Contents

Classification of Pumps ................................................................................................................................. 2

A. Piston type .................................................................................................................................... 2
1. Axial piston pump ............................................................................................................................. 3
1.1. Bent Axis Axial Piston Pumps .................................................................................................... 3
1.2. Swash Plate Pumps with Axial Pistons ...................................................................................... 4
1.3. Swash Plate Pumps with Inclined Pistons ................................................................................. 5
1.4. Axial Piston Pumps with Rotating Swash .................................................................................. 6
2. Radial piston pump ........................................................................................................................... 6
2.1. Radial Piston Pumps with Eccentric Cam Ring .......................................................................... 6
2.2. Radial Piston Pumps with Eccentric Shafts ............................................................................... 7
2.3. Radial Piston Pumps of Crank Type........................................................................................... 8
B. Gear Pumps ....................................................................................................................................... 8
1. External Gear Pumps..................................................................................................................... 8
2. Internal Gear Pumps ................................................................................................................... 13
3. Gerotor Pumps ............................................................................................................................ 14
4. Screw Pumps ............................................................................................................................... 15
C. Vane Pumps .................................................................................................................................... 15
Classification of Pumps

A. Piston type
Works on the principle of reciprocating piston which draw fluid when it retract and discharge when
extend. There are two types:

a. Axial piston pump: which have parallel axis with the cylinder block axis. Further classified as bent axis
and swash plate axial piston types
b. Radial piston pumps: which have pistons arranged in a radial manner in the cylinder block
 1. Axial piston pump
1.1. Bent Axis Axial Piston Pumps
Construction and Operation

As the drive shaft is rotated, the cylinder block also rotates. The cylinder block slides on the port plate,
which includes two kidney-shaped control openings (see Fig). The driving shaft rotates around a horizontal
axis while the axis of rotation of the cylinder block is inclined by an angle, α. The cylinder block inclination
forces the pistons, which rotate with the cylinder block, to reciprocate with respect to this cylinder block.
Therefore, each of the pistons performs a reciprocating motion between its upper and lower dead points.
The piston movement from the lower dead point to the upper dead point produces a suction stroke. The
fluid is sucked via the control opening on the suction side of the port plate into the cylinder block bore.
As the drive shaft is further rotated and the piston moves from the upper dead point to the lower dead
point, the fluid is displaced out through the other control opening (pressure side). During the delivery
stroke, the driving shaft acts on the disk by the torque needed to produce the forces that drive the pistons
against the load pressure.

The pump geometric volume is given by the following expression:

Depending on the inclination angle, the pistons move within the cylinder bores when the shaft rotates.
Some important features

2.1. Swash Plate Pumps with Axial Pistons

The drive shaft rotates and drives the cylinder block. Both the driving shaft and the cylinder block have
the same axis of rotation. The cylinder block and its pistons, rotate with the drive shaft. Each of the pistons
is attached to a slipper pad. The pistons and their slipper pads are inserted in the holes of the retaining
plate. Therefore, the retaining plate rotates with the pistons and the cylinder block. It is guided to rotate
in a plane parallel to the swash plate by a fixed guide. The trajectory of the slipper pad is determined by
the swash plate and the retaining plate. During rotation, each piston performs a reciprocating motion.
During this process, a volume of fluid, corresponding to the piston area and stroke, is sucked or delivered
via both control openings in the port plate.

The cylinder block is pushed against the port plate by means of a spring, which minimizes the leakage
through the clearance separating them at the beginning of the pump operation. When the pressure builds
up, it acts on the cylinder block with a tightening force given by {0.25 π (d2− d h 2) P}. This force acts to the
right, against the repulsion force due to the pressure distribution in the clearance between the cylinder
block and the port plate. The resultant force acts to reduce this clearance and minimize the leakage
through it. The pump geometric volume is given by the expression.

Where α =Swash plate inclination angle, rad.

The pistons rotate with the cylinder block, supported by the swash plate. The swash plate angle
determines the piston stroke. Some important features

2.2. Swash Plate Pumps with Inclined Pistons

The swash plate pump with inclined pistons, also called a semi-axial piston pump, is produced with
cylinder holes inclined to its axis (see Fig). In this case, the pistons reciprocate in a direction inclined to
the axis of rotation by an angle, ϕ. The swash plate also inclines by an angle, α. This design increases the
piston stroke and the pump geometric volume. In addition, the centrifugal force acting on the pistons has
a component in the direction of the pistons’ axis, Fx, which assists the suction stroke. The following
expressions for the piston stroke and the pump geometric volume are systematically deduced.

Some important features

 2.3. Axial Piston Pumps with Rotating Swash

Plate-Wobble Plate In axial piston pumps with rotating swash plates (see Fig), the swash plate is rotated
by the driving shaft. The cylinder block is fixed. The pistons are displaced inwards by the rotating swash
plate, while the piston displacement in the opposite direction is insured by a spring. During the pump
operation, the pumping chamber is connected with the inlet and exit lines through the check valves. The
inlet line check valves should be of low cracking pressure to avoid pump cavitation. The pump
displacement is calculated by

Where α =Swash plate inclination angle, rad.

c. Radial piston pump

Radial piston pumps are usually used in applications requiring high pressures, above 400 bar. In presses,
for example, operating pressures are required to be up to 700 bar.

3.1. Radial Piston Pumps with Eccentric Cam Ring

The pistons are arranged radially in the cylinder block. They are held in contact with the inner surface of
a cam ring by means of a retainer ring and slipper pads. The pistons and slipper pads are connected to
each other by means of ball-and-socket joints. The stroke of pistons and consequently the pump
geometric volume are controlled by adjusting the eccentricity of the cam ring (stroke ring) by means of
two control pistons. The cylinder block is rotated by the driving shaft. During the suction stroke, the
pistons’ motion is governed by the retainer ring, while during the delivery stroke the pistons are displaced
by the cam ring. The piston stroke, h, is twice the eccentricity, e. The pump geometric volume is given by

Where: e =Eccentricity, m

3.2. Radial Piston Pumps with Eccentric Shafts

The piston is at the upper dead point and the volume of the pumping chamber is minimum. The suction
valve and exit valve are closed. As the shaft rotates, the piston moves towards the axis of the cam. The
volume of the pumping chamber increases and the suction valve opens due to the under pressure
produced. The fluid flows via a groove in the cam surface to the bore of the piston into the pumping
chamber. The piston is at the lower dead point. The pumping chamber is completely filled (maximum
volume). The suction valve and exit check valve are closed. As the cam rotates, the piston is moved
outwards in the radial direction. The fluid is com pressed in the displacement chamber. The increased
fluid pressure opens the exit check valve, and the fluid flows into the ring channel, which connects the
pumping elements.

The compression spring causes the slipper pad to lie on the cam, and the cylinder sleeve is supported by
the pivot.
 3.3. Radial Piston Pumps of Crank Type

The pump consists of a fixed housing incorporating the pistons and crank shaft assembly. The pistons are
driven by means of a crank shaft. The pumping chambers are connected to the suction and delivery ports
through two check valves (not illustrated). The pump displacement (geometric volume) is given by the
following expression:

where h =Piston stroke =2e, m.

2. Gear Pumps
1. External Gear Pumps

The pumping chamber is formed by the surfaces of two adjacent teeth, the inner surface of the housing,
and the two side plates. During the rotational movement of the gears, the un-meshing gears release the
pumping chambers. The resulting under pressure, together with the pressure in the suction line, forces
the fluid to flow to the pump inlet port. This fluid fills the pumping chambers, and then is moved with the
rotating gear from the suction side to the pressure side. Here, the gears mesh once more and displace the
fluid out of the pumping chambers and prevent its return to the suction zone. In the case of an external
gear pump with two spur gears, the pump geometric volume is given by the following relation:
 where b =Tooth length, m

m=Module of tooth, m

z =Number of teeth per gear

γ =Pressure angle of tooth, rad

The module m is the ratio of the pitch diameter to the number of teeth. The customary unit of
length used is the millimeter. The module is the index of tooth size in SI.
The backlash is the amount by which the width of a tooth space exceeds the thickness of the
engaging tooth measured on the pitch circles.
Internal Leakage in External Gear Pumps
The internal leakage in gear pumps takes place through two main paths:

• Tip clearance leakage: Over the tip of the tooth

The tip clearance leakage is affected by the tip clearance, the number of teeth, and the pump exit
pressure. An increase in the number of teeth increases both the local losses and resistance to internal
leakage. The excessive wear of the pump casing increases the tip clearance and consequently the tip
clearance leakage.

• Side clearance Leakage: Between the sides of the gears and the side plates

The pumps operating at high pressures present higher leakage through this path. Therefore, they should
include an arrangement for the hydrostatic compensation of the side clearance. The side plates are
pushed towards the gears under the action of a pressure force. The pump exit pressure is communicated
to act on a part of the side plate’s area. This area is well calculated to generate the force necessary to
produce the required tightness without too much increase in the friction torque. In this way, the side
clearance is automatically adjusted according to the system pressure. At low-pressure levels, the leakage
is reduced, and a smaller tightening force acts on the wear plates.

The Pulsation of Flow in Gear Pumps

The flow at the pump exit is pulsating due to the variable rate of delivery from the pump chambers. The
following relation gives the frequency of pulsation:

f =Flow pulsation frequency, Hz__n =Pump speed, rev/s__z =Number of teeth per gear
For the gear pump, the pulsation coefficient is calculated by the following expression:
Oil Trapping and Squeezing in Gear Pumps
During the normal operation of the pump, as the tooth comes to the meshing point, a volume of oi
becomes trapped in the space between two successive teeth. The oil trapping takes place where the gears
come in contact at two contact lines simultaneously. The further rotation of gears reduces the volume of
the trapped oil and its pressure increases to very great values (see Fig. 4.23). A 1% reduction of the oil
volume results in a pressure rise of 100 to 200 bar. The excessive pressure rise of the trapped oil can be
avoided by using one of the following techniques:

 By cutting grooves in the side plates to communicate the inter-teeth space with the pressure side
 By designing gears with a small number of teeth running with a definite backlash of 0.4 to 0.5 mm
 By using a helical gear train

Limitations of Gear Pump Speeds

In gear pumps, the oil enters the pumping chambers along the gear circumference. On entering the pump,
the fluid starts to rotate with the gears and is subjected to centrifugal forces. These forces tend to push it
away and out of the pumping chamber. Therefore, the maximum pump speed should be limited and the
inlet pressure should be high enough to avoid this phenomenon. An expression for the maximum speed
is deduced in the following:
Considering the pressure and centrifugal forces acting on an element of fluid, the following relations are
deduced neglecting the term (drdξ) compared with (rdξ):

The pump input pressure Pi should be greater than the centrifugal forces pressure PC. Therefore, the
maximum pump speed should be limited as follows:
The bearing lubrication is another factor imposing minimum recommended speed in some pumps. The
gears are loaded by the pressure forces, FP, and gear contact forces, FC, as shown in Fig. The rotors are
non-pressure compensated and the pressure forces are unbalanced. These forces are transmitted to the
shaft bearing. Therefore, in the case of sliding a bearing lubricated hydrodynamically, a minimum pump
speed, nmin, is recommended to insure the required bearing lubrication.
 2. Internal Gear Pumps

The Suction and Displacement Process

The pinion, which is carried in the hydrodynamic bearings, drives the internal toothed ring gear. During
the rotation, a negative pressure is produced in the un-meshing zone and the fluid flows into the pump
through a hole in the side plate. The segment assembly separates the suction chamber from the delivery
chamber. The two gears mesh in the delivery zone, displacing the oil out of the pump.
The axial compensation force, FA, acts within the pressure chamber areas, located on the outer side of the
side (wear) plates. It is generated by the pressure field (8). The side clearances, between the fixed and the
rotating components, are extremely minimized, which insures minimum side clearance leakage.
The radial compensation force, FR, acts on the segment (7.1) and the segment carrier (7.2). The area ratios
and the position of the sealing rolls (7.3) between the segments and the segment carrier are designed to
provide an almost leak-free seal between the internal gear, the segment assembly (7), and the external
gear. The spring elements under the sealing rolls (7.3) ensure a sufficient contact force at startup.
 Flow characteristics of typical internal gear
pumps of different sizes at 1450 rpm speed

3. Gerotor Pumps
The term “gerotor” means generated rotor, and is the trade name for a popular internal gear element. a
typical Gerotor element, which consists of a pair of gear-shaped parts. The internal gear (or rotor) (1),
drives the outer gear (2), in the same direction of rotation. This is similar to the internal gear pump with
a crescent seal.

The drive gear has one less tooth than the outer, driven, element. The pumping chambers are formed by
the adjacent pairs of teeth, which are constantly in contact with the outer element, except for clearance.
As the rotor is turned, its gear tips are accurately machined so they precisely follow the inner surface of
the outer element. The expanding chambers are created as the gear teeth withdraw. The chamber reaches
its maximum size when the female tooth of the outer rotor reaches the top dead center. During the
second half of the revolution, the spaces collapse, displacing the fluid to the outlet port formed at the side
plate. The geometric volume of the Gerotor pump is given as follows:

where b =Tooth height, m

z =Number of rotor teeth
 4. Screw Pumps
In screw pumps, the displacement chamber is formed between the threads and housing.

(a) A twin-gear screw pump and (b) a treble-gear screw pump.

The following is an expression for the geometric volume of a twin-gear screw pump:

3. Vane Pumps
Fixed displacement vane

The rotor is driven by the shaft (1) and rotates inside the stator ring (cam ring) (3). The vanes (4) are
mounted into radial slots in the rotor. They are pressed radially outwards to be in contact with the inner
surface of the cam ring under the action of the centrifugal force. As the pressure builds in the delivery
line, the roots of some vanes are pressurized to insure the required sealing in the proper positions. The
pumping chamber is bounded by two successive blades (vanes), the inner surface of the cam ring, the
outer surface of the rotor, and the two surfaces of the side plates (5). The volume of the pumping chamber
changes (increases and decreases) during rotation due to the oval shape of the cam ring. During its
expansion, the chamber is connected to the suction line through a hole in the side plate. Therefore, the
oil is sucked into the chamber. Then, during its contraction, the pumping chamber displaces the oil to the
outlet line through another hole in the side plate. In this way, each chamber performs two pumping
strokes per revolution.

The pump displacement is given by

Due to the oval shape, the pump construction is axi-symmetrical. There are two pressure and two suction
chambers opposite each other. Therefore, the rotor is pressure balanced. It is loaded mainly by the pump
driving torque. In this way, the bearing load is minimized, which reduces the friction and wear and
increases the pump efficiency and service life.