Research on Deformation of Flexible Side Plates in Intra-Vane Type Pumps and its Effect on Oil Film Thickness of the Flow Distribution Pair

This paper sets up both a force balance equation and a three-dimensional geometric model of a flexible side plate in an intra-vane type pump, after analyzing the structure and mechanical properties of the plate. The formulas for calculating deformation were obtained, and the theoretical curve of change in deformation was determined. Then, the contour of deformation was obtained using software simulation. The calculated and simulated values of deformation of the flexible side plate, in three positions under four working pressures, were found to be close to one another, the relative error between them being less than 2%. Next, the formula for the calculation of oil film thickness was obtained, and the curve of the change in oil film thickness relative to the distance along the radial direction of the side plate was determined, considering the flexible side plate deformation. The oil film thickness for three flexible side plate positions were then tested through experiment. The calculated values of oil film thickness were also close to the tested values. Although there was a small difference, the relative error between them was less than 5% for the oil film thickness measured at its lowest point, which indicates the accuracy of the results obtained by the theoretical calculation.