How Does a Hydraulic Motor Work?

The primary source of power in a hydraulic system is fluid pressure. But in order for this type of hydraulic energy to be converted into useful mechanical energy, you need a hydraulic motor. What happens is the hydraulic pump pushes fluid through the motor, and this fluid moves the gears, vanes or pistons of the hydraulic motor. This movement of the parts inside the motor generates power which can be used to activate other parts of the system.

The two most important defining qualities of a hydraulic motor are torque and speed. These two qualities are related. Torque is a function of the volume of fluid a motor can displace and the pressure drop across the motor, and speed is a function of input flow and displacement. Increasing torque will reduce flow and therefore reduce speed, unless you compensate with increased flow.

Types of Hydraulic Motors

The main types of hydraulic motors are as follows:

Low-end orbital motors: reliable for low-pressure, low-speed applications; inefficient at higher pressures and speeds.
Gear Motors: simple, inexpensive, and good for medium-speed applications; can be noisy.
Vane motors: provide good efficiency for large displacement applications; can be pricey.
Radial piston motors: very efficient and have very large capacities; can be expensive.
Bent-axis piston motors: ideal for applications requiring a lot of power in a compact package.

Buying Hydraulic Motors

When it comes to buying hydraulic motors, you have a lot of options-not just in the products you choose but where you opt to purchase them. At Bernell Hydraulics, we are proud to offer an extensive selection of quality hydraulic motors from top brand names like Parker. For example, we carry the famous Parker Torqmotor, known as one of the most reliable motors on the market.

But we believe that it is our high level of customer service that sets us apart and makes Bernell Hydraulics such a good place to buy hydraulic motors. We will be happy to discuss your needs with you to help you find the right product for your equipment. We can even provide onsite troubleshooting services if needed. We offer onsite hydraulic motor installation within our local service area too. Please call 909-899-1751 to learn more.