Numerical study on a rotational hydraulic damper with variable damping coefficient

The rotational hydraulic damper has advantages in the design and control of rotational machines. This paper presents a novel hydraulic rotational damper with the characteristic of adjusting the damping coefficient. It is composed of a shell, a gap, a rotor shaft, sliding vanes, a valve, and a motor, just like a combination of a sliding pump system and a valve driven by a motor. A new cam ring slot designed to guide the radial motion of sliding vanes could reduce friction resistance force, which will also benefit the design of the sliding pump. The damping coefficient model of this damper is established based on dynamic analysis. Series of numerical simulations validate the impact of factors on the damping coefficient. Frictional resistances have little influence on the damping coefficient during most conditions. The total coefficient is positively correlative with the angular velocity and the valve angle. Therefore, changing the valve angle according to the rotor shaft’s angular speed could adjust the damping coefficient.