DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR OF GEAR PUMPS: EFFECT OF VARIATIONS IN OPERATIONAL AND DESIGN PARAMETERS

This work presents a wide number of results about the influence that variations in terms of operational and design parameters play on the dynamic behavior of external gear pumps. These results are obtained by using a non-linear lumped-parameter kineto-elastodynamic model developed and experimentally assessed with the aim of including all the important dynamic effects. On the one hand, the effects of variations in the operational parameters—namely output pressure, rotational speed and oil viscosity—are analysed; on the other hand, the effects of modifications of some design parameters are shown: clearances and relief groove dimension. The results in terms of gear eccentricity, pressure evolution, pressure forces, gear accelerations and variable forces exciting the pump casing enlighten the dynamic behavior of gear pumps and give useful indications for design improvements and vibration and noise reduction. As regards specifically gear accelerations as well as forces exciting the casing, they strongly increase with both output pressure and rotational speed, but variations in rotational speed in the operational range give lower effects. Conversely, the modifications of the clearances give negligible effects, while the relief groove dimension is very important: the larger the relief grooves are, the higher the gear accelerations and forces exciting the casing become.