Positive Displacement Pumps - Mobile Hydraulic Tips

5/2/2019 Positive Displacement Pumps|Mobile Hydraulic Tips
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What are positive-displacement

pumps?
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 BY PAUL HENEY — 1 COMMENT
Positive-displacement pumps, also called hydrostatic pumps, are used in uid power motion
control applications. They have a very small clearance between rotating and stationary parts.
These pumps deliver a speci c amount of uid to the system for each revolution. Positive-
displacement pumps can be further divided into two categories: Fixed- and variable-
displacement. Fixed-delivery pumps provide a single, speci c volume displacement per
revolution. In variable-displacement pumps, displacement per cycle can be varied from zero
to maximum volumetric capacity. Some of the more widely used types of positive-
displacement pumps are gear, piston, and vane types.
Gear pumps can be either internal or external styles. External gear pumps are one of the most
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types used in modern hydraulic systems. Gear pumps produce ow by using the teeth
https://www.mobilehydraulictips.com/what-are-hydraulic-pumps/ 1/12
of two meshing gears to move the uid. Their simple construction ensures limited purchase
costs and servicing. Gear pumps work under heavy operating conditions and transmit high
amounts of hydraulic power. They feature decent hydraulic, mechanical and volumetric
e ciency, compact dimensions, and low weight/power ratio. This balance of e ciency and
economy make external gear pumps a popular choice for auxiliary systems in a number of
di erent machines.
External gear pumps can be equipped with straight spur (the most common type), helical, or
herringbone gears. In operation, the drive gear and driven gear rotate, creating a partial
vacuum at the pump inlet (where gear teeth unmesh) that draws uid into gear teeth. Gear
teeth mesh at the outlet, forcing uid out of the pump.
Internal gear pumps contain one internal and one external gear. They pump uid in the same
manner as external spur gear pumps. In the basic design, the internal gear, which drives the
outer gear, has one tooth less than the outer gear. As they mesh, the teeth create sliding seal
points. Because their transition zone from low to high pressure (the area over the crescent) is
relatively long, internal gear pumps can o er lower noise levels than some other types of
pumps.
Gears are made of special steel and are often case hardened and quench hardened. Then
gears are ground and ne nished. Proper tooth pro le design and geometric proportions can
reduce pulsation and noise levels during pump operation.
Piston pumps supply high ows at high rpm. Two types of piston pumps, axial- and radial-
piston, are manufactured in both xed- and variable-displacement versions. Axial-piston
pumps contain one or more pistons that convert rotary shaft motion into axial reciprocating
motion. An angled cam (or wobble plate) rotates, causing pistons to reciprocate and take uid
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in as they move toward the thin part of the plate. Fluid is expelled as pistons approach the
thick end. In one version, the bent-axis design, both pistons and shaft rotate, making a wobble
plate unnecessary. Bent-axis pumps use the drive shaft to rotate pistons.
With the longer sealing paths along the piston walls, piston pump e ciencies tend to be
higher than other types of pumps. In addition, variable-displacement pumps can provide
savings by only providing the pumping necessary for the function, saving additional energy
and costs.
Radial-piston pumps ( xed-displacement) are used especially for high pressure and relatively
small ows. Pressures of up to 5000 psi are common. Variable-displacement is not possible,
but sometimes the pump is designed in such a way that the plungers can be switched o one
by one, so that a sort of variable-displacement pump is obtained.
Radial-piston pumps are characterized by a radial piston arrangement within a cylinder block.
As pistons reciprocate, they convert rotary shaft motion into radial motion. One version has
cylindrical pistons, while another uses ball-shaped pistons. Another classi cation refers to
porting: check-valve radial-piston pumps use a rotating cam to reciprocate pistons; pintle-
valve pumps have a rotating cylinder block, and piston heads contact an eccentric stationary
reaction ring.
Rotary vane pumps ( xed and simple adjustable displacement) generally have higher
e ciencies and lower noise levels than gear pumps. They can be used for mid pressures of
2500 psi and modern units can exceed 4500 psi in continuous operation.
Some types of vane pumps can change the center 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 equilibrium
is reached.
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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 center and towards the pump housing is accomplished
using spring-loaded vanes, or more traditionally, vanes loaded hydrodynamically (via the
pressurized system uid).
Considerations when selecting a hydraulic pump

1. Pressure
2. Angle
3. Related torque
4. Weight
5. Mounting con guration
FILED UNDER: ENGINEERING BASICS
Comments
Nathan Johnson says

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March 11, 2016 at 5:54 pm
Thank you for explaining how hydraulic pumps work. I have been trying to get a better
understanding of this because of a project that I am working on. Do you know what kind of
material the exterior of a pump is typically made of? Thanks for the info!
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Search this website

HYDRAULICS BLOG INDUSTRY NEWS ENGINEERING BASICS COMPONENTS HYDRAULIC FLUIDS

SUPPLIERS FIND A DISTRIBUTOR

What are positive-displacement

Considerations when selecting a hydraulic pump

FILED UNDER: ENGINEERING BASICS

Nathan Johnson says

March 11, 2016 at 5:54 pm

I'm not a robot

Search this website

MOBILE HYDRAULIC DESIGN GUIDE

FLUID POWER WORLD DIGITAL EDITIONS

Browse the most current

VIEW LATEST ISSUE SUBSCRIBE

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Linde Hydraulics names Steg…

Notes from bauma: 12 cool things on display at the

Notes from bauma: 12 cool thi…

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