Description

Similar to piston pumps, axial piston motors work with a bent axis design or swash plate principle. The fixed displacement type works as a hydraulic motor, and the variable displacement type most often functions as a hydraulic pump. Fixed displacement motors may be used in both open and closed loop circuits.

In the bent axis design, pistons move up and down within the cylinder block bores. This motion is converted into rotary movement via the piston ball joint at the drive flange. In the swash plate design, pistons move up and down within the cylinder block and turn it, which then turns the drive shaft via the connected cotter pin.