What Are Hydraulic Pumps Used For?

Hydraulic systems are used in a wide range of applications to do all types of laborious work that would otherwise be difficult to do manually. Hydraulic systems can be found in heavy construction equipment, manufacturing equipment, agricultural equipment, aerospace equipment, healthcare equipment, and more!
 
Hydraulic systems are a part of everyone’s daily lives in one way or another. Hydraulic systems use hydraulic pumps and motors to push hydraulic oil through the system to create hydraulic energy via fluid power. Once this fluid power reaches cylinders in the system, it is converted into mechanical energy to perform the desired operations, such as raising and lowering a crane.
 
Some of the more common applications where you can find hydraulic systems include:

• Braking Systems in Vehicles
• Aeroplanes
• Theme Park Rides
• Elevators
• Escalators
• Auto Repair Lifts
• Vehicle Jacks
• Adjustable Height Chairs
• Filling Station Fuel Pumps
• Bath Lifts
• Snowploughs
• Robotics
• Automated Manufacturing Machines
• Trains
• Boats and Ships
• Tanks and Armoured Vehicles
• Fork Lifts
• Dump Trucks
• Cranes
• Rubbish Lorries / Trash Collection Trucks
• Agricultural Tractors and Implements
• Excavators
• Backhoes
• Mowers
• Hedge and Verge Cutters
• Forestry Equipment
• Lorry and Truck Tippers and Cranes

This list is just a small sampling of the different types of devices, components, and equipment that use hydraulic systems in some manner to provide assistance and perform the desired tasks, such as steering or lifting. Hydraulic systems are even used in hydrostatic transmissions and powerpacks.

What Is the Function of Hydraulic Pumps?

Hydraulic pumps are essential for hydraulic systems to work correctly. The pumps are responsible for pushing and moving the hydraulic fluid through the system. This movement is what converts mechanical energy and motion into fluid power.
 
Hydraulic pumps work on positive displacement or by transferring a metered amount of fluid into the system. The system pressure helps regulate the necessary flow required to move the load up to the maximum permitted by whatever the system relief valve setting may be.
 
Additionally, the type of fluid used with the hydraulic system determines its overall effectiveness and how it can be applied to various devices, equipment, and machinery. Ideally, depending upon the application, you want to choose hydraulic fluids best suited to the application and system configuration.

Types of Hydraulic Pumps

There are several types of hydraulic pumps and variations in configurations that are used in hydraulic systems, including:

Gear Pumps

Gear pumps have one gear attached to a drive shaft that is interlocked with another gear so the two rotate together. A gear pump may be external, with side-by-side gears rotating in opposite directions carrying the fluid from the low-pressure side to the high-pressure side, or internal, with one gear inside another, rotating in the same direction.

Piston Pumps

Piston pumps are, essentially, pistons that move inside cylinders. The motion of the piston displaces hydraulic fluid to move it through the hydraulic system. There are several variations of piston pumps, including:

• Axial Piston Pumps
• Radial Piston Pumps
• Positive Displacement Pumps
• Variable Displacement Pumps
• Fixed Displacement Pumps

Vane Pumps

Vane pumps use sliding vanes around a rotating shaft to move hydraulic fluid through the system. The vanes constantly adjust to maintain contact with the inside of the cam ring—an elliptical-shared ring inside the pump.
 
The fluid trapped between the vanes at the inlet side is forced out of the pump through the outlet side. As the fluid is forced out of the pump, it creates the fluid power and hydraulic energy to perform the desired tasks.
 
Vane pumps also come in a few different configurations, including variable displacement pumps and fixed displacement pumps.

Final Thoughts

Hydraulic pumps perform a valuable function in helping to convert fluid power into mechanical energy to allow the hydraulic system to perform the desired functions. Since there are different types and variations of hydraulic pumps, it is essential to select the right ones that will best meet your hydraulic specifications and requirements to perform the necessary functions.
 
For further assistance in selecting the best high-quality hydraulic pumps, hydraulic motors, hydraulic cylinders, and other hydraulic parts and components for your hydraulic systems, please feel free to contact White House Products, Ltd. at +44 (0) 1475 742500 today! 

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