PUMP Brief

Hydraulic Pump Division TI-0014

P1/PD Torque Limiter Guidance

The Parker P1/PD series piston
pumps for mobile and industrial AMT Schematic
open circuit applications offers a wide
variety of control options. The torque
limiter control is one of the most
popular options.

The torque limiter control compares

the pump swashplate position to
the system pressure and adjusts the
pump displacement to maintain a
maximum shaft torque. Since most
pumps are spinning at a constant
input rpm, the unit will control the
amount of horsepower the pump will
demand. This is why these controls
are often called horsepower limiting,
or power limiting controls.

There is a lot of confusion concerning

the adjustment of this control as well
as the adjustment range for each
pump. This document provides detail
on how to adjust the torque control
cartridge. In addition, it provides
important information on how to
Figure 1
interpret the torque charts in the
P1/PD product catalog.

The torque control is available

with the AM control (pressure
compensator with remote pressure
port) on frame sizes 045 through 140
(model code call out AMT). With the
AL control (load sense control) on
frame sizes 045 and 060 (model code
call out ALT).

PUMP Brief TI-0014 2012 Parker Hannifin Corporation 8/2012

 ALT Schematic

Figure 2

L0T Schematic

Figure 3

PUMP Brief TI-0014 2012 Parker Hannifin Corporation 8/2012

 System
Pressure via
tube-line

5 4

Pump
Swash
plate

1 3
7 2

Figure 4 Cartridge cross section

And with the L0/L1 controls (load

sense control) on frame sizes 075 To adjust the torque limiter
through 140 (model code call
out L0T). 1. Loosen the jam nut by turning
it clockwise
The circuit diagrams for each control 2. To decrease the torque setting turn
are provided in Figure 1, Figure 2, the adjustment nut clockwise.
and Figure 3. To increase the torque setting,
turn the adjustment nut
The torque limiter works by venting counter clockwise.
the compensator based in the 3. Tighten the jam nut by turning it
physical cam position in the pump counter clockwise
(Figure 4). The cartridge is threaded
into the pump housing and interfaces
with the pump swash plate through
Torque setting
a mechanical feedback (1). This adjustment nut
mechanical feedback is held against
the swash plate with a lightweight
spring (2). System pressure (or load Jam nut
sense pressure) is sensed through
the elbow fitting (3). The pressure
applies a force against the spool (4) Figure 5 Torque limiter adjustment
and compresses the main spring
(5). As the main spring compresses,
the spool moves towards the pump
swashplate until the cross drilling
(6) in the spool moves outside of the
sleeve (7) and allows the pressure to

PUMP Brief TI-0014 2012 Parker Hannifin Corporation 8/2012

relieve into the pump case, causing
P1-PD*** WITH TORQUE LIMITER
the pump to destroke. As the pump
TYPICAL PLACEMENT VS SYSTEM PRESSURE CURVE (1800 RPM)
destrokes, the mechanical feedback
(1) and sleeve (7) move towards the 120
inside of the pump. Here, the swash

DISPLACEMENT - %
100
plate is moving towards neutral
allowing the spring (2) to push them 80
out until the cross drilling (6) begins
60
to close off. While the control is 25% Torque Setting
actively working in the torque curve, 40
the spool (4) will continuously meter 50% Torque Setting
flow as pressure and swashplate 20
75% Torque Setting
position changes. 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
The Parker P1/PD product catalog (35) (69) (105) (138) (174) (207) (207) (276) (316)
provides two generic torque curves.
SYSTEM PRESSURE - psi(bar)
Figure 6 compares the displacement
% to system pressure at 3 different
Figure 6
settings. Figure 7 compares shaft
torque to system pressure at the same
three settings.
P1-PD*** WITH TORQUE LIMITER
Since these graphs are generic they TYPICAL % OF FULL TORQUE VS SYSTEM PRESSURE CURVE (1800 RPM)
cannot list a specific flow or torque.
100
However, an estimated value can be 25% Torque Setting
found by taking the displacement of 90
50% Torque Setting
the unit used and calculating the flow 80
75% Torque Setting 75%
FULL TORQUE - %

at 1800 rpm, and also by calculating 70

the torque of the unit at 4000 PSI. 60
50 50%
On P1/PD pumps, it is not
recommended to set the torque 40
limiter below 25% of maximum pump 30
25%
torque. Setting the torque limiter to 20
a value below 25% will prevent the 10
pump from achieving full stroke.
0
It is recommended that a smaller
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
displacement pump be selected if a (35) (69) (105) (138) (174) (207) (207) (276) (316)
unit is to be set below 25%.
SYSTEM PRESSURE - psi(bar)

Figure 7

PUMP Brief TI-0014 2012 Parker Hannifin Corporation 8/2012

Application Example
P1-PD*** WITH TORQUE LIMITER
Using a PD060 pump with maximum
TYPICAL PLACEMENT VS SYSTEM PRESSURE CURVE (1800 RPM)
theoretical flow @ 1800 RPM is 28.5
GPM, the maximum theoretical 120
28.5 GPM
torque @ 4000 psi would be 2330

DISPLACEMENT - %
100
in-lbs.
80
The prime mover has a HP rating
60
of 30 HP @ 1800 RPM. This means 25% Torque Setting
15.5 GPM
that the maximum pump torque 40
generated is 1050 in-lbs. The PD060 50% Torque Setting
pump is the correct pump for 20
75% Torque Setting
the application since the prime 0
mover torque rating is greater than
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
25% of the maximum theoretical (35) (69) (105) (138) (174) (207) (207) (276) (316)
pump torque (1050/2330 = 45%).
Compensator setting is 3500 PSI. SYSTEM PRESSURE - psi(bar)

Using the Displacement vs. Pressure Figure 8

chart (Figure 8), it is possible to
estimate that the unit will deliver
P1-PD*** WITH TORQUE LIMITER
full flow up to about 2000 PSI. At
TYPICAL % OF FULL TORQUE VS SYSTEM PRESSURE CURVE (1800 RPM)
that point, the flow will decrease
until compensator setting of 3500 is 100
25% Torque Setting
achieved. The flow before the pump 90
50% Torque Setting
compensates will be about 15.5 GPM. 80
75% Torque Setting 75%
FULL TORQUE - %

70
Figure 9 shows a standard torque
60
curve at a % of torque setting. Using
the above example of 45%, the 50 50%
nominal 50% setting curve can be 40
used (purple graph line). Note that the 30
torque curve bulges slightly above the 25%
20
nominal setting. This slight increase in
10
torque is due to tolerance in the unit.
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
(35) (69) (105) (138) (174) (207) (207) (276) (316)
SYSTEM PRESSURE - psi(bar)

Figure 9

PUMP Brief TI-0014 2012 Parker Hannifin Corporation 8/2012

Parker Hannifin Corporation

Hydraulic Pump Division
14249 Industrial Pkwy.
Marysville, OH 43040
phone 937 644 3915
fax 937 642 3738
www.parker.com