MEO Class IV - GEK

Steering Gear Systems

Electro Hydraulic Steering Pumps Exam Guide

This exam guide contains model questions similar to the ones you would answer in the written
examination. Our aim is to equip you on important subject areas. Answers provided are in the form of cues
and bulleted list to enable easy recollection.

Questions

1. In steering hydraulic machinery systems the Swash plate hydraulic pump and motor is in
common use. Regarding the Swash plate pump:
a. State its advantages compared to the Hele-Shaw pump.
b. Sketch a simple diagram of a Swash plate pump.
c. Describe its operation.
d. Why are hydraulic pumps provided with an odd number of cylinders?

2 a. Make a simple sketch of a constant speed Hele-Shaw pump or axial piston pump suitable
for hydraulic steering gear.
b. Describe the pump and its principle.
c. What are the characteristics of the pump that make it suitable for use in steering
gear system?

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 MEO Class IV - GEK
Steering Gear Systems
Electro Hydraulic Steering Pumps Exam Guide

Q 1. a.
In steering hydraulic machinery systems the Swash plate hydraulic pump
and motor is in common use. Regarding the Swash plate pump, state its
advantages compared to the Hele-Shaw pump.

A The axial piston pump (variable stroke gear pump) pump has some advantages over the
Hele-Shaw.The centre of gravity of the Hele-Shaw plungers is at a relatively larger
distance from the centre of rotation and this leads to relatively large centrifugal forces.

The axial piston pump plungers have a centre of gravity close to the centre of rotation
creating relatively small centrifugal forces. This means lesser inertia such that the axial
piston pump system can be run at much higher speeds and occupies less space whilst
doing the same work as the Hele-Shaw.

Due to lesser centrifugal forces, the wear on the axial piston pump pistons can be
lesser than that for the radial type pistons. Thus for the same amount of pressures swash
plate pump can be operated at much higher speeds and they occupy lesser space than
Hele-Shaw pumps.

Q 1. b.
In steering hydraulic machinery systems the Swash plate hydraulic pump
and motor is in common use. Regarding the Swash plate pump, sketch a
simple diagram of a Swash plate pump.

A
Swash plate Piston Valve plate

Cylinder
Slipper
Oil delivery suction

Pivot point

Shaft
Control rod

Cylinder block keyed to shaft

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 MEO Class IV - GEK
Steering Gear Systems
Electro Hydraulic Steering Pumps Exam Guide

Swash plate Piston Valve plate

Cylinder
Slipper
Oil delivery/suction

Pivot point

Shaft
Control rod

Cylinder block keyed to shaft

Swash plate pump

Q 1. c.
In steering hydraulic machinery systems the Swash plate hydraulic pump
and motor is in common use. Regarding the Swash plate pump, describe
its operation.

A This pump is a variable delivery pump and islocated/immersed vertically inside an oil
filled replenishing tank so that all parts of the pump are submerged in a bath of oil. It
is driven by a constant speed electric motor the volume and direction of the oil flow being
controlled by means of a stroke control lever.

This pump utilises a similar principle to that of radial piston pump or Hele-Shaw but has
an axial piston drive from a tilting swash plate. The swash plate is stationary. The slipper
disc assembly rotates along with the cylinder block. Slipper pads bear against the swash
plate face and the plungers are driven in and out axially for each revolution of the rotor.

One direction of tilt becomes suction on one side of the horizontal centre line and the
other becomes discharge on the other side of this centre line.

For the opposite direction of the tilt, the direction of the flow is reversed. The quantity
of discharge depends on the angle of tilt. In mid position, no relative movement exists
between the piston and the end plate, hence no pumping action takes place.

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 MEO Class IV - GEK
Steering Gear Systems
Electro Hydraulic Steering Pumps Exam Guide

Q 1. d.
In steering hydraulic machinery systems the Swash plate hydraulic pump
and motor is in common use. Regarding the Swash plate pump, describe
its operation.

A Axial piston pump and Hele-Shaw pumps have an odd number of cylinders because this
gives better hydrodynamic balancing, better starting torque and even hydraulic flow.
In short there is no intermittent flow or pulsation in pressures.

Q 2. a.
Make a simple sketch of a constant speed Hele-Shaw pump or axial
piston pump suitable for hydraulic steering gear.

A
Gudgeon pin
Cylinder body

Plunger

Slipper
Slipper path
Floating ring
Actuating spindle

Roller bearing

Annular ring Casing

Top port

Oil block
Hele-shaw pump

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 MEO Class IV - GEK
Steering Gear Systems
Electro Hydraulic Steering Pumps Exam Guide

Gudgeon pin
Slipper
Top port
Floating
Fixed shaft
Actuating or control arm
Cylinder bore
Plunger

Bottom port

Direction of rotation Direction of rotation

Discharge port Discharge port

A B
Suction port Suction port

Center line Center line of Center line Center line of

of shaft floating ring of shaft floating ring

Hele-Shaw pump operation

Q 2. b.
Describe the pump and its principle.

A The pump is described as follows:

z Pump is normally driven by a constant speed electric motor.

z The pistons are fitted in a row of radial cylinders.

z Through the outer end of each piston is a gudgeon pin that attaches the slippers to the
piston. The slippers are free to oscillate on their gudgeon pins.

z Gudgeon pins fit into circular grooves in the circular floating ring. This ring is free to
rotate for being mounted on ball bearings.

z Ball bearings are housed in guide blocks. The guide blocks bear on tracks are controlled
by the actuating spindles, which pass through the pump casing.

z The movement of the floating ring by the actuating control spindle from the central
position causes pistons to reciprocate in the radial cylinders so that a pumping action
takes place.

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 MEO Class IV - GEK
Steering Gear Systems
Electro Hydraulic Steering Pumps Exam Guide

z The direction of the pumping depends upon whether the movement is to the left or
right of the central or neutral position.

z The eccentricity between the rotor and stator not only decides the quantity of the oil
discharged but also the direction of flow. Direction of flow is dependant on which side
the circulating floating ring happens to move.

Q 3. c.
What are the characteristics of the pump that make it suitable for use in
steering gear system?

A Hele-Shaw pump is a radial piston variable delivery pump, which is capable of maintaining
flow in either direction for a given set of pipelines, despite running in same direction.

z Since such a reversal of flow is required in the steering system, this pump fulfils the
demand completely just by shifting of floating lever.

z This design is capable of developing greater pressures in the range of 180 bar with
adequate volumetric displacement.

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