Hydraulic Pump

This large three-throw pump was built to generate the large amounts of power needed by a steel testing machine.

The tensile testing machine pulled samples of steel apart to see how strong they were. The testing machine itself was built for Mossend Steel Works in Bellshill and was later moved to Glengarnock Steel Works. It is now on display in the exhibition hall at Summerlee.



© Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

Licensor www.scran.ac.uk

The pump was powered by the large Westinghouse electric motor that you can see bolted to it. Hydraulic power has the advantage that it can be flexible and can transmit tremendous power over distances and round corners.

The photograph shows the pump in-situ at Glengarnock.