Pumps My Notes and Calculations

CHAPTER 2

Pumps
Introduction
Although various types of hydraulic pumps exist, the sole purpose of pumps is to provide flow for the
hydraulic system. In this section, you will learn more about the three basic types of hydraulic pumps:
gear pumps, vane pumps, and piston pumps. It is important to understand the differences and
similarities between these pumps, their fluid displacement capabilities, and their proper application
in a hydraulic system.

Gear Pump
Pumps are fluid power components that transform
mechanical energy, transmitted by a prime mover,
into fluid power energy. Gear pumps are compact,
relatively inexpensive, and have few moving parts.
External gear pumps consist of two gears, usually
equal in size, that mesh with each other inside a
housing. The driving gear is an extension of the
drive shaft. As it rotates, it drives the second gear. As
both gears rotate, fluid is drawn in through the inlet.
This fluid is trapped between the housing and the
rotating teeth of the gears where it travels around
the housing and is pushed through the outlet port.
The pump creates flow at a given pressure, which
transfers energy from the mechanical input source to
Figure 2.1 –a gear pump
a fluid power actuator.

Unbalanced Vane Pump

The rotating portion of the pump, or rotor,
is positioned off center of the cam ring, or
housing. The rotor is connected to a prime
mover by means of a shaft. As the rotor is
turned, the vanes are thrown out by
centrifugal force and contact the ring,
or housing, forming a positive seal.

Fluid enters the pump and fills the large

volume area formed by the offset rotor. As
the vanes push the fluid around the cam,
the volume decreases, and the fluid is
Figure 2.2 –an unbalanced vane pump pushed out of the outlet port.

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Pumps My Notes and Calculations

Balanced Vane Pump

In the unbalanced vane pump, which has
been previously illustrated, one half of the
pumping mechanism is at less than
atmospheric pressure. The other half is
subjected to full system pressure. This results
in side loading the shaft while under
high pressure conditions. To compensate for
this, the ring in a balanced vane pump is
changed from circular to cam-shaped. With
this arrangement, the two pressure quadrants
oppose each other. Two ports intake fluid and
two ports pump fluid out. The two intake
ports and the two outlet ports are connected
inside the housing. Because they are on oppo-
site sides of the housing, excessive force or
pressure buildup on one side is canceled out
by equal but opposite forces on the other side. Figure 2.3 –a balanced vane pump
With the forces acting on the shaft balanced, the shaft side
load is eliminated.

Flow is created in the same manner as was illustrated in the unbalanced vane pump. The only difference is
that there are two discharge and two suction cavities rather than one. It is notable that constant
volume, positive displacement vane pumps used in industrial systems are generally of the balanced design.

Piston Pump
Axial piston pumps convert rotary
motion of an input shaft to an axial
reciprocating motion, occurring at
the pistons. This is accomplished by
a swashplate that is either fixed or
variable in its degree of angle. As
the piston barrel assembly rotates,
the pistons rotate around the shaft
with the piston slippers in contact
with, and sliding along, the
swashplate surface. With the
swashplate vertical, no displacement
occurs because there is no
reciprocating motion. As the
Figure 2.4 –a piston pump
swashplate increases in angle, the
pistons move in and out of the barrel as it follows the angle of the swashplate surface. During one half
of the circle of rotation, the piston moves out of the cylinder barrel and generates an increasing volume.
In the other half of the rotation the piston moves into the cylinder barrel and generates a decreasing
volume. This reciprocating motion draws fluid in and pumps it out.

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Pumps My Notes and Calculations

DID YOU KNOW?

Fluid is pushed or drawn into a pump.

Pumps do not pump pressure; their purpose is to create flow.

(Pressure is a result of resistance to flow.)

speed (rpm) x disp (in3/rev)

To determine the required pump capacity: gpm =
231

Fixed vs. Variable

There are two types of positive displacement
hydraulic pumps: a fixed pump that produces a
fixed flow (gpm) based on the rpm of the prime
mover or electric motor, and a variable pump that
can vary its rate of flow (gpm) while the input
speed (rpm) remains constant. Although
displacement is typically measured in volume
displaced per revolution, output is measured
in gpm.

In Figure 2 . 5, a motor turning at 1200 rpm is

driving a fixed displacement gear pump producing Figure 2.5 –a hydraulic system with
5 gpm flow. The flow (gpm) can be changed if the a gear pump and output device
speed (rpm) of the motor changes. When a variable displacement pump is used in the system, the flow
(gpm) can be varied in two ways. As with fixed displacement pumps, the flow (gpm) will be changed if
the speed (rpm) of the motor is changed. The
second way is to vary the displacement of the
pump. For example, the displacement of an axial
piston pump is determined by the distance the
pistons are pulled in and pushed out of the
cylinder barrel.

Since the swashplate angle controls this distance

in an axial piston pump, we need only to change
the angle of the swashplate to alter the piston
stroke and pump volume. Several means of
varying the swashplate angles are used. They may
Figure 2.6 –a hydraulic system with a variable include hand levers, mechanical stops, or more
displacement pump and output device
sophisticated, hydraulically positioned devices. If
the pump produces 5-gpm flow with 1200 rpms and maximum displacement, the flow (gpm) can be
varied by moving the swashplate in the upright position or de-stroking the pump. This will vary the
flow from 0 – 5 gpm. The gallon per minute discharge of fixed displacement pumps can only be
changed by increasing or decreasing the speed of the electric motor.

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Pumps Chapter 2

Pressure Compensated
Variable volume pumps can also be pressure compensated. A pressure compensated piston pump QUESTIONS
de-strokes, or moves to zero output, at a predetermined pressure. This is accomplished by hydraulically
positioning the pumping chambers to zero output while maintaining compensator pressure at the outlet Gear Pumps
of the pump. Figure 2.7 illustrates a pressure compensated piston pump. It is helpful to understand the
functionality of a piston pump. 1. Gear pump displacement increases with increased input rpm.
As the pistons rotate around a. True
the shaft and follow the angle b. False
of the swashplate, they are
pumping fluid out the outlet, 2. Gear pumps _____.
which provides pressure to a. trap fluid between the teeth and the housing
move a component such as a b. have many moving parts
cylinder. When the cylinder c. are used to control pressure control valves
reaches the end of its stroke,
pressure rises at the outlet of Vane Pumps
the pump as the fluid’s flow
path is blocked. 3. Vane pumps _____.
a. may be balanced or unbalanced
This pressure forces the b. are not positive displacement
compensating spool up, c. use a rotor for pumping
allowing the pressurized
fluid to energize the 4. A balanced vane pump uses an elliptical cam ring for opposing pressure quadrants.
Figure 2.7 –a pressure compensated piston pump
de-stroking piston and push a. True
against the swashplate, forcing it to a vertical position. With the swashplate vertical, the pump is now b. False
de-stroked and the pressure at the outlet board is maintained at a constant level. A very slight amount of
flow is produced to maintain de-stroke pressure. This flow is bypassed into the case and carried back to 5. Which of the following is not part of a vane pump?
the reservoir through the pump case drain outlet. a. Vane
b. Rotor
Of the three types of hydraulic pumps discussed (gear, vane, and axial piston), only the vane and piston c. Cam Ring
may be pressure compensated. d. Barrel

6. Increasing the angle of the swashplate in a piston pump _____.

a. increases the piston’s displacement
SUMMARY b. allows the pump to rotate faster
c. increases the pump’s outlet pressure
A pump’s purpose is to provide flow for the hydraulic system. Pumps are fluid power components that
transform mechanical energy, transmitted by a prime mover, into fluid power energy. 7. Axial piston pumps utilize a rotating swashplate.
External gear pumps consist of two gears, usually equal in size, that mesh with each other inside a housing. a. True
b. False
In the unbalanced vane pump, one half of the pumping mechanism is at less than atmospheric pressure.

The balanced vane pump has two pressure quadrants which cancel each other out because they are on
opposing sides of a cam-shaped cylinder.

Axial piston pumps convert rotary motion of an input shaft to an axial reciprocating motion occurring
at the pistons.

A pressure compensated piston pump de-strokes, or moves to zero output, at a predetermined pressure.

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Pumps Final Notes –Chapter 2

Fixed vs. Variable

8. Gear pumps _____.

a. may be variable
b. are usually not used in hydraulics
c. change displacement with changes in rpm
d. give constant output with constant rpm

9. Variable displacement piston pumps change the output flow by _____.

a. changing either the pump’s rpm and/or swashplate angle
b. only changing the swashplate angle
c. only changing the pump’s rpm
d. None of the above.

10. Variable volume pumps may also be pressure compensated.

a. True
b. False

11. Axial piston pumps _____.

a. increase flow by increasing the swashplate angle
b. decrease flow by increasing the swashplate angle
c. are at full displacement when the rotating group is turning

Pressure Compensated

12. When an axial piston pump is de-stroked or fully compensating, _____.

a. the swashplate is at a 19∞ angle
b. the swashplate is at a 0∞ angle
c. there is no pressure
d. there is maximum flow

13. A pressure compensated axial pump will de-stroke when flow is blocked.
a. True
b. False

14. When a pressure compensated piston pump de-strokes, it moves to zero output at a
predetermined pressure
a. True
b. False

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