A variable capacity pump/motor has a meshing internal and external gear
set disposed between an upper mandrel and a lower mandrel, each including
a flange extending towards the gears to divide a pump/motor chamber into
suction and discharge chambers. The inner gear is fixed and the external
gear is axially moveable with respect thereto. The external gear and the
upper mandrel move in response to changing pressures in the casing,
allowing the motor to vary displacement and the pump to vary its output
based on supplied fluid pressure or based on the speed of the prime
mover. An external configuration includes a pair of meshing gears mounted
on separate shafts in a casing. One gear is fixed and the other is
axially moveable with respect thereto and moves in response to changing
pressures in the casing. Each of the gears is sealed by a seal/bushing on
a free end thereof.