Hydraulic drive systems are designed to run machinery with the use of a working fluid to deliver usable power. After the hydraulic fluid is pressurized, it is run to a device to convert that energy into a usable form to perform work. Hydraulic pump motors come in two wide flavors, rotary and linear. Rotary models run cyclical machinery and linear cylinders deliver a mechanical power stroke. Utilizing the energy stored in the work fluid with maximum efficiency is the job of design and process engineers. By examining the different models, we can pinpoint applications for each design style.

Linear Hydraulic Pump Motors

To deliver mechanical force in a linear stroke, a hydraulic cylinder is used. The working fluid acts on a piston to provide a controlled power stroke. These are often seen in large mechanical systems, such as construction vehicles, rather than in process equipment like pumps or conveyor systems. The science behind this setup allows a pressurized fluid to act on a large surface area, thereby amplifying the force originally generated by the hydraulic pump. The cylinder barrel is separated into two parts, the piston and the head. Pressurized fluid only runs through the piston, where work is transferred to the head via a rod.