由于柱塞在缸体内的往复运动，使柱塞与缸体间的容积发生改变进而实现吸、排油的液压泵，称之为柱塞泵。轴向柱塞泵具有结构紧凑、泄漏小、容积效率高、压力高、效率高等优点。柱塞泵发展至今有几十年的世界，其种类繁多，但是最基本的结构形式和功能原理的基本相同。通过对细节方面的改进，轴向柱塞泵总效率得到了极大的提高，运行稳定性及使用寿命也随之提升。轴向柱塞泵相对于其它类型的液压泵，如叶片泵、齿轮泵等，结构比较复杂，里面有许多摩擦副，如滑靴和斜盘、缸体和配流盘等配合处。
Because of the reciprocating motion of the plunger in the cylinder block, the volume between the plunger and the cylinder block is changed to realize the suction and drainage of oil, which is called the plunger pump. Axial piston pump has the advantages of compact structure, small leakage, high volume efficiency, high pressure and high efficiency. Piston pumps have been developed for decades in the world. There are many kinds of plunger pumps, but the basic structural forms and functional principles are basically the same. By improving the details, the total efficiency of the axial piston pump has been greatly improved, and the operation stability and service life have also been improved. Compared with other types of hydraulic pumps, such as vane pump, gear pump, etc., the structure of axial piston pump is more complex. There are many friction pairs in it, such as sliding boots and swashplate, cylinder block and distributor plate.