Eliminating Splitter Gearboxes: How A20VLO Saves Space and Cost

The Multi-Circuit Dilemma in Heavy Machinery

In the design of heavy-duty mobile machinery—such as concrete pump trucks, rotary drilling rigs, and large cranes—engineers frequently face a major challenge: powering multiple high-demand hydraulic circuits independently and simultaneously. For example, a concrete pump truck requires one high-pressure circuit to drive the concrete pumping cylinders and another separate circuit to operate the boom arms.

Traditionally, achieving this required mounting a bulky splitter gearbox (also known as a pump drive or distributor gearbox)directly to the diesel engine. This gearbox would then split the engine's mechanical output to drive two separate, single Hydraulic Pumps. While effective, this setup introduces massive penalties in terms of space, weight, cost, and mechanical efficiency.

Enter the A20VLO: One Shaft, Two Independent Circuits

The A20VLO axial piston double variable pump completely disrupts this traditional layout. By integrating two independent swashplate rotating groups into a single, compact pump housing driven by a single shared input shaft, it allows engineers to eliminate the splitter gearbox entirely.

This "two-in-one" engineering marvel connects directly to the engine's flywheel housing, taking up a fraction of the space required by a multi-pump drivetrain.

Critical Advantages for OEM Machinery Designers

• Significant Cost Reduction: Eliminating the splitter gearbox directly removes a high-cost mechanical component from the bill of materials (BOM). It also eliminates the need for separate pump-to-gearbox couplings, extra mounting brackets, and independent gearbox lubrication systems.

• Dramatic Space and Weight Savings: Space inside the engine compartment of a modern construction vehicle is tightly constrained due to complex emission-control systems. The A20VLO frees up crucial real estate and strips hundreds of kilograms off the vehicle’s chassis, allowing for better weight distribution and fuel economy.

• Enhanced Mechanical Efficiency: Every gear mesh in a splitter gearbox introduces mechanical friction and heat, wasting roughly 2% to 3% of engine power. Driving the dual rotating groups directly off a single shaft removes these transmission losses, directing more raw power into the hydraulic system.

• Unmatched Control Flexibility: Despite sharing a single housing and shaft, the two pump sections inside the A20VLO operate with complete independence. Designers can configure the front pump with a load-sensing regulator (DFR) for precision maneuvering, while equipping the rear pump with a constant power regulator (LR) for high-pressure pushing tasks.

Technical Specifications: Heavy-Duty Double Power

The A20VLO series is built specifically to handle the unforgiving duty cycles of heavy construction and industrial pressing.

Simplifying Maintenance and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

For fleet operators and service centers, the removal of the splitter gearbox eliminates a notorious failure point. Gearboxes require regular oil changes, seal replacements, and are prone to gear wear or catastrophic bearing failures under heavy vibration.

By standardizing on the A20VLO, the mechanical drivetrain is streamlined to a single direct connection. Maintenance teams only need to monitor one piece of equipment, reducing routine service hours, simplifying parts inventory, and dramatically cutting down unexpected downtime on the job site. When space, weight, and budget are tight, direct-drive dual pumping via the A20VLO is the ultimate engineering shortcut to higher profitability.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does the A20VLO cause uneven wear inside the pump if one circuit is used more heavily than the other?

Answer: No. While both rotating groups share the same drive shaft and housing, they possess independent cylinder blocks, pistons, and valve plates. Heavily loading one side (e.g., pumping concrete at 350 bar) while the other side is idling will not accelerate wear on the idling components. The robust internal bearing arrangement is specifically engineered to handle highly asymmetric hydraulic loads.

Q2: Can we mix completely different control types on the two separate pump groups?

Answer: Yes, this is one of the primary reasons engineers choose the A20VLO. The front and rear pump modules can be fitted with entirely unique control valves. For example, you can combine a proportional electric displacement control (EP) on pump 1 with a purely mechanical pressure-limiting control (DR) on pump 2, perfectly tailoring the pump to complex multi-function machinery.

Q3: Is the A20VLO a drop-in replacement for systems currently using two separate single pumps on a gearbox?

Answer: It is not a direct "bolt-on" replacement because you will be removing the gearbox entirely. However, it functions as a perfect systemic upgrade. You will need to re-route the main suction and pressure piping to the new single pump location at the engine flywheel, but the modification is highly rewarded by the massive space savings gained in the engine bay.

Q4: How does the single suction port design of the A20VLO affect fluid intake?

Answer: To simplify installation, the A20VLO features a large, single shared suction port that feeds oil to both internal rotating groups. This greatly simplifies the intake plumbing, requiring only one large suction hose from the hydraulic reservoir instead of two separate lines, further reducing potential leak points and installation labor.