Hydrostatic Transmissions My Notes and Calculations

Chapter 4

Hydrostatic Transmissions
Objective
The term hydrostatic, as it refers to hydraulic circuits, means any circuit using a pump
in combination with a hydraulic motor. In this section, youll learn the differnece
between an open circuit and a closed circuit, the purpose of the components used
in these circuits, and the basis of operation of hydrostatic circuits.
Open Circuit
Overview
In an open circuit, hydraulic fluid supplied to the pump inlet comes from the
reservoir and is returned from the actuator back to the reservoir. In most open
circuits, hydraulic fluid is fed to the actuator by a directional control valve and is
returned to the reservoir in the same way. This first circuit is a basic system with
a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor. When the pump is in operation, flow is
directed to the hydraulic motor, causing the motor to rotate. If the pump is not
rotating, the hydraulic motor will not turn.

Figure 4.1 A basic open circuit system with

a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor

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In this circuit, a directional control valve is added to the circuit and a bidirectional
hydraulic motor replaces the hydraulic motor. The directional control valve will
allow the hydraulic motor to reverse direction when shifted.

Figure 4.2 A basic open circuit system with the directional control valve added

This circuit adds an adjustable flow control valve and a pressure relief valve. The
flow control valve allows for variable output speeds from the hydraulic motor. The
pressure relief valve protects the system from overpressurization and will shift as
the system pressure increases due to flow restriction in the flow control valve.

Figure 4.3 Open circuit system described in stage three

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In this circuit, a variable pump has replaced the fixed pump. The flow control valve
is removed, an open centered directional control valve is added, and a filter and
heat exchanger are added to the return line. The directional control valve allows
for forward or reverse direction of the motor and freewheeling of the hydraulic
motor when the valve is centered. The filter and heat exchanger will condition
the fluid before it returns to the reservoir. The variable pump will now allow for
variable output speeds from the hydraulic motor. If the hydraulic motor rotation
is restricted or stopped, the high pressure relief valve opens, protecting the system
from overpressurization.

Figure 4.4 Open circuit system described in stage four

Closed Circuit
Overview
With a closed circuit, the hydraulic fluid is normally returned from the actuator
directly back to the inlet of the pump. In most closed circuits, the continuous
leakage from the pump and motor is replenished by an auxiliary pump. This first
circuit is a basic system with a bidirectional, variable displacement piston pump
and a bidirectional hydraulic motor. When the pump is on stroke, flow is directed

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to the hydraulic motor, causing it to rotate. The rotation of the hydraulic motor
is reversed when the piston pumps swashplate goes over center. Controlling the
output speed of the hydraulic motor is achieved by varying the output flow from
the variable piston pump. If the pump is not rotating, or is off stroke, the hydraulic
motor will not turn.

Figure 4.5 Closed circuit system described in stage one

In this circuit, two pressure relief valves are added to protect the system from
overpressurization. When the hydraulic motor rotation is restricted or stopped, the
high pressure relief valve opens, protecting the system from overpressurization.

Figure 4.6 Closed circuit system described in stage two

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A small reservoir is added to hold the case drain leakage from the pump and
hydraulic motor. This leakage must be replenished to the low pressure side of the
closed circuit.

Figure 4.7 Closed circuit system described in stage three

A replenishing or charge circuit consisting of a fixed pump, with a filter in the

suction line, two spring-loaded check valves, and a charge pressure relief valve
are added to the closed circuit. A heat exchanger and return line filter are added
to the case drain leakage line to condition the fluid returning to the reservoir. The
fixed pump replenishes hydraulic fluid to the closed circuit through the check valve
on the low pressure side of the closed circuit. The other check valve isolates the
high system pressure of the closed circuit, from the low pressure of the charge
circuit. When the charge pump has replenished the low pressure side of the circuit,
pressure builds, slightly opening the charge pressure relief valve, and directing the
excess fluid back to the reservoir. The charge pressure relief valve maintains a
constant pressure in the low pressure line, which charges the pump. When the
hydraulic motor rotation is restricted or stopped, the high pressure relief valve
opens, protecting the system from overpressurization.

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Figure 4.8 Closed circuit system described in stage three

Schematic
Forward
The charge pump draws fluid from the reservoir through the filter. The check valve
is used as a bypass in case the filter becomes plugged.
The oil then flows into the charge pump. The charge pump is mounted to the main
pump, which is driven at shaft speed. The purpose of the charge pump is to:
Provide a flow of oil through the pump and motor cases for cooling purposes
Supply oil to the low pressure side of the main pump/motor circuit
Provide sufficient oil for control purposes and internal leakage makeup
The oil will flow into the main loop through the makeup check valve. As will be
shown later, the fluid provides makeup oil to the return path from the motor and
flows through the case of the pump and motor for cooling.
When the control handle is moved to the forward position, it shifts the control
valve, highlighted in yellow, allowing flow to and from the servo control cylinders.
This causes the swashplate to pivot. As the swashplate pivots, the linkage attached
between the swashplate and the control lever causes the control valve to center
when the swashplate has moved proportionately to the movement of the control
handle.

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Figure 4.9 Hydrostatic transmission circuit with the control valve highlighted

The control valve provides sufficient oil for maintaining the swashplate and pump
displacement at the desired position. The main pump provides flow to the motor,
causing forward rotation of the motor.
The check valve is held closed by the high pressure in the loop. Return flow from
the motor flows to the inlet of the pump.
Pressure on the high pressure side of the loop shifts the shuttle valve. Oil from the
charge pump enters the low pressure side of the circuit through the check valve
and flows through the shuttle valve.
The charge pressure relief valve is normally set 50 psi higher than the cooling
relief valve. Because of this, the cooling relief valve opens and allows flow into
the motor case.

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Figure 4.10 Hydrostatic transmission circuit operating in the forward position

The cooling oil flows through the motor and pump. It then flows through the air-
cooled heat exchanger, and back to the reservoir. If the motor stalls or pressure
exceeds the relief valve setting, the pressure relief valve, will open allowing flow
back to the low pressure side and back to the pump inlet.
Neutral
The charge pump draws fluid from the reservoir through the filter. The check valve
is used as a bypass in case the filter becomes plugged. The oil then flows into the
charge pump. The charge pump is mounted to the main pump, which is driven at
shaft speed. The purpose of the charge pump is to:
Provide a flow of oil through the pump and motor cases for cooling purposes
Supply oil to the low pressure side of the main pump/motor circuit
Provide sufficient oil for control purposes and internal leakage makeup

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Figure 4.11 Hydrostatic transmission circuit in the neutral position

The oil will flow into the main loop through the makeup check valves. When the
control handle is in the neutral position, the control valve is centered. The control
valve blocks oil flow from the charge pump and allows the oil from the servo
control cylinders to return through the displacement control valve back to the case
of the pump.
The servo control cylinders, which are internally spring loaded, cause the swashplate
to be centered in the neutral position.
Because the pressure is equal on both sides of the main loop, the motor will not
rotate and the shuttle valve will not shift.
The charge pressure relief valve opens, and cooling oil flows through this valve into
the pump case. The cooling oil then flows through the air-cooled heat exchanger
and back to the reservoir.
Reverse
The charge pump draws fluid in from the reservoir through the filter. The check
valve is used as a bypass in case the filter becomes plugged.

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Hydrostatic Transmissions My Notes and Calculations

The oil then flows into the charge pump. The charge pump is mounted to the main
pump, which is driven at shaft speed. The purpose of the charge pump is to:
Provide a flow of oil through the pump and motor cases for cooling purposes
Supply oil to the low pressure side of the main pump / motor circuit
Provide sufficient oil for control purposes and internal leakage makeup

Figure 4.12 Hydrostatic transmission circuit with the motor highlighted

The oil will flow into the main loop through the make-up check valve. As will be
shown later, the fluid provides make-up oil to the return path from the motor and
flows through the case of the pump and motor for cooling.
When the control handle is moved to the reverse position, it shifts the control valve,
allowing flow to and from the servo control cylinders. This causes the swashplate
to pivot. As the swashplate pivots, the linkage attached between the swashplate and
the control lever causes the control valve to center when the swashplate is moved
proportionately to the movement of the control handle.
The control valve provides sufficient oil for maintaining the swashplate and pump
displacement at the desired position. The main pump provides flow to the motor,
causing reverse rotation of the motor.

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Hydrostatic Transmissions My Notes and Calculations

The check valve is held closed by the high pressure in the loop. Return flows from
the motor to the inlet of the pump. Pressure on the high pressure side of the loop
shifts the shuttle valve.

Figure 4.13 Hydrostatic transmission circuit with the relief valve highlighted

Oil from the charge pump enters the low pressure side of the circuit through the
check valve and flows through the shuttle valve. The charge pressure relief valve is
normally set 50 psi higher than the cooling relief valve. Because of this, the cooling
relief valve opens and allows flow into the motor case.
The cooling oil flows through the motor and pump. The cooling oil then flows
through the air-cooled heat exchanger and back to the reservoir.
If the motor stalls or pressure exceeds the relief valve setting, the high pressure
relief valve will open, allowing flow back to the low pressure side and back to the
pump inlet.

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SUMMARY 6. When oil is needed in the main loop of

The term hydrostatic, as it refers to hydraulic circuits, means any circuit using a
pump in combination with a hydraulic motor.
In an open circuit, hydraulic fluid supplied to the pump inlet comes from the
reservoir and is returned from the actuator back to the reservoir.
With a closed circuit, the hydraulic fluid is normally returned from the actuator
directly back to the inlet of the pump.
QUESTIONS
Open Circuit
1. Hydrostatic drives can either be an open
or closed loop design.
a. True
b. False
2. An open circuit hydrostatic transmission
may use either a variable displacement or
a fixed displacement pump.
a. True
b. False
3. Open circuit hydrostatic transmissions
use a ________________ to achieve
forward and reverse direction of the
drive motor.
a. shuttle valve
b. directional control valve
c. bidirectional variable
displacement pump
d. double pump
4. Two methods of controlling the
speed of the motor in an open circuit
hydrostatic transmission are to use
__________________________.
a. either a brake or a flow control
valve
b. either a flow control valve or a
directional control valve
c. either a variable displacement
pump or a flow control valve
d. either a variable pump or a brake
Closed Circuit
5. Hydrostatic drives can be either an open
or closed loop design.
a. True
b. False
the hydrostatic drive, it enters through
the _____________________.
a. check valve on the high pressure
side of the loop
b. check valve on the low pressure
side of the loop
c. charge relief valve
d. shuttle valve
7. Oil passing through the charge pressure
relief valve goes _________________.
a. directly back to the reservoir
b. to the case of the pump for
cooling purposes
c. to a cooler to be cooled before
being put back into the main
loop
d. to the low pressure side of the
loop
8. A closed circuit hydrostatic transmission
uses a directional control valve in the
main loop to start, stop, and control the
speed and direction of rotation of the
bidirectional drive motor.
a. True
b. False

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