Experimental Research on the Dynamic Lubricating Performance of Slipper/Swash Plate Interface in Axial Piston Pumps

The interface between the slipper/swash plate is one of the most important frication pairs in axial piston pumps. The test of this interface in a real pump is very challenging. In this paper, a novel pump prototype is designed and a test rig is set up to study the dynamic lubricating performance of the slipper/swash-plate interface in axial piston machines. Such an experimental setup can simulate the operating condition of a real axial piston pump without changing the relative motion relationship of the interfaces. Considering the lubricant oil film thickness as the main measurement parameter, the attitude of the slipper under the conditions of different load pressure, rotation speed and charge pressure are studied experimentally. After the test, the wear state of the swash plate is observed. According to the friction trace on the surface of the swash plate, the prediction for the attitude of the slipper and the zone easy to wear are verified.