Product Overview

PVE12, PVE19 and PVE21 belong to the Vickers PVE “E” Series of inline variable displacement piston pumps, currently supported within the Danfoss Power Solutions / Vickers by Danfoss product portfolio. Danfoss identifies PVE21 as a Vickers by Danfoss product on its current PowerSource platform.

The PVE family uses pressure and/or flow compensator controls to vary pump displacement. PVE19 and PVE21 are also available with thru-drive configurations for multi-pump hydraulic packages.

For the PVE21 frame, the official technical data specifies:

• Displacement: 45 cm³/rev
• Rated input speed: 2400 rpm
• Maximum pressure: 186 bar / 2700 psi
• Rated flow class: 21 US gpm, approximately 79 L/min at 1800 rpm

PVE19 is rated at 41 cm³/rev, 2400 rpm and 210 bar, while PVE012 is rated at 25 cm³/rev, 3000 rpm and 210 bar. The official catalog specifies maximum pressure rather than publishing a separate peak-pressure value for these models, so no additional peak-pressure number is added here.

The PVE design includes a yoke, rotating group, pistons, shaft bearings, tapered roller bearings, wafer plate, valve block and compensator assembly. This architecture supports variable flow control through hydraulic compensation rather than fixed-output pumping.

Technical Specifications

PVE Family Base Data

• Brand: Vickers by Danfoss
• Manufacturer: Danfoss Power Solutions
• Series: PVE / E Series
• Type: Inline variable displacement axial piston pump
• Circuit: Open circuit
• PVE12 displacement: 25 cm³/rev
• PVE12 rated input speed: 3000 rpm
• PVE12 maximum pressure: 210 bar / 3000 psi
• PVE19 displacement: 41 cm³/rev
• PVE19 rated input speed: 2400 rpm
• PVE19 maximum pressure: 210 bar / 3000 psi
• PVE21 displacement: 45 cm³/rev
• PVE21 rated input speed: 2400 rpm
• PVE21 maximum pressure: 186 bar / 2700 psi
• PVE21 rated flow class: 21 US gpm / approximately 79 L/min at 1800 rpm
• PVE19 rated flow class: 19 US gpm / approximately 72 L/min at 1800 rpm
• PVE12 rated flow class: 12 US gpm / approximately 45 L/min at 1800 rpm
• Inlet pressure range: approximately 0.2–2.0 bar
• Maximum drain pressure: 0.35 bar / 5 psig
• Recommended mounting: Horizontal
• Start-up: Fill the case through the uppermost drain port
• Recommended cleanliness: ISO 4406 20/18/15 or cleaner

Speed-Rating Qualification

For PVE21:

• Rated input speed: 2400 rpm
• Full displacement at 5 psig inlet: up to approximately 2800 rpm
• Reduced-displacement conditions: higher speeds are permitted depending on inlet pressure and displacement
• Load-sense standby: up to 3200 rpm under the documented zero-flow / low-pressure standby condition

The 3200 rpm value must not be treated as a universal continuous full-flow speed rating.

PVE21R-9-30-CC-11

• Model: PVE21R-9-30-CC-11
• Frame: PVE21
• Displacement: 45 cm³/rev
• Rated input speed: 2400 rpm
• Maximum pressure: 186 bar / 2700 psi
• Rotation: Right-hand / clockwise
• Input shaft: 9, SAE B splined, 13-tooth
• Pump design: 30, side-port design
• Maximum displacement stop: Adjustable
• Control: Pressure compensator
• Control design: 11
• PVE21 pressure-compensation range: approximately 20–186 bar
• Rated flow class: 21 US gpm at 1800 rpm, approximately 79 L/min

The documented ordering-code structure identifies the rotation, shaft, pump design, maximum-displacement stop and pressure-compensator configuration.

PVE21L230CVP12

• Model: PVE21L230CVP12
• Frame: PVE21
• Displacement: 45 cm³/rev
• Rated input speed: 2400 rpm
• Maximum pressure: 186 bar / 2700 psi
• Rotation: Left-hand / counterclockwise
• Input shaft: 2, SAE BB splined, 15T, 16/32 DP
• Pump design: 30
• Control: CVP load sensing with pressure limiter
• Standard load-sense differential: approximately 11 bar / 160 psi
• Control design: 12
• Rated flow class: 21 US gpm at 1800 rpm, approximately 79 L/min

The documented CVP control uses a remote load-sensing pressure signal and an integral pressure limiter that reduces pump displacement as the maximum operating pressure is reached.

PVE21R-2-30-CVP-12-175

• Model: PVE21R-2-30-CVP-12-175
• Frame: PVE21
• Displacement: 45 cm³/rev
• Rated input speed: 2400 rpm
• Maximum pressure: 186 bar / 2700 psi
• Rotation: Right-hand / clockwise
• Input shaft: 2, SAE BB splined, 15T, 16/32 DP
• Pump design: 30
• Control: CVP load sensing with pressure limiter
• Load-sense differential: approximately 11 bar / 160 psi under the standard CVP configuration
• Control design: 12
• Special suffix: 175
• Suffix 175: not explicitly decoded in the currently published public Danfoss code table; it should therefore be verified against the nameplate or historical material record rather than assumed to mean 175 bar
• Rated flow class: 21 US gpm at 1800 rpm, approximately 79 L/min

PVE21L260CUP

The supplied PVE21L260CUP string cannot be completely decoded from the current public PVE19/21 Danfoss model-code system.

Confirmed:

• Series: PVE21
• Displacement: 45 cm³/rev
• Rotation: Left-hand / counterclockwise

The 260CUP portion should be treated as a legacy or shortened model reference unless the complete nameplate or material number is available.

For engineering replacement, the shortened code should not be used alone to determine shaft, port, pressure setting or control configuration.

Key Technical Advantages

1. Inline Variable Displacement Architecture

The PVE pumps use an inline axial piston architecture in which pump displacement is changed by the yoke/compensator system. This enables hydraulic output flow to adapt to pressure and load requirements.

2. Pressure Compensation

The pressure-compensated version automatically reduces displacement as the system approaches the selected compensator pressure, allowing the pump to reduce flow demand rather than continuing to operate at full displacement.

3. Load-Sensing Control

The CVP arrangement continuously responds to a remote load-sensing signal and maintains approximately 11 bar differential above load pressure in the standard configuration. The integral pressure limiter takes priority at the upper pressure limit.

4. Adjustable Maximum Displacement

The adjustable maximum-volume-stop configuration allows the maximum pump delivery to be reduced from 100% toward approximately 25%, while retaining pressure-compensator functionality.

5. Dynamic Compensator Response

Official PVE19/21 test data reports approximately 0.050 s on-stroke and 0.025 s off-stroke for pressure-compensator response under the catalog test conditions. Load-sensing response is approximately 0.060 s on-stroke and 0.020 s off-stroke.

6. Serviceable Internal Architecture

The PVE design incorporates separate piston, shoe, cylinder-block, yoke, bearing, wafer-plate and compensator components, which supports structured maintenance and component-level failure analysis.

7. Multiple Shaft and Port Options

PVE19/21 configurations include different SAE shaft types, port layouts and thru-drive arrangements. Exact compatibility therefore depends on the complete configuration rather than the PVE21 frame size alone.

8. Engineering Material Qualification

The current Danfoss ordering system includes a cast-iron housing option, but the historical short codes supplied in this request do not expose every field of the current 31-position code. Specific material claims for each individual legacy unit should therefore be verified from the complete material record rather than assumed from the PVE21 family name.

Application Areas

Typical application categories for PVE12/PVE19/PVE21 architecture include:

• Industrial hydraulic power units
• Injection molding equipment
• Metal forming machinery
• Machine tools
• Hydraulic clamping systems
• Conveyor machinery
• Mobile open-circuit hydraulic systems
• Agricultural equipment
• Construction machinery auxiliary hydraulic systems
• Load-sensing hydraulic systems
• Multi-pump hydraulic packages using thru-drive configurations

Final selection must be based on the complete model code, shaft configuration, port arrangement, inlet conditions, pressure setting, control type and machine hydraulic schematic.

Expert Maintenance Tips

1. Prime the Pump Case Before Start-Up

Before initial start-up, fill the pump case through the highest drain port with clean hydraulic fluid and make sure the case-drain line returns to the reservoir below the oil level.

2. Use Horizontal Installation

Danfoss recommends horizontal mounting for the PVE Series.

3. Control Case-Drain Pressure

Maintain case-drain pressure at or below 0.35 bar / 5 psig under the documented operating condition.

4. Protect the Pump Inlet

Maintain the inlet within the documented 0.2–2.0 bar pressure/vacuum range for non-integrated units and verify inlet conditions when operating at elevated speed.

5. Maintain Fluid Cleanliness

Use full-flow filtration to maintain hydraulic fluid at ISO 4406 20/18/15 or cleaner for industrial service.

6. Do Not Confuse Standby Speed With Full-Flow Speed

For PVE21 load-sensing configurations, the approximately 3200 rpm figure applies to the documented zero-flow, low-pressure standby condition. The unit must be reduced to its normal rated speed before full-flow operation.

7. Verify Rotation Before Commissioning

R means clockwise and L means counterclockwise when viewed from the shaft end. Port orientation changes accordingly, so PVE21R and PVE21L should not be treated as directly interchangeable without checking the complete hydraulic installation.

8. Replacement Testing

For a professional Interchangeability program, every replacement unit should be subjected to 100% simulated working-condition testing, including:

• Rated-speed testing
• Maximum-displacement flow testing
• Pressure-compensator response
• Load-sensing response
• Pressure-limiter operation
• Case-drain pressure
• Inlet-condition simulation
• Leakage inspection
• Temperature-rise testing
• Rotation verification
• Mounting/interface inspection

This provides a much stronger basis for functional interchangeability than dimensional matching alone.