JUNE-JULY 2018 Digital copy | Page 64

book in series of 450 bar and peak pressures of 600 bar; rotational speed ranges between 100 and 2000 rpm, overall efficiency amounts to about 0.9, suction pressure is 0.9 absolute bar and the recommended viscosity range is 15 ÷ 50 cSt. More than one piston row can be assembled in a single block in small and medium versions (Figure 4.55) so as to be able to choose between a single high-flow outlet and more outlets with different pressures and flows. Some companies manufacture pumps equipped with up to six rows. Figure 4.56 Axial piston pumps - Fixed displacement Axial piston pumps are more popular than radial piston pumps and have different designs that mainly fall into two categories, depending on whether the cylinder block is in line with he drive shaft or bent axis type. Figure 4.54 It is important to specify if the cylinder block is rotary or fixed in in-line piston pumps; piston reciprocation is made possible by a round plate inclined vis-à-vis the axis of the transmission shaft. Swash plate pumps with fixed cylinder block are made up of a swash plate solidly connected to the transmission shaft (hence they revolve together) and a series of (ideally odd- numbered) pistons in axial line with the same shaft and firmly held in the pump casing. Suction and delivery valves ensure that the fluid flows from the tank to the actuators. Figure 4.55 Radial piston pumps - Variable displacement Variable displacement radial piston pumps are similar to rotary radial block pumps, but they differ in the reaction ring that can move (Figure 4.56). Their adjustment and operating principles are similar to variable displacement vane pumps: stator ring shifting is affected by the delivery pressure versus the force exerted by the spring of the hand wheel adjuster or the compensator. 64 | JuNe-july 2018 | Global MDA Journal Figure 4.57 The revolution of the swash plate makes pistons move alternately; pistons are held by springs constantly connected to the plate. The swash plate and the pistons can be connected either via a ball joint/sliding block or directly, which means