Hydrostatic transmission circuits

While pumps, motors and cylinders are the main components of hydrostatic transmissions, many other components are also needed to build the circuits required for each function.

Two main circuit families correspond to two types of use:

• closed circuits are suitable for continuous, high-efficiency operation using rotating receivers;

• open circuits are advantageous when several actuators need to be driven one after the other, especially if these actuators are cylinders.

In both cases, the control, distribution and regulation components are available in a large number of variants. The choice of schematics should be guided by the functions and qualities required: reliability, progressiveness, safety, speed, weight, price, service life, maintenance, etc.

At the end of this article, a few application examples illustrate the fields in which hydrostatic transmissions are undergoing significant development.

Readers are referred to the following articles:

• Pumps and motors ;

• Circuit assembly and design.