A hydraulic gear pump functions as a vital component within hydraulic systems by converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy by moving hydraulic fluid through the pump assembly, often in conjunction with a pump and motor setup. Gear pumps are used in a wide range of hydraulic systems; in fact, they are easily among the most common types of pumps seen in this type of equipment. Hydraulic gear pumps are of a fixed displacement design and operate by means of a prime mover such as an engine or motor to pump the fluid.

Although there are several uses for gear pumps and significant variations in gear pump components, their basic design and theory of operation is as follows. Every pump includes two (sometimes more) rotating gears whose teeth interlock. The rotation of the drive shaft turns the drive gear, which, due to the intermeshing design, also puts the other gear into motion. Hydraulic gear pumps do not create a strong suction, so they operate best with a flooded inlet. A gear pump can be either clockwise or anti-clockwise in its drive shaft rotation.

These pumps are constructed from diverse materials such as cast iron, aluminium, steel, and even plastics or composites, each chosen based on the durability, fluid compatibility, and operating pressure requirements of the system. Hydraulic pump applications span a variety of industries, including the agriculture, marine, mining, and construction sectors, where their ability to handle heavy-duty tasks in service vehicles and other types of heavy equipment is extremely useful.

Whether operating within the tightly controlled environment of industrial machinery or enduring the harsh conditions of outdoor agricultural equipment, hydraulic gear pumps are essential. Their versatility and reliability enable a wide range of applications, such as lifting and moving materials in construction sites, driving the hydraulic systems of commercial ships, and providing the muscle behind mechanised operations in farming—all with the might of fluid power.

Hydraulic gear pumps come in several different types:

Internal gear pumps – This type of pump utilises a “gear inside a gear” design. As the gears rotate in the same direction, the space between them varies in a controlled manner, resulting in displacement of the pressurised fluid. Internal gear pumps are noted for their relatively quiet operation and ability to manage thick fluid.

External gear pumps – These pumps have two intermeshed gears arranged side by side, one of which is connected to the drive shaft. Rotating the drive shaft creates motion in the gears and creates a flow path on the outside of each gear. An external gear pump can operate effectively at a variety of speeds and with a range of fluid viscosities. Their main advantages are simplicity, size-to-power ratio, and price-to-power ratio.

What can a hydraulic gear pump do that other pumps cannot? For the most part, hydraulic gear pumps offer precise output control that isn’t possible with centrifugal pumps, for example. Increasing or decreasing the speed of the prime mover will increase or decrease the output flow rate. Hydraulic gear pumps are normally made to only run in one rotation; however, this can normally be changed if required.

Hydraulic internal gear pumps are often more expensive than centrifugal pumps, whilst hydraulic external gear pumps tend to be less expensive. They tend to be noisier as well—which can be a problem in environments where extraneous noises cannot be tolerated—and cannot be used to handle abrasive materials.

White House Products: A Leading Hydraulic Gear Pump Distributor

White House Products Ltd carries high-quality hydraulic equipment from today’s leading gear pump manufacturers, including Eaton, Bosch Rexroth, Parker, Permco, Vickers, Vivoil, David Brown, and many more. Here you can find a variety of genuine parts that can be used as components in hydraulic power packs and other types of equipment. 

Apart from providing replacement pumps from leading manufacturers, White House Products also specialises in remanufacturing hydraulic components. This is a process that restores used or worn-out parts to a condition that is as good as new, or even better, in terms of performance and reliability. Feel free to request a quote for our hydraulic repair services.

We invite you to explore the hydraulic pump replacement components that we have listed in this section.