Smaller and lighter hydraulic pump/motors provide remarkably improved volumetric
efficiency with pistons having body portions substantially as long as the axial
length of the respective cylinders in which they reciprocate. A plurality of respective
lubricating channels form a single, continuous lubricating passageway entirely
within the cylinder block and not connected by either fluid "input" or fluid "output"
passageways, being replenished solely by a minimal flow of fluid to and from the
valve end of each cylinder and passing between each respective cylindrical wall
of each cylinder and the axial cylindrical body of each respective piston. Several
embodiments are disclosed in combination with various spring-biased hold-down assemblies.
The preferred embodiment included a fixed cylinder block, a roller bearing mounting
between the wobbler and rotor of a split-swash plate, with piston shoes contacting
the wobbler directly without any intermediary apparatus.