Motion Control

JACK L. JOHNSON | Contributing Editor

Hydraulic-Electric Analogies:
Hydraulic Power
Conversion, Part 2
Power generated by hydraulic systems exhibits current flow traits similar to those
of its electrical counterparts. Load
(output)
IT IS NOW just a simple step to make the pump illustrated in Fig. cylinder
4 from Part 1 (“Hydraulic-Electric Analogies: Hydraulic Power Pressure
Conversion, Part 1” on hydraulicpneumatics.com) into one that gauge
receives mechanical input power via a rotating shaft instead of Check
the reciprocating, manually operated handle. The changes are valves
shown in Fig. 5. Rotation center
The cam has a simple circular shape, but its rotational axis CV3 Cam CV1
is offset from the circle’s center. It generates the required recip- Release
rocating motion to the pumping pistons. The circular cam also valve
Pumping Rotation
imparts sinusoidal motion to the pumping pistons. pistons
CV4 CV2
An additional change is that the blank end chambers of the
pumping pistons have been outfitted with return springs. In the
configuration shown, they are essential to ensure that the piston 5. When the reciprocating handle is replaced with a rotating cam, the
rods remain in contact with the cam at all times and provide pump can receive simple rotational input power from a conventional
return motion to the pistons, ensuring that they will fill with res- prime mover.
ervoir fluid while retracting. The earlier versions of the described
pump both engage the link between the input handle and the configurations arrange the multiple pistons axially, making for a
pumping pistons with a pin and slot, which ensures that the smaller-diameter machine.
pumping pistons will follow the handle motion.
The most important feature of the pump in Fig. 5 is that it can CHECK-BALL PUMPS
be driven by a rotating machine. Another key point is that more Another variation is to use a cam with more than one lobe, so
than two pumping pistons can be incorporated, up to the num- that there will be two pumping cycles per shaft rotation, doubling
ber permitted by the physical size limitations and the strength the output flow in a given package size. In commercial con-
required of the machine and its structural parts. figurations, the inlet check valves are often embedded within the
In the configuration shown, the multiplicity of pistons would pumping pistons, making a more-compact machine. They are
be arranged radially, with the one cam providing the rotary-to- referred to as check-ball or check-valve pumps.
reciprocating motion conversion. Multi-piston pumps usually An important limitation of the check-ball pump is that it can-
have an odd number of pistons, because it’s been demonstrated not operate as a motor. To understand this reality, imagine that
that it will produce the lowest outlet pressure ripple and, thus, the rotational shaft is free from any constraints, and then one
the lowest noise. Although the example pumps have pistons pushes downward with great force on the output piston rod. That
arranged radially outward, the majority of commercial pump force—no matter how great—cannot be brought to bear on the

18 DECEMBER 2015 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS

 Motion Control

pumping pistons because of the check valves (CV3 and CV4). Therefore, it precludes
any hope of pressure at the output port resulting in shaft rotation. In this case, there’s no SPECIAL OFFER
direct analogous kind of electrical motor. FOR H&P READERS:
The next part of this series will reveal that certain pump designs function very well BUY ONE, GET ONE
as motors, and motors that run well as pumps. In fact, in many applications, pumps and
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of accelerations and decelerations. The conventional piston pump that uses a port plate as Electrohydraulic
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20 DECEMBER 2015 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS