Hydraulic systems are designed to transmit power in a controlled manner through the use of pressurized fluids. In a hydraulic system, a hydraulic pump ensures a continuous flow of liquid. The pressure can then be generated by carefully designing the applied force and pipe specifications. The hydraulic motor then converts the kinetic energy and fluid pressure of the flow into rotational motion. The amount of oil supplied by the hydraulic pump determines the speed of the hydraulic motor. Therefore, the torque depends on the pressure force supplied.
There are many types of hydraulic motors, most of which can be divided into axial piston motors, radial piston motors, hydraulic gear motors or hydraulic blade motors.
About Hydraulic Motors
When we talk about hydraulic motors, it can be a little confusing for those who are new to hydraulic systems. They should not be confused with a "prime mover" - the engine that starts the process by providing power to the pump. Therefore, you will also hear hydraulic motors referred to as rotary actuators, as this more accurately describes the function they perform in the hydraulic system.
There are two different types of actuators in hydraulic systems: rotary actuators (or hydraulic motors) and linear actuators (or cylinders).
How to choose the right hydraulic motor
Determining which hydraulic motor is right for your application will depend on a number of factors, including:
speed
torque
Radius
Physical characteristics, such as robustness, weight, size, etc.
Easy to repair/maintain
Acceptable noise levels
Compatibility with other components in the hydraulic system
Different types of hydraulic motors have different characteristics and are therefore suitable for different applications. We cover this in more detail in our Ultimate Guide to hydraulic Motors, where we explain the difference between:
Radial piston engine (crankshaft/multi-lobe CAM ring design/dual displacement/compact)
Hydraulic gear motor
Hydraulic vane motor
Axial piston motor
Cycloidal motor
Learn about radial plunger motors
Radial piston motors are efficient and usually have a long service life. In addition, they deliver high torque at relatively low shaft speeds and have excellent low-speed operating efficiency. The low output speed means that, in many cases, a gearbox is not required.
Radial piston motors are often referred to as LSHT (Low Speed High torque motor). We offer radial plunger motors from global brands including Bosch Rexroth, Staffa (Kawasaki) and Italgroup.
What are radial piston motors usually used for?
Radial piston motors are commonly used in: excavators, cranes, surface drilling equipment, winch drives, concrete mixers, fishing trawlers and plastic injection molding machines.
