The A1VO is an alternative source of hydraulic power to constant displacement pumps, ideally suited to applications requiring lower power consumption, such as fan drives, steering, forklift trucks and small tractors.

Axial piston pumps are already widely used on “big machines” due to their load sensing capabilities which ensure that the power used accurately matches the power requirement.  Smaller mobile machinery has traditionally used energy-intensive open centre systems utilising constant pumps. Constant pump systems continue to generate flow and pressure even when not required, using fuel, generating noise and heat and need large oil coolers to dissipate the heat generated.

Taking the example of a 90hp tractor in a mixed duty cycle, the A1VO achieves 10-15% fuel savings per operating hour compared to a constant pump. Assuming a working life time of 6,000 hours, this translates into fuel savings of up to 10,000 litres over the course of the vehicle’s operational life. The efficiency rate of the A1VO is almost 90% and it can be used in a variety of mobile machinery from fork lift trucks through to bus fan drives. Reduction in fuel consumption also equates to an improvement in exhaust emissions, helping ‘off highway’ machinery OEMs to meet the upcoming Tier IV emission regulations. As variable displacement pumps only deliver oil when needed, the oil cooler can be reduced in size or even removed altogether.

The A1VO has a maximum flow of 105 l/min due to high self-suction speeds and can offer significant savings in partial load operation, including work which does not demand full hydraulic power such as vibration damping or intermittent use such as steering movements or fan drives. In addition to a compact design, the pump also features a controller integrated into the port plate.

To ensure easy retrofitting from a constant to a variable pump, the new A1VO is comparable in dimensions to constant pumps, using the same flange, shaft and porting configurations. What’s more, a universal through drive with an interchangeable adapter makes the A1VO easy to combine with other pumps.

This combination of optimum efficiency and reduced power consumption recently resulted in an ‘Eima Mention’ at the 2012 Eima Technical Innovation Contest, held in Italy.

Sean Kilgallen, Bosch Rexroth UK Sales Manager for Mobile Applications, said: “The new A1VO is the accumulation of years of hard work to meet market demand for a cost effective alternative to constant pumps for use in smaller mobile vehicles.  We can now offer a solution that is both energy efficient and has a long life-expectancy in comparison to constant systems. The A1VO axial piston pump is already very popular in Continental Europe and we are confident that the pump will receive an equally positive response in the UK.”