1/31/2017 Unbalanced Vane PumpsModern Industrial Hydraulics | Modern Industrial Hydraulics

Tag Archives: Unbalanced Vane Pumps

Hydraulic Vane Pumps
December 1, 2014 by hydes | Leave a comment

In a vane-type pump, a slotted rotor splined to a drive shaft rotates between closely fitted
side plates that are inside of an elliptical- or circular-shaped ring. Polished, hardened vanes
slide in and out of the rotor slots and follow the ring contour by centrifugal force. Pumping
chambers are formed between succeeding vanes, carrying oil from the inlet to the outlet. A
partial vacuum is created at the inlet as the space between vanes increases. The oil is
squeezed out at the outlet as the pumping chambers size decreases.

Because the normal wear points in a vane pump are the vane tips and a rings surface, the
vanes and ring are specially hardened and ground. A vane pump is the only design that has
automatic wear compensation built in. As wear occurs, the vanes simply slide farther out of
the rotor slots and continue to follow a rings contour. Thus efficiency remains high
throughout the life of the pump.

a. Characteristics. Displacement of a vane-type pump depends on the width of the ring and
rotor and the throw of the cam ring. Interchangeable rings are designed so a basic pump
converts to several displacements. Balanced design vane pumps all are fixed displacement.
An unbalanced design can be built in either a fixed- or variable-displacement pump. Vane
pumps have good efficiency and durability if operated in a clean system using the correct oil.
They cover the low to medium-high pressure, capacity, and speed ranges. Package size in
relation to output is small. A vane pump is generally quiet, but will whine at high speeds.

b. Unbalanced Vane Pumps. In the unbalanced design, (Figure 3-9), a cam rings shape is a
true circle that is on a different centerline from a rotors. Pump displacement depends on how
far a rotor and ring are eccentric. The advantage of a true-circle ring is that control can be
applied to vary the eccentricity and thus vary the displacement. A disadvantage is that an
unbalanced pressure at the outlet is effective against a small area of the rotors edge,
imposing side loads on the shaft. Thus there is a limit on a pumps size unless very large
hearings and heavy supports are used.

http://www.modernhydraulics.net/tag/unbalanced-vane-pumps 1/5
1/31/2017 Unbalanced Vane PumpsModern Industrial Hydraulics | Modern Industrial Hydraulics

Figure 3-9. Unbalanced vane pump

c. Balanced Vane Pumps. In the balanced design (Figure 3-10), a pump has a stationary,
elliptical cam ring and two sets of internal ports. A pumping chamber is formed between any
two vanes twice in each revolution. The two inlets and outlets are 180 degrees apart. Back
pressures against the edges of a rotor cancel each other. Recent design improvements that
allow high operating speeds and pressures have made this pump the most universal in the
mobile equipment field.

d. Double Pumps. Vane type double pumps (Figure 3- 11) consist of two separate pumping
devices. Each is contained in its own respective housing, mounted in tandem, and driven by a
common shaft. Each pump also has its own inlet and outlet ports, which may be combined by
using manifolds or piping. Design variations are available in which both cartridges are
contained within one body. An additional pump is sometimes attached to the head end to
supply auxiliary flow requirements.

http://www.modernhydraulics.net/tag/unbalanced-vane-pumps 2/5
1/31/2017 Unbalanced Vane PumpsModern Industrial Hydraulics | Modern Industrial Hydraulics

Double pumps may be used to provide fluid flow for two separate circuits or combined for
flow requirements for a single circuit. Combining pump deliveries does not alter the
maximum pressure rating of either cartridge. Separate circuits require separate pressure
controls to limit maximum pressure in each circuit.

Figure 3-12, shows an installation in which double pumps are used to provide fluid flow for
operation of a cylinder in rapid advance and feed. In circuit B, two relief valves are used to
control pumping operation. In circuit A, one relief valve and one unloading valve are used to
control pumping operations. In both circuits, the deliveries of the pump cartridges are
combined after passing through the valves. This combined flow is directed to a four-way
valve and to the rest of the circuit.

http://www.modernhydraulics.net/tag/unbalanced-vane-pumps 3/5
1/31/2017 Unbalanced Vane PumpsModern Industrial Hydraulics | Modern Industrial Hydraulics

In circuit B, an upper relief valve is vented when a cylinder rod reaches and trips a pilot
valve. A vented relief valve directs the delivery of a shaft end pump cartridge freely back to a
tank. Another relief valve controls the maximum pressure of a circuit. An unloading valve
and a relief valve in circuit A do the same operation. The output of both pump cartridges
combines to supply fluid for a rapid advance portion of a cycle. When the output of one circuit
returns to the tank, after reaching a certain point in the cycle, the other circuit completes the
advance portion of a cycle. Both pump outputs are then combined for rapid return.

e. Two-Stage Pumps. Two-stage pumps consist of two separate pump assemblies contained
in one housing. The pump assemblies are connected so that flow from the outlet of one is
directed internally to the inlet of the other. Single inlet and outlet ports are used for system
connections. In construction, the pumps consist of separate pumping cartridges driven by a
common drive shaft contained in one housing. A dividing valve is used to equalize the
pressure load on each stage and correct for minor flow differences from either cartridge.

In operation, developing fluid flow for each cartridge is the same as for single pumps. Figure
3-13 shows fluid flow in a vane-type, two-stage pump. Oil from a reservoir enters a pumps
inlet port and passes to the outlets of the first-stage pump cartridge. (Passages in a pumps
body carry the discharge from this stage to an inlet of the second stage.) Outlet passages in
the second stage direct the oil to an outlet port of the pump. Passage U connects both
chambers on the inlet side of a second-stage pump and assures equal pressure in both
chambers. (Pressures are those that are imposed on a pump from external sources.)
http://www.modernhydraulics.net/tag/unbalanced-vane-pumps 4/5
1/31/2017 Unbalanced Vane PumpsModern Industrial Hydraulics | Modern Industrial Hydraulics

A dividing valve (see Figure 3-13) consists of sliding pistons A and B. Piston A is exposed to
outlet pressure through passage V. Piston B is exposed to the pressure between stages
through passage W. The pistons respond to maintain a pressure load on a first-stage pump
equal to half the outlet pressure at a second-stage pump. If the discharge from the
first stage exceeds the volume that can be accepted at the second stage, a pressure rise
occurs in passage W. The unbalanced force acting on piston B causes the pistons to move in
such a manner that excess oil flows past piston B through passage Y to the inlet chamber of a
first-stage cartridge. Fluid throttling across piston B in this manner maintains pressure in
passage V.

If the discharge from a first-stage pump is less than the volume required at a second stage
pump, a reduced pressure occurs at piston B. An unbalanced force acting on piston A causes
the pistons to move so that oil flows past piston A into passages X and W to replenish a
second-stage pump and correct the unbalanced condition. Passages Z and Y provide a means
for leakage around the pistons to return to the inlet chamber of a first-stage pump. Pistons A
and B always seek a position that equally divides the load between the two pumping units.

http://www.modernhydraulics.net/tag/unbalanced-vane-pumps 5/5