PNEUMATICS & HYDRAULICS FEATURE


SPECIFYING REPLACEMENT PUMPS P


Jonathan Walker of Oilgear explores innate features and processes that can ensure hydraulic pump performance offers further benefits to the application that reduce the risk of downtime


umps for hydraulic applications are typically highly specialised towards


certain applications and environments, a reality which must be noted by the MRO professional. While a pump may achieve certain certifications such as those outlined by DNV GL, Lloyds and API which can guarantee a certain level of competency, how does this actually translate to specifying a replacement for a particular application? A primary consideration when assessing certifications is to realise that they simply represent a bare minimum. The certification for a particular industry or environment will denote that a product could be used in a certain application but will offer no guarantees as to its continued performance in that chosen environment. While a low duty pump may be certified for use in a marine environment you wouldn’t automatically integrate it in a heavy duty winching application for example. As a maintenance professional, simply specifying a certified product offers little reassurance that the chosen solution will be up to a particular task.


PICK A SPECIALIST WITH PEDIGREE The first step to specifying a reliable replacement hydraulic pump is to pick a specialist with pedigree. Hydraulic pumps are utilised in a wide range of industries from subsea to mobile vehicles so selecting a manufacturer that has a proven track record in multiple industries is a good start. A suitable manufacturer will aim to achieve a balance between reliability, quality and cost-effectiveness across their pump range which will incorporate innovative features to tackle specific application challenges. Even in the same industry operational demands vary widely so defining a suitable product with characteristics suited to the system is paramount to ensuring reliability. This may increase initial purchase costs


but is nothing in comparison to repeated periods of downtime. A manufacturer that is able to offer


design advantages in a range of pumps usually takes an entirely in-house approach to the origination of products. Choosing a supplier that combines design, manufacturing and testing facilities in- house ensures increased consistency of production, reduced lead times and a more cost effective approach which transmits savings to the purchaser.


Oilgear usually takes an entirely in-house approach to the


origination of products. (Source: Istock Copyright: Portra ID:490717100


Specifying from a manufacturer who


employs rigorous product testing policies can ensure that a selected product will display the utmost reliability. Utilisation of a range of standard and bespoke test rigs to accurately recreate certain operational conditions can greatly increase confidence in a product as it has been proven to perform under the stresses of certain applications. A fully tested product tailored to your application will provide greater durability and performance than a product that is simply certified. Hydraulics is a mature sector so selecting


an innovative manufacturer who utilises certain technologies to achieve an operational advantage is good policy to ensure a replacement pump provides ultimate performance. Specifying a supplier with an integrated approach will mean that they have a greater capability to offer these technological advantages due to increased expertise.


DURABILITY WITH LOW LUBRICITY FLUID The implementation of new material technologies has enabled the latest designs to offer durability when operating with low lubricity fluids. Utilising equally hardened, specialised alloy surfaces that run opposed to each other, for example from the valve plate to cylinder barrel or the steel shoes to swash block, can increase durability in operation. It safeguards pump performance when


running at higher temperatures while enabling greater contamination resistance. This is a specialist technology that is specifically designed for high application


/ IRISHMANUFACTURING


demands in challenging environments and would not be signposted by a typical certification. Similar technologies include the use of hydro-dynamic bearings in hydraulic pumps which serve to enhance durability. The cylinder barrel runs on a thin film of fluid instead of using rolling contact bearings. This lack of contact between moving parts ensures almost infinite bearing life while eliminating a potential source of contamination of the hydraulic fluid. This simplicity of design approach ensures increased reliability and a reduced number of parts that can possibly fail. An installed pump will therefore require less maintenance and operate effectively for a very long time, lowering the total cost of ownership and overall maintenance expenditure.


DESIGNED FOR DEMANDING APPLICATIONS Innovative design features such as a pressure lubricated swash block can offer pumps that are perfectly adapted to very demanding applications. This design provides constant lubrication to the saddle bearings for high pressure and high cycling applications. Further benefits include a reduction in overall pump hysteresis which can significantly increase service life, making it an ideal replacement in a highly specialist application. Specifying an adequate replacement


pump is therefore not simply signposted by certifications for suitability in differing industries. Applications even in the same sector vary. The question to ask as an MRO professional is: does this pump display the features to tackle the demands of my specific application? Working with low lubricity fluids or serving a high duty application require specific solutions and expertise. The first point of reference should therefore, always be a trusted manufacturer or expert. Certification should be treated as an


absolute bare minimum rather than the bar of quality. In addition, time taken to discuss your application requirements with a design expert will ensure the final product specification meets your exact needs. By following this strategy you can minimise not only downtime but maintenance and ownership costs when specifying a replacement hydraulic pump.


Oilgear


T: 01133 947300 www.oilgear.com


IRISH MANUFACTURING | AUTUMN 2017 21


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