How to choose the best pump drive for your application? A guide to splitter versus single head pump drives. Hydraulic power systems are commonplace in many mobile driveline designs from construction equipment, mining vehicles to crushing and screening plant machinery. Many of these applications require multiple pumps to carry out the vast array of functions they were designed to meet.
The traditional or “standard” has commonly been to place the hydraulic pumps directly off engine flywheels. However, as engines sizes increase, with engine PTO outputs decreasing, power requirements become more demanding.
With the desire for machinery to have more functionality, designers have questions on how to best fit these hydraulic pumps into new or even existing designs. Increasingly we are seeing designers and operators considering the use of engine mounted splitter pump drives to solve complex hydraulic and pumping system needs on modern machinery.
Pump drives/power take-offs are available in a multitude of configurations; including splitter pump drives and single head pump drives, but what does this mean?
Splitter Pump Drive
A splitter type with multiple pump pads is an engine flywheel mounted solution ideal for those applications that require hydraulic power only.
Available from MIT in options with 1 to 4 pads, they can be used to drive various pumps or other hydraulic equipment from one prime mover. This multi-pad option allows up or down ratios to ensure hydraulic pumps are running at their optimum speed.
This type of array can provide improved packaging options, allowing for a much shorter overall installed length. It also gives the opportunity to individually clutch hydraulic pumps as required, minimising parasitic losses and maximise efficiency.
Benefits of splitter pump drives:
- Offers multiple pump solution on 1 to 4 pump pads
- Uses all power transmitted from the engine
- Allows for reduced installed length
- Separates pumps to allow for multi-function control
- Step-up and step-down ratios available
- Ratio changes allow for the engine to run at an optimum level for max power and fuel efficiency
- Power input via both close-coupled ICE, electric motors and remote source.
Splitter Pump Drive Applications:
- Mobile Crushers, Screeners and recycling equipment
- Hydraulic power packs
- Agricultural equipment
- Defence Vehicles
- Drilling/Piling Rigs.
Single Pump Drive
Alternatively, single pump drives (multi-head pump drives) are designed to fit between the engine and a driven component. For example, mechanical gearboxes, hydraulic transmissions and larger hydraulic pumps which offer multiple pump heads (1 to 4) allowing for up to 8 pump pad fitment locations.
These units are designed with through drive capability by offering a secondary output flywheel and housing for the through driven components. This set-up allows the equipment to maintain the through power from the prime mover, with the option to utilise some of the power to operate hydraulic pumps or even electric motors mounted to the pump heads.
This design is particularly useful in applications where engine PTO power is insufficient.
Benefits of a single pump drive:
- Operates between the engine and power transmission product
- Offers an additional 1 to 8 pump pads
- Normally only 1:1 ratio, small set up available
- Takes power from engine allowing for potential reduced PTO or transmission size after pump drive
- Works in an inline system with power shift transmissions, PTOs, Clutches, Alternators & Hydrostatic drive systems
- Pump head placement allows utilisation of space around the engine.
Single pump drive applications:
- Mobile Crushers
- Screeners and Recycling equipment
- Hydraulic power systems
- Agricultural equipment
- Military Vehicles
- Drilling/Piling Rigs.
When choosing the correct unit for your application, there are several factors to consider. Whether for a new build or a retrofit, it is essential to choose the right product for your pump or hydraulic machinery.
MIT has over 40 years in the mobile driveline market and has experts based across the UK & Ireland who are primed to assist you in any query or application that you may have.
