Gear pumps have two sliding-contact areas (sealing areas): at the periphery as well as the two sides of the gear wheels, i.e. in the axial direction.
The pressure-controlled leakage that occurs here can be reduced if the clearance gap at the side is reduced with increasing pressure. The axial compensation is undertaken by springs that press the bearing bush or thrust washer against the gearwheels (Figure A 29).
![e6d8621fd5db31355db55d69646104ec86785220 0001_axialespaltverringerungbeizahnradpumpen_sog_spaltkompensation_.gif](/fileadmin/smc/files/e6d8621fd5db31355db55d69646104ec86785220.gif)
Figure A 29: Axial gap reduction