Abstract
A balanced vane pump for the use of automotive power steering systems generates a flow ripple which is imposed upon the mean flow rate. The flow ripple interacts with the characteristics of the connected pipes, valves and steering gear in a complex manner to produce a pressure ripple, also known as fluid-borne noise. In order to reduce vibration level and produce quieter and more reliable power steering systems, it is important to measure the flow ripple produced by a pump with high accuracy and fast response. In this paper, the flow ripple generated by a vane pump in automotive power steering systems is measured by the remote instantaneous flow rate measurement method (RIFM) using hydraulic pipeline dynamics. In experiment, flow and pressure ripple wave forms are measured under various operating conditions. Also, the parameters affected upon the flow and pressure ripple are investigated by the frequency analysis.