Variable Displacement Piston Pumps and Gear Pumps: The Core Choice for Backhoe Loader Hydraulic Systems

In the core hydraulic systems of backhoe loader , the choice of hydraulic pump directly affects the machine's working efficiency, operating costs, and long-term reliability. As a leading manufacturer in this field, AOLITE totally realizes that making the correct choice between variable displacement piston pumps and gear pumps is crucial for customers.

Variable Displacement Piston Pump:A Highly Efficient and Stable Power Core

Variable displacement piston pumps achieve oil suction and pressure through the reciprocating motion of the piston inside the cylinder with their fundamental designs to meet demands for high precision and high pressure.

Variable displacement piston pumps, leveraging their technical advantages，dominate high-end backhoe loaders. For instance, the variable displacement piston pump recently developed by Le-Hydraulix for AOLITE boasts a displacement of up to 85 mL/r and a peak pressure as high as 35 MPa, ensuring sustained and powerful kinetic energy output even under extreme working conditions.

This technological advantage can directly convert into operational efficiency gains. The variable displacement technology of piston pumps constitutes their core strength—when load demand is low, the pump automatically reduces displacement, delivering only the required flow rate ，thereby significantly lowering fuel consumption. Field test data show that under typical intermittent working conditions, backhoe loader, equipped with piston pumps ,can achieve 15%-25% fuel savings compared to those using gear pumps.Taking a machine that operates 1,500 hours per year with an hourly fuel consumption of about 15 liters as an example, fuel savings alone can reach approximately 3,375 liters annually, equivalent to over 20,000 RMB.

The piston pump utilized in AOLITE's high-end product series is equipped with advanced load-sensing and constant power control technologies. Its functions like an experienced commander, capable of flexibly adjusting its output according to actual working conditions, thereby ensuring both operational efficiency and stable performance.

Gear pumps: A Cost-Effective Alternative.

Gear pumps offer an alternative choice due to simple structure, low cost, and strong resistance to contamination.The primary attraction lies in the significant initial cost. The overall price of a backhoe loader equipped with gear pumps is typically 5-10% less than those with piston pump system, representing a significant consideration for budget-conscious users. Furthermore, due to their larger internal clearance, gear pumps impose relatively lower requirements on hydraulic oil cleanliness, making them more adaptable to harsh working conditions and potentially less stringent maintenance practices.

However, this cost advantage comes at the expense of long-term performance limitations. Gear pumps are typically fixed-displacement units, delivering hydraulic fluid at a constant or near-constant flow rate whenever the engine is running. During idle or low-load conditions, substantial volumes of hydraulic fluid are returned to the tank via the relief valve without performing useful work, resulting in substantial energy loss and fuel wastage.

Data Comparison: A Total Cost of Ownership Perspective

From a long-term operational perspective, variable displacement piston pumps have a significant advantage in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO). Taking an 8-ton backhoe loader as an example, let's compare the core economic indicators of the two types of pumps:

Please note, the Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of piston pumps typically reaches 8,000 to 10,000 hours, far exceeding the 4,000 to 6,000 hours of gear pumps. Although the cost of a single repair of a piston pump is higher, the longer lifespan means lower annual maintenance costs.

AOLITE's Technological Innovation and Product Advantages

AOLITE always dedicates to providing customers with the most suitable technical solutions. Our high-end backhoe loaders are all equipped with high-performance piston pump systems as standard configuration, ensuring users gain a competitive opportunity in the fierce market competition with higher operational efficiency and lower operating costs. AOLITE's innovations in piston pump technology include:

1. Precise Structure: For the core moving components inside the pump, we optimize material heat treatment and employ an innovative combination design ensuring that key components keep extremely high stability under high-speed operation and high-pressure impact, significantly extending their lifespan.

2. Accurate Control: Through in-depth optimization for the critical structure of the variable displacement mechanism, we have solved the problem of frequent coordination malfunction between control valves and actuators under strong vibration environments,allowing for precise identification and rapid response to variable displacement commands, ensuring stable, accurate, and fast excavator operation.

3. Perfect Technical Support System: AOLITE provides customers with comprehensive technical support and maintenance training to ensure the piston pump system operates optimally, maximizing equipment lifespan and economic benefits.

Option Recommendation: Choose the pump type based on working conditions.

Whether choosing variable displacement piston pumps or gear pumps is not a simple matter of ‘good or bad’, but rather a question of ‘suitability’ based on actual working conditions, operational frequency, and the investment return model.

1. Recommend choosing variable displacement piston pumps if your business covers:

Professional contractors or rental companies typically have high equipment utilization rates and longer annual operating hours.

Engaging in high-precision operations, such as municipal engineering and farmland irrigation renovation, requiring strict stability and accuracy.

Pursuing long-term equipment value and uptime, and willing to exchange higher upfront investment for a lower failure rate.

2.Consider using gear pumps if your needs align with the following:

Extremely budget-sensitive, with initial investment being the primary consideration,and relatively low annual workload.

Operating conditions are exceptionally harsh and rugged,with limited maintenance capabilities.

The equipment is mainly used for low-intensity auxiliary tasks or as a standby, low-frequency-use machine.

In the realm of value-creating tools like backhoe loaders, the choice of hydraulic pump is a trade-off between short-term costs and long-term benefits. Despite initial purchase costs are higher,variable displacement piston pumps provide 15%-25% fuel savings、higher operational precision and nearly double lifespan, offering a significant advantage of total cost of ownership advantage throughout their entire life-cycle.

AOLITE remains committed to collaborating with industry chain partners to advance our premiumization strategy. We will continue providing customers with more efficient and reliable piston pump technology solutions, empowering them to maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly demanding market.