Click here to find Hydraulic Pumps Manufacturers | Discuss Hydraulic Pumps & Other Topics

Hydraulic pumps convert mechanical force and motion into hydraulic fluid power. They are typically powered by gas or electricity, although hand- and air-driven pumps are also used. Three main types of hydraulic pumps are used in the fluid power industry. They are vane pumps, gear pumps and piston pumps, all of which are types of positive displacement pumps. Essentially, this means that they transfer a measured quantity of pressurized hydraulic fluid into a hydraulic system. This fluid moves to the necessary component and its pressure is reconverted to mechanical force.

Each general pump design can be subdivided into specific categories. For instance, piston pumps can be radial, axial, in-line reciprocating or axial bent-axis piston pumps; vane pumps are either cam or sliding vane pumps. In subcategories, too, pumps are tailored to specific applications, and show great diversity in design. No matter what the design, however, all hydraulic pumps are designed to be used with fluids of certain viscosity. Changes in the fluid viscosity will result in altered performance, often lower efficiency. Most pumps are also damaged by any solid particles in the hydraulic fluid, and therefore require a filtration system.

Hydraulic pumps are one of the most important components in an assortment of construction, manufacturing and machining equipment. They are responsible for a machine’s precision as well as its efficiency, and any small defects can affect the performance of the entire system. A wide range of materials are used in hydraulic pumps to minimize wear and provide dependable performance. The types of material used depend on the pressures and temperatures that the hydraulic system will encounter. Various plastics, synthetic rubbers and steel alloys are all used in the fabrication of hydraulic pumps. High-strength alloys (i.e., titanium alloys) and polymers are used in high-pressure systems.

When selecting a pump, it is important to consider operating pressure, temperature and frequency. Less-expensive, low-pressure pumps are acceptable solutions to applications that require minimal pressures (less than 200 psi), but should not be considered for heavy industrial operations.