| Hydraulic drive systems are designed to run machinery | | | | suited for high RPM applications. |
| with the use of a working fluid to deliver usable power. | | | | Axial plunger motors are the most common type. |
| After the hydraulic fluid is pressurized, it is run to a | | | | Cylinders are pressurized in a cycle to create an |
| device to convert that energy into a usable form to | | | | alternating plunger motion that is regulated with a |
| perform work. Hydraulic pump motors come in two | | | | gearbox to a set RPM. This model is very adaptable |
| wide flavors, rotary and linear. Rotary models run | | | | and sees use in many different applications. |
| cyclical machinery and linear cylinders deliver a | | | | For very low RPM requirements and a high initial |
| mechanical power stroke. Utilizing the energy stored in | | | | torque, a radial piston motor is used. This arrangement |
| the work fluid with maximum efficiency is the job of | | | | has a set of pistons arranged in a ring around a central |
| design and process engineers. By examining the | | | | chamber where the working fluid drives the cylinders in |
| different models, we can pinpoint applications for each | | | | turn. |
| design style. | | | | Linear Hydraulic Pump Motors |
| Rotary Hydraulic Pump Motors | | | | To deliver mechanical force in a linear stroke, a |
| These motors are used to generate torque and | | | | hydraulic cylinder is used. The working fluid acts on a |
| rotation. This type often resembles the pumps that are | | | | piston to provide a controlled power stroke. These are |
| utilized upstream in a drive system, only in reverse. | | | | often seen in large mechanical systems, such as |
| Where the initial pump ran a cyclical process to | | | | construction vehicles, rather than in process equipment |
| produce pressure, the pressure in the motor pushes a | | | | like pumps or conveyor systems. The science behind |
| cyclical process. | | | | this setup allows a pressurized fluid to act on a large |
| Gear motors can run any machine that utilizes gear | | | | surface area, thereby amplifying the force originally |
| action to run a process. The high pressure fluid runs | | | | generated by the hydraulic pump. The cylinder barrel is |
| over a gear, turning it, then into a drain outlet. A second | | | | separated into two parts, the piston and the head. |
| gear is turned by the first while not having to actually | | | | Pressurized fluid only runs through the piston, where |
| contact the working liquid. This motor type is very | | | | work is transferred to the head via a rod. |
| simple and effective. | | | | Hydraulic pump motors showcase the versatility of the |
| Vane motors run by having a pair of offset, concentric | | | | entire drive system. The same working fluid can be |
| cylinders. They operate by filling an empty space with | | | | used to generate force in a line or as a rotation in |
| the high pressure fluid that causes the outer cylinder to | | | | either high or low RPMs, and with enough force or |
| go off balance and rotate. This drives the central | | | | torque to move heavy equipment. The wide variety of |
| cylinder, expels the spent fluid, and allows fresh | | | | uses is complemented by the many different motor |
| pressurized liquid to enter the chamber. Like gear | | | | types, allowing a design engineer to tailor fit a system |
| motors above, they are low maintenance models best | | | | to a particular job. |