How can the stroke of an axial piston pump be increased?

The stroke of an axial piston pump can be effectively increased by increasing the swash plate angle. The swash plate is crucial in determining the displacement and stroke of the pump; it functions by tilting, which allows the pistons to move further in and out of their cylinders during each rotation of the drive shaft. When the swash plate angle is increased, the pistons travel a greater distance, thereby increasing the stroke length.

This adjustment directly influences how much fluid the pump can move during each cycle. An increased stroke leads to higher flow rates and enhanced performance in the hydraulic system, making it an essential factor in the design and operation of axial piston pumps.

Other options, such as reducing the pump size or decreasing fluid viscosity, do not contribute to an increase in stroke. Instead, these factors could potentially affect the efficiency or function of the pump differently but do not alter the stroke length. Similarly, adding more cylinders would increase the pump's capacity and flow rate but not its stroke per se, as stroke length is fundamentally linked to the swash plate angle.