Hydraulic Power

Assist
Definition

Hydraulic power assist means that a

hydraulic system is incorporated with
mechanical steering
Full Time Part Time Power
Steering
Part Time
The force of the center springs of the valve
gives the driver the feel of the road at the
steering wheel.

Full Time
The valve is installed without centering
springs. Any movement of the steering
wheel results in hydraulic boost being
applied.

(Vickers, 1967)
Hydro-mechanical Power
Steering (HMPS)
Hydro-mechanical power steering was
the first type to be used on agricultural
tractors in the early 1950s.
Suitable for small to medium tractors
where power steering can be an option
to manual steering.
Once the size of the tractor becomes too
big for manual steering, hydro-
mechanical steering is usually not cost
effective.
(Wittren, 1975)
Hydro-mechanical Power
Steering
There are many different types of hydro-
mechanical power steering, but they all
can be grouped into four basic groups.
Steering linkage mounted integral valve and
actuator
Steering wheel mounted control valve,
linkage mounted actuator
Separate control valve and actuator mounted
in best position
Integral valve and actuator mounted at
steering wheel
 HMPS Type 1
The integral valve and actuator
coupled to steering linkage.

Easiest to adapt
to an existing
mechanical
steering layout.

Only two hoses

are needed.

(Wittren, 1975)
 HMPS Type 2
Steering column mounted control
Creates a highly valve with separate, remote actuator
congested area with coupled to a linkage member.
all of the hoses.
Four Hoses are
needed: supply,
return and a pair to
the actuator.
Creates noise, heat
and vibration

(Wittren, 1975)
 HMPS Type 3
Control Valve and actuator separately
mounted in the steering linkage.

Keeps the area around

the steering wheel from
becoming too
congested.
Four hoses are
required.

(Wittren, 1975)
 HMPS Type 4
The control valve and the actuator are
mounted on the steering column, the
Most sophisticated actuator drives the pitman arm by rack
and pinion or by crank arm means.
design
Requires little or no
steering linkage
modification.
Requires larger
space envelope than
other types.

(Wittren, 1975)
Integral Linkage Power
System-hydraulic assist
Pitman arm operates
steering gear through
drag link (B)
Power cylinder thrust at
steering arm (C)
Boosters actuate left
wheel steering arm, right
wheel steered by cross
steering arm (D)
Only lines to booster are
pressure and tank
Frame absorbs shock
instead of steering gear,
easy to service

(Vickers, 1967)
Remote Linkage System

Steering valve is
remote mounted, not
with cylinder
This linkage system
allows for
mechanical steering

(Vickers, 1967)
Combined Integral Remote
System
Two cylinders
One cylinder has
integral linkage
Second cylinder is
operated by the
same valve
The steering valve
has an extra set of
ports for the
connection

(Vickers, 1967)
Remote Dual System

Two cylinders
operated by single
valve
Valve connects
pitman arm and left
cylinder
Common on rear
wheel steer

(Vickers, 1967)
Power Steering Circuits

General Circuit
Integral Steering Unit Circuit
Remote Linkage System Circuit

(Vickers, 1967)
General Circuit Components
Manual Steering Gear
Power Steering Pump
Power Cylinder
Valves
Relief
Flow Control
Steering
Filters
Oil
Air Breather
Oil Reservoir
Hydraulic Lines

(Vickers, 1967)
General Circuit

Manual Steering Gear

Transmits motion of the steering wheel to
the turning of the wheel.
Could be eliminated, but there are two
reasons for not doing so.
Hydraulic system failure.
The public is not ready for a 1 to 1 ratio
steering system.

(Vickers, 1967)
General Circuit

Power Steering Pump

Usually a vane-type pump or similar.
Driven by the engine.
Power Cylinder
Double-acting differential cylinder.
Steering response to left and right turns is
slightly different. Hardly noticeable.

(Vickers, 1967)
General Circuit

Valves
Relief Valve
Required to protect the pump.

Flow Control Valve

Helps maintain a constant flow.

Variations in engine speed would affect pump flow

without flow control valve.
Steering Valve
A four way valve that functions as a positioning
servo valve.
Most are open-center.

(Vickers, 1967)
 General Circuit

Filters
Oil Filter
Preferably installed in the
return line.
A 10-micron or smaller
filter is recommended.
Air Breather Filter
The breather or vent in
the reservoir.
A 3-micron filter is
recommended.

(Vickers, 1967)
General Circuit

Oil Reservoir
Must be large enough to hold more than all
of the oil for the system.
Should be capable of dissipating heat in
oil.
Hydraulic Lines
Flexible hoses due to the steering
components movements.

(Vickers, 1967)
Special Power Steering
Circuits
Integral Steering Unit
Circuit
A simple circuit with the
valve and cylinder
mounted together.

Remote Linkage System

Circuit
The valve and cylinder are
mounted separately.

(Vickers, 1967)
 Integral Steering Unit
S20 Steering Unit
Consists of a power cylinder
connected to a steering
valve.
Two external and internal
ports
The inlet port is connected
to the pressure line.
The outlet port is the tank
return.
The upper internal port
connects between the
coaxial tubes of the
cylinder to the cylinder rod
end.
The lower internal port
connects to the head end
of the cylinder.

(Vickers, 1967)
 Integral Steering Unit
View A
The valve is in neutral
position. The spool is
centered, and the oil from the
pump is directed back to the
tank
View B
The valve is in retract
position. The spool is
pushed to the left and the oil
is directed to the rod end of
the cylinder, thus moving the
steering unit to the left.
View C
The valve is in the extend
position. The spool is moved
to the right and the oil is
directed to the head end of
the cylinder. The steering
unit is moved to the right.

(Vickers, 1967)
Integral Steering Unit
Check Valve
Helps to avoid hydrostatic lock
and allow for manual steering
Relief Valve
Optional.
Can be incorporated if the flow
control and relief valve is not
used.
Ball Stud mounting
The control valve ball stud can
be mounted in any four
positions relative to the port
connections.

(Vickers, 1967)
Remote Linkage System

Auxiliary Side Ports

(Vickers, 1967)
 Remote Linkage System

Pitman Arm Stops

Helps to protect
against overheating.
Adjusted so that the
Pitman arm stops just
before the wheels
must stop.
Should be used with
any system that has a
separate steering
valve.

(Vickers, 1967)