Design and fluid analysis of the microsegment gear tooth profile for pump operating at high speed and high pressure

In order to solve the problem of oil trapping in involute gear pumps, a new tooth profile based on the microsegment tooth profile and incorporating the circular arc tooth profile theory has been designed in this study. Firstly, the tooth profile equation of the microsegment gear profile for the pump has been derived. Then, the spatial tooth surface equation of the helical microsegment gear for the pump has been derived, and the feasibility of the new tooth profile has been verified using the contact spot experiment. The characteristics of the new gear profile without oil trapping and the closed “8” type mesh line have been analyzed, from which the output flow rate of the microsegment gear pump has been verified to be constant. A conclusion has been drawn on the applicability of the microsegment gear tooth profile for the pumps. Further, the fluid analysis model of the microsegment gear pump has been proposed to analyze the oil pressure distribution and state of fluid motion at high pressures in the microsegment gear pump. A comparison of the performances of the involute and the microsegment gear pumps shows that the output pressure and maximum pressures of the microsegment gear pump are smoother than that of the involute gear pump. Analysis of the effect of the high rotational speed on the output oil pressure and the maximum pressure shows that the former increases, whereas the latter varies very little with the rotational speed.