FAQ.
What is hydrostatic transmission?
It is simply defined as transmitting directly energy through a fluid, without intermediate mechanical components between input and output. This type of transmission system allows very high performance, excellent control at all powers and speed, with great ease of use. It also requires little maintenance and is highly reliable, ensures maximum comfort for the operator and is economic to run.
Merlo’s hydrostatic transmission simply consists of a hydraulic piston pump with a variable output flow and a hydraulic motor (which is either of fixed or variable flow). The hydraulic pump produces a pressurised flow of oil that is sent through hoses to the hydraulic motor, turning the output shaft. This drives a two-speed gearbox which is connected to drive shafts powering the two axles.
The oil then returns from the motor to the pump forming a closed and isolated circuit. The travel speed of the machine is varied by changing the output flow rate of the pump. If the pump flow direction can be reversed the machine can also go backwards!
Changing direction is simply performed by changing the position of a small plate inside the pump, which directs the flow of pressurised oil towards one or other of the exit ports. The direction of travel is easily controlled via a small lever to the left of the steering wheel. The operator can operate it without taking his hands off the wheel (the ‘Finger-Touch’ system). The gearbox’s mechanical gears provide two speed ranges - one for heavy work and the other for travelling – with control of travel speed made simply via the accelerator pedal.