This article presents a novel methodology to design swash plate type axial piston machines based on computationally based approach. The methodology focuses on the design of the main lubricating interfaces present in a swash plate type unit: the cylinder block/valve plate, the piston/cylinder, and the slipper/swash plate interface. These interfaces determine the behavior of the machine in term of energy efficiency and durability. The proposed method couples for the first time the numerical models developed at the authors' research center for each separated tribological interface in a single optimization framework. The paper details the optimization procedure, the geometry, and material considered for each part. A physical prototype was also built and tested from the optimal results found from the numerical model. Tests were performed at the authors' lab, confirming the validity of the proposed method.
Lubricating gaps are the primary source of energy dissipation in axial piston machines of swash plate-type. One of these lubricating gaps is designated as the cylinder block/valve plate interface, and is one of the most critical design elements for this type of positive displacement machine. In the past, extensive work has been done at Maha Fluid Power Research Center both to model this interface and to study the effects of micro-surface shaping on the valve plate. This paper presents a more in-depth investigation into optimizing valve plate micro-surface shaping (both by altering the number and amplitude of waves) in order to achieve a fluid film thickness that compromises between leakage and torque loss, minimizes power loss in the cylinder block/valve plate interface, and maximizes machine efficiency.
This paper explains how a combination of advanced multidomain numerical models can be employed to design an axial piston machine of swash plate type within a virtual prototyping environment. Examples for the design and optimization of the cylinder block/valve plate interface are presented.
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