with the piston rod, piston
rings, and maximum 40 degrees between the driveshaft centreline and pistons (Volvo Hydraulics
Co.). These have the best efficiency of all pumps. Although in general the largest displacements
are approximately one litre per revolution, if necessary a two-liter swept volume pump can be
built. Often variable-displacement pumps are used, so that the oil flow can be adjusted carefully.

These pumps can in general work with a working pressure of up to 350420 bars in continuous
work.
In-line Axial piston pumps, swashplate principle
Axial piston pumps using the swashplate principle (fixed and adjustable displacement) have a
quality that is almost the same as the bent axis model. They have the advantage of being more
compact in design and also allow use of "through-drive" series mounted auxiliary rotating
equipment, based on their in-line design. The pumps are easier and more economical to
manufacture; the disadvantage is that they are more sensitive to oil contamination. The axial
piston pump is likely the most widely used variable displacement type, being found in everything
from heavy industrial to mobile applications. By using different compensation techniques, the
variable displacement type of these pumps can continuously alter fluid discharge per revolution
and system pressure based on load requirements, maximum pressure cut-off settings,
horsepower/ratio control, and even fully electroproportional systems, requiring no other input
than electrical signals. This makes them potentially hugely power saving compared to other
constant flow pumps in systems where prime mover/diesel/electric motor rotational speed is
constant and required fluid flow is non-constant.
Radial piston pumps
Radial piston pumps are used especially for high pressure and relatively small flows. Pressures
of up to 650 bar are normal. In fact variable displacement is possible. The pump is designed in
such a way that the plungers are connected to a floating ring. This floating ring can be moved
horizontally by a control lever & thus causes an eccentricity in the centre of rotation of the
plungers. The amount of eccentricity can be controlled to vary the discharge. The suction &
discharge can be totally reversed seamlessly by shifting the eccentricity to the opposite side.
Hence both quantity & direction can be varied in a radial piston pump, just as in the Swash plate
pump.
Peristaltic pumps
Peristaltic pumps are not generally used for high pressures.

Pumps for open and closed systems

Most pumps are working in open systems. The pump draws oil from a reservoir at atmospheric
pressure. It is very important that there is no cavitation at the suction side of the pump. For this
reason the connection of the suction side of the pump is larger in diameter than the connection of
the pressure side. In case of the use of multi-pump assemblies, the suction connection of the
pump is often combined. It is preferred to have free flow to the pump (pressure at inlet of pump
at least 0.8 bars). The body of the pump is often in open connection with the suction side of the
pump.In case of a closed system, both sides of the pump can be at high pressure. The reservoir is
often pressurized with 6-20 bars boost pressure.

Multi pump assembly

In a hydraulic installation, one pump can serve several cylinders and motors. However, in that
case a constant pressure system is required and the system always needs full power. It is more
economic to give each cylinder and motor its own pump. In that case, multi-pump assemblies
can be used. Gear pumps are often supplied as multi-pumps. The different chambers (sometimes
of different sizes) are mounted in one body or built together. Vane pumps and gerotor pumps too
are often available as multi-pumps. Screw pumps can be combined with gear or vane pumps.
Axial piston swashplate pumps can be combined with a second pump, or with one or more gear
pumps or vane pumps (the gear or vane pumps often serving as flush pumps for cooling larger
units). Axial plunger pumps of the bent-axis design cannot be combined with other pumps.