5/25/24, 10:10 AM Submarine Hydraulic Systems - Chapter 2

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SOURCES OF HYDRAULIC POWER
A. INTRODUCTION

2A1. Hydraulic motors. The pressures

required to operate the hydraulic
equipment are developed by electric
motor-driven pumps.

Hydraulic motors, such as actuating

cylinders, are generally regarded as the
power units. Like other motors, they do
not actually create their own power.
They merely convert hydraulic power
which has been built up elsewhere into
mechanical energy. Pumps, therefore,
act as the central power supply for the Figure 2-1. IMO pump.
entire hydraulic system by creating
pressure in the system. power-driven; its shaft is direct-coupled
to an 18-horsepower electric motor
B. IMO PUMPS which drives it at 1750 revolutions per
minute. The other two rotors (6), known
2B1. General description. The IMO as idlers, are driven by the center rotor
pump (see Figure 2-1) is a power- which, through the intermeshing of its
driven rotary pump, consisting threads with those of the idlers,
essentially of a cylindrical casing, communicates the shaft power to the
horizontally mounted, and containing idlers and forces them to rotate in a
three threaded rotors which rotate direction opposite to that of the center
inside a close-fitting sleeve, drawing in rotor. The rotation of the center rotor is
oil at one end of the sleeve and driving clockwise as viewed from the motor end
it out at the other. of the coupling shaft, while the rotation
of the two idler rotors is counter-
2B2. Detailed description. a. The clockwise.
rotors. The rotors of the IMO pump,
which resemble worm gears, are shown The end of the power rotor nearest the
in Figure 2-2. The inside diameters of motor rotates in the guide bushing (9);
the spiral "threaded portions" of the the rotor shaft extends out through the
rotors are known as the troughs of the end-plate, where it couples to the shaft of
thread; the outside diameters, or crests, the electric motor which drives it.
are known as the lands. The troughs Leakage around the shaft is prevented by
and lands of the adjacent rotors are so five rings of 3/8-inch
closely intermeshed that, as they rotate,
the meshing surfaces push the oil ahead
of them through the sleeve, forming, in
effect, a continuous seal, so that only a
negligible fraction of the oil trapped
between the lands can leak back in the
direction opposite to the flow.

A cutaway view of the, pump is shown

in Figure 2-3. The center rotor, (5) is
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5/25/24, 10:10 AM Submarine Hydraulic Systems - Chapter 2

Figure 2-2. IMO rotors.

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square flexible metallic packing (8) The casing contains two ports, the
which is held in place by a packing suction port (15), which receives oil from
gland (7). Any oil which does leak the supply tank at a pressure of from 10
through the packing falls into the drip to 25 pounds per square inch, and the
cup (13). discharge port (16) from which it is
discharged into the system.
b. The sleeve. It should be emphasized
that the rotors are not housed directly c. Elimination of axial thrust; the
within the casing itself (1), but within a balancing connection. It must be
removable two-piece sleeve (4) which remembered that the function of a pump
fits snugly inside the casing proper and is merely to displace fluid by mechanical
can be quickly removed and replaced as action. This displacement will of in itself
soon as it shows signs of wear. The two create any pressure throughout the fluid
pieces of which the sleeve consists are being pumped unless the movement of
bolted together near the center of the the fluid encounters resistance
casing, as shown, by the sleeve bolts somewhere in the system beyond the
(14). The sleeve is secured against point at which it is discharged from the
longitudinal drift by the two adjusting pump. The working pressure of the main
bolts, one of which (10) is shown in the hydraulic system, of which the two IMO
cutaway. Rotary motion is prevented by pumps are the power supply units, runs
three taper pins (not shown in the between 600 and 700
cutaway) which project into the sleeve
and bearing block from the casing.

Figure 2-3. Cutaway of IMO pump. 1) Casing; 2) end cover; 3) end cover; 4) rotor housing;
5) power rotor; 6) idler rotors; 7) packing gland; 8) packing; 9) guide bushing; 10)
adjusting bolts; 11) jam screw; 12) bearing block; 13) drip cup; 14) sleeve bolts; 15)
suction port; 16) discharge port; 17) equalizing channel; 18) collars; 19) bearing journal.

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5/25/24, 10:10 AM Submarine Hydraulic Systems - Chapter 2

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pounds per square inch. It is prevented involved. Therefore this axial thrust must
from exceeding this value by relief be equalized or balanced in some way.
valves and an automatic bypass, or
unloading, valve (see Chapter 1, page To supply this balancing or equalizing
15). But it will not reach this working force, a small pipe, called the balancing
pressure, or in fact any pressure above connection is provided. This connection
the 10- to 25-pound "back-pressure" at permits oil from the discharge end of the
which the oil enters the suction side of pump to flow into the equalizing channel
the pump from the supply tank, unless (17, Figure 2-3) in the end-plate at the
the oil being driven out of the discharge suction side of the pump. Figure 2-4
side of the pump encounters a shows the balancing connection.
corresponding resistance somewhere
else in the system. In short, when the The cutaway, Figure 2-3, shows the
hand bypass valve is open, the oil equalizing channel (17) in the end-plate.
circulates at no-load, that is, at the same A study of the cutaway will show that
pressure as the pressure existing in the from the equalizing channel, three lines
supply tank or reservoir. open from the endplate into the bearing
block at the points where the ends of the
Since pressure existing anywhere in an rotor shafts extend into it. The function
enclosed liquid is transmitted equally in of this equalizing channel is to allow the
all direction's (see Chapter 1, page 5), it oil to bear against the ends of the rotor
follows that any pressure which the shafts at the suction side of the pump
intermeshed rotors have developed in with the same pressure which it is
the oil by the time it reaches the exerting against them at the discharge
discharge end of the sleeve will be end. In effect, the three rotors are floated
exerted against every surface with between equal oil pressures exerted
which this oil is in contact, including against their opposite ends, thus
the threads of the rotors themselves. In eliminating axial thrust. The ends of the
other words, if the full working shafts of the idler rotors (6) are fitted
pressure of from 600 to 700 pounds per with collars (18) to locate the axial
square inch is developed at the position of the rotors. Another
discharge port, a pressure equal to 600 compensating area for elimination of
to 700 pounds per square inch would axial thrust against the center rotor is
necessarily be exerted against the rotors seen at the bearing journal (19), which
in the direction forms a shoulder on the shaft just at the
point where the journal enters the guide
bushing.

The IMO pump is ideally adapted for

continuous, long-term service. It is quiet
and efficient in performance, requiring a
minimum of attention.

2B3. Operating instructions. Before an

Figure 2-4. IMO pump showing pipe IMO pump is started for the first time,
plugs and balancing connection. the motor wiring should be checked for
opposite to which the oil was being proper rotation as indicated by the arrow
moved by the rotors. This pressure on the pump casing. To start the pump,
would then express itself as an axial, or open the quick-throw valve at the supply
longitudinal, thrust tending to force the tank, and the-quick-throw valve and hand
bypass valve on the main supply
rotors against the bearing block (12,
Figure 2-3). This would naturally result manifold. Then turn the motor switch to
ON. If the pump is unusually noisy when
in excessively high friction, with
consequent rapid wear of all moving started, it should be shut down
parts immediately and the system investigated
for a clogged line, dirty strainers, or a
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5/25/24, 10:10 AM Submarine Hydraulic Systems - Chapter 2

closed valve which prevents the flow of

hydraulic fluid.

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2B4. Maintenance. Once the pump is their positions should be marked with a
in service, it requires no attention other prick-punch so that they may be replaced
than an occasional inspection for in their original holes.
leakage at the packing gland. If,
however, excessive leakage occurs, the b. Removing end-plates. Taking off the
packing must be replaced. two end-plates (2 and 3) then frees all of
the inner parts for removal.
To replace packing, remove the two
packing-gland nuts as shown in Figure c. Removing sleeve. The two halves of
2-5. Pull out packing gland and remove the sleeve (4, Figure 2-3), which are
the packing. shown bolted together in the illustration,
are fitted together in a step joint. Mark
After new packing has been assembled, the parts with a prick-punch so that they
the nuts should be tightened enough to may be reassembled in their original
seat the metallic packing rings, and arrangement. The sleeve is maintained in
then backed off and set up again its correct longitudinal position within
without using a wrench. Excessive the casing by the adjusting bolts (10).
gland pressure on the packing causes The settings of the adjusting bolt should
scoring of the shaft as well as rapid not be altered during disassembly.
deterioration of the packing. Adjust the
gland nuts about finger tight. The final d. Replacing guide bushing. When
adjustment should be made with the replacing the guide bushing (9), be sure it
pump running. is firmly secured by the jam screw (11).

e. Renewing sleeve. When it is necessary

to renew the sleeve, the two halves of the
new sleeve must be carefully fitted so
that the inner and outer surfaces of the
one half line up with those of the other.
They are then bolted together and
installed in the pump, and aligned
longitudinally by the adjusting bolts.
These should be so adjusted that the
shoulder on the discharge end of the
sleeve fits tightly against the counterbore
at that end of the casing. These adjusting
bolts are necessary to correct for
Figure 2-5. Removing packing gland individual differences in longitudinal
nut. dimensions resulting from tolerances
allowed in manufacture.
2B5. Disassembly and re-assembly.
When it becomes necessary to overhaul Also, the length of that portion of the
the IMO pump, its disassembly is quite adjusting bolt which protrudes from the
simple (see Figure 2-3). Proceed as tapped hole in the sleeve must be
follows: sufficient to bear tightly against the inner
face of the end-plate. It must be tight
a. Removing taper pins. On one side of enough to hold the sleeve in position, but
the pump (see Figure 2-4), are three not sufficient to prevent the end-plate
pipe plugs. Each one holds in place one from being bolted solidly to the casing.
of the taper pins mentioned in Section In practice, the proper adjustment of the
2B2b, which must be removed as the adjusting bolt is determined by taking a
first step in disassembly. These pins are trial setting. First, bolt on the end-plate,

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