Theoretical and Experimental Research on the Yoke of

the Axial Piston Pumps

Vasiliu Nicolae, P.E., Ph.D., Professor
University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Fluid Power Department
Rosu Cristian Adrian, M.E., Ph.D., Research Engineer
University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Fluid Power Department
Stefan Sorohan, M.E., Ph.D., Associated Professor
University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Materials Strength Department
Sandu Marin, M.E., Ph.D., Professor
University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Materials Strength Department

Abstract
The paper contains theoretical and experimental researches on the assembly made by the yoke and the
inclined disk that equip a swashplate axial piston machine. The theoretical studies concern the stress and
deflection state of the assembly due to the carrying pressure of the hydrostatic bearings, made by the
slippers and the inclined disk. The simulations were made using the ANSYS program for the experimental
state of loads, created especially to be implemented on an experimental test. To validate the finite element
models of the assembly, a testing rig has been designed and built. The theoretical and experimental results
are in good agreement and furthermore, simulations could be done for the real state of loading.

Introduction
Because of their major advantages, the hydraulic transmissions have imposed themselves over the other
types of transmissions and they were adopted in all industrial branches.
The main components of a hydraulic transmission are the hydraulic machines. For the transmissions that
equip mobile platforms, the worldwide trend is to use the swashplate axial piston pumps (fig. 1). Even if
this kind of displacement machines are manufactured since 1927 [13], today researchers from all over the
world are continuing to study the swashplate axial piston pumps to rise the operating pressure and to use
ecological fluids, like pure water.
 Figure 1 - Swashplate axial piston pump

1- front lid; 2 slipper; 3 slipper pad; 4 cylinder block; 5 - port plate housing; 6
bearing; 7 swashplate; 8 - swashplate housing; 9 pump casing; 10 port plate; 11
spring; 12 control fork; 13 shaft.

A representative domain for the high development of the axial piston pumps manufacturing is the
aeronautics. In this industrial branch, light hydraulic transmissions that operate in very safe conditions are
required.
To make lighter hydraulic machines, one must increase the running pressure or reduce the mass of the
mechanical components. The mass reduction must be done according to an optimal design of the machines
geometry, taking into account the static and dynamic stress and deflection states of the mechanical
components. Reducing the mass has among limiting criteria the stiffness that would reduce the maximum
load.
The pressure increase implies other dangerous phenomena like material damage (failure), deflections (that
affect the operating gaps between components in motion), and dry friction. To obtain a successfully
operating machine, the designers must bear in mind the structures strength and stiffness, the lubrication
quality between surfaces in contact, and the pressure equilibrium on the opposite walls of the same
chamber.
In this paper the authors present a method to obtain the proper material and the optimal geometry for a
yoke. For this purpose, a parametrical model has been built and several simulations have been performed.

The tested component

To depict the method, the geometry of the yoke (fig 2) has been taken from a SPV 22 axial piston pump,
made by ZTS Company. This mechanical component is a support for the inclined disk. The forces
generated by the operating pressure is transmitted to the inclined disk by the piston and slipper.
Furthermore the yoke takes all these loads and transmits them to the case by two symmetrical bearings. The
angle of the inclined disk could be controlled by a servomechanism that acts on the yoke.
 Figure 2 - The tested yoke

The yoke must be very stiff because a small deflection on the inclined disk area could have a bad influence
on the hydrostatic bearing operation. So when we design a yoke we must bear in mind to choose a material
that is not to elastic and can take all the loads without failing.
The simulations have been made using the ANSYS 5.5 program. First, a static simulation with certain
loading conditions was made, then we designed and built a test rig and validate the finite element method
computations by experimental measuring. To conclude the research the real loading state of the yoke was
then simulated.

The finite element model

To carry on the simulations of the yoke behavior we choose the finite element method because is more
specific to the structure research. Because the geometry is very complex and we intend to study a large
range of sizes for the chosen pump, we have developed a parametrical model of the yoke using the
Autodesk Mechanical Desktop 5 software. The model was then imported into the ANSYS program and
final arrangements of its geometry were made.
To mesh the model we have chosen the SOLID 45 elements that are typical for this kind of simulation. The
area we are interested to research is located near to the hole for the barrel driven shaft. In this area we
developed a controlled finite element mesh and we used only bricks. To avoid excesive solution time the
rest of the yoke was meshed using bricks, pyramids, and tetrahedrons (fig. 3).
 Figure 3 - The finite element model

The steady state analysis of the yoke in certain loading

condition
Before simulating the real loading state of the yoke we must validate the finite element model. So a
simulation set was performed taking into account a particular loading type. For this simulation we
considered that the axial force is cast evenly on all the slippers surfaces. This loading case corresponds to
the motor operating case of the displacement machine when the flow valve is partialy opened and all the
pistons are under pressure. To simulate this kind of load on a test rig, we intend to use a hydraulic cylinder.
The load force values correspond to the pressure force developed on the hydraulic cylinder for 20, 40, 60
and 80 bars. Because of the linearity of the computation we present the results only for the 80 bar pressure
(figs 4, 5 and 6).

Figure 4 - The stress diagram [N/mm2] on the 1st direction for 80 bar
 Figure 5 - The stress diagram [N/mm2] on the 2nd direction for 80 bar

Figure 6 - The equivalent (Von Mises) stress diagram for 80 bar [N/mm2]

The experimental measurements

The experimental rig

The designed rig is shown in figures 7 and 8. The rig structure is composed by two flanges (2 and 11), 4
strength bars (3), a flange (5) for axial constrain of the hydraulic cylinder (4), a mechanical adapter needed
to transmit the pressure force from the motor to the cylinder block, and some components taken from the
SPV 22 pump: the cylinder block (7), the yoke (10), the slippers and pistons (12). To press the pistons on
the swashplate a bored plate (9) has been attached.
 Figure 7 - The experimental rig

Figure 8 - The layout of the rig

1 nut; 2 lower flange; 3 strength bar; 4 hydraulic cylinder; 5 axial constraining

flange; 6 mechanical adaptor; 7 cylinders block; 8 pump case; 9 bored flange; 10
yoke; 11 upper flange
The pressure from the hydraulic cylinder has been supplied from a hydraulic pressure source. The
connection between pressure source and hydraulic cylinder has been made by an electrohydralic flow
valve.
To measure the yoke strain state we have used resistive transducers placed on the back of the yoke (fig. 9).
The electrical information has been amplified and processed using Hottinger equipments. To avoid the
errors introduced by temperature difference an identical resistive transducer has been placed on the rig.

Figure 9 - The resistive transducers placement

The experimental measurements

The experimental measurements have been done within the Fluid Power Control Laboratory from the
University "Politehnica" of Bucharest.
To measure the strain state of the yoke, we took from the SPV 22 pump the assembly consisting of case,
bearings, yoke, inclined disk, slippers, pistons, and cylinders block. During the testing measurements an
axial force has been applied on the cylinder block. The load has been transmitted by the pistons, the
slippers, and the mechanical adaptors to the inclined disk that relays on the yoke. The yoke is connected to
the case by two radial-axial bearings.
During testing period six measurement sets have been performed. The pressure in the hydraulic motor has
been set to the 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 bar. To measure the deflections of the yoke four-tensometric rosettes have
been used. A rosette contains three transducers described by the letters a,b,c (figure 10). Each rosette is
marked with a number between 1 and 4. Their location is indicated in fig. 11.

Figure 10 - Tensometric rosette and the main directions

 Figure 11 - The tensometric rosette positions

Starting from the measured strain, the principal directions and the principal stresses can be computed using
the following relations [8].
For a measurement point:

a + b + c 2
1, 2 = ( a b )2 + ( b c )2 + ( c a )2
3 3

E a + b + c 2
1, 2 =

( a b )2 + ( b c )2 + ( c a )2

3 1 1+

1 3 ( b c ) a + b + c
= arctan , med =
2 2 a b c 3

where: a ,b , c - measurement strain on each transducer of one rosette;

1,2 - the principal stresses;

1,2 - the principal directions;

- the Poisson ratio;

E - the Young modulus.

If a > med , then = 1 . If a < med , then = 2 . If a = med , then = 45 o .

The following relation gives the equivalent stress, computed with the Von Mises criteria:

eq = 12 + 22 1 2

The next table contains the computed values of the main directions and the stresses on these directions for
the four measurements points indicated in fig. 11.

Pressure Measurement 2 1 2 ech

 [bar] point [grd] [N/mm2] [N/mm2] [N/mm2]
20 1 3,4 18,76 3,04 17,44
2 22,4 32,27 0,92 31,82
3 3,74 18,86 -4,76 21,64
4 -1,74 32,37 -3,97 34,52
40 1 4,18 37,1 6,3 34,39
2 24,03 60,75 -0,55 61
3 3 36,31 -9,22 -41,69
4 -1,49 60,67 -7,47 64,73
60 1 4,09 52,65 8,15 49,09
2 24,86 82,85 -2,45 83,5
3 1,7 51,17 -13,07 58,81
4 -1,92 104,22 3,84 102,35
80 1 3,26 71,64 10,95 66,8
2 25,16 106,14 -3,74 108
3 0,79 65,63 -18,13 76,3
4 -2,37 113,15 -13,16 120,3

Analysis Results & Discussion

The results obtained by experimental measurements are in good agreement with the theoretical ones
obtained by numerical simulation. So the conclusion is that the finite element model is equivalent with the
real one. The measured data obtained for the no 4 rosette (fig. 11) and the theoretical data obtained by finite
element simulation (figs 4, 5, and 6) are represented in the table below.

Pressure 1 [N/mm2] 1 [N/mm2] 2 [N/mm2] 2 [N/mm2] eq [N/mm2] eq [N/mm2]

[bar] experimental theoretic experimental theoretic experimental theoretic

20 32,37 24...30 -3,97 -6...-1 34,52 23...28

40 60,67 49...61 -7,47 -12...-3 64,73 47...56

60 84,62 73...91 -10,029 -19...-5 90,06 71...84

80 113,15 98...123 -13,16 -25...-6 120,3 94...113

We mention that the material properties taken into account in both the theoretical and experimental data
processing correspond to a regular steel, having Young Modulus = 21*104 N/mm2 and Poisson Ratio = 0,3.
The steady state analysis of the yoke in real loading conditions
Next we studied the steady state stresses and displacements of the yoke due to the hydrostatic pressure
applied on the inclined disk. The pressure forces are transmitted to the inclined disk by pistons and slippers.
The inclined disk relies on the yoke, so the force is transmitted to the machine casing by the bearings that
allow the rotary motion of the yoke against casing.
For simulations we have used the same finite element model presented above. Because the area we are
interested in is located in the middle of the yoke, the bearing surfaces can be considered as being
completely embeded, and the swashplate and the yoke are the same body. On the slippery surface of the
swashplate, a pressure was applied focused on small area that represent the slipper prints. To load the yoke,
we have considered that only five pistons from nine are active and they are symmetrically disposed against
the rotary axis of the yoke (fig. 12).

Figure 12 - The yoke analysis in operating conditions

In figure 13 is shown the total displacements diagram of the yoke relative to the fixed boundary. The
maximum value of the displacement is found on the area around the hole for the barrel driving shaft, and
has the same size with the carrying film thickness of the hydrostatic bearing.
 Figure 13 - The total displacement diagram

In figure 14 and 15 are shown the von Mises stress diagrams. The figure 14 shows the maximum value of
the stress occurs on the embeded area. This value is not real because the embed does not exist. Instead of an
embed in this area exists a bearing that has a certain stiffness. But we are not interested to research the
connection between the yoke and the case. Because the area we are interested to research is far from the
boundary, we aproximated this conection as embed. If the interested area is visualized the stress values will
considerable decrease (figure 15).

Figure 14 - The equivalent stresses diagram (von Mises) [N/mm2]

 Figure 15 - The equivalent stresses diagram around the applied loads area [N/mm2]

Conclusion
In this paper the authors have proposed a method for designing a yoke. To exemplify the method, a real
model has been studied in both theoretical and experimental way. The studied mechanical part has been
taken from a ZTS swashplate pump. This type of pump is currently studied all over the world because of its
technical benefits in most of the industrial applications. Because of its complex geometry the pump yoke
cannot be studied with classical material strength method. Thus a numerical method should be chosen and
we have used the finite elements method because this method takes successfully into account the stress
concentrators.
To model such complex geometry we have used the Autodesk Mechanical Desktop software and then we
have exported the model in the ANSYS CAD module. Next a simplifying work has been performed in
order to obtain an equivalent model. This model has been meshed very carefully in the area we are
interested to keep under surveillance (the area where the slippers slide on the inclined disk) and then
structural analysis was performed.
The finite element analysis was made for two loading situations: the one that model the real operating case
and the one that expresses the experimental loading case. The experimental loading case models a peculiar
motor operation mode of this type of displacement machine.
To measure the stress state of the yoke a testing rig has been designed and built that simulates the motor
operating situation of the displacement machine. The data acquisition has been performed using Hottinger
equipment.
Finally we have compared the both theoretical and experimental results and we have found them in good
agreement. This increased the trust level in the finite element model and further simulations could be
developed on it with ANSYS.

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