History of gerotor hydraulics

The first part in a retrospective of the development of gerotor technology, the engineers behind the breakthroughs, and an acquisition here and there.

With more than 50 million gerotor pumps and 2 million gerotor motors manufactured annually, gerotor mechanisms are quite possibly the most popular power element used for hydraulic pumps and motors. Gerotor pumps were first commercially produced in the early 1920s, while production of gerotor motors began in the 1950s.

Today, gerotor technology is employed in a diverse range of applications, including electronically controlled fuel pumps, low-pressure oil-transfer pumps, and high-pressure hydraulic motors. By most accounts, however, gerotors have a lower installed cost, consume less power, and take up less space than virtually any other pump/motor mechanism.