Fluid working machine having offset valve cylinders

A fluid working machine comprising:

• a crankshaft which is rotatable about an axis of rotation;
• adjacent first and second groups of valve cylinder devices spaced from each other about the axis of rotation;
• wherein each of the first and second groups of valve cylinder devices having first, second and third valve cylinder devices arranged about and extending outwards with respect to the crankshaft;
• wherein the first and third valve cylinder devices are axially offset from each other;
• wherein each second valve cylinder device is axially offset from the first and third valve cylinder devices and each second valve cylinder device is offset from the first and third valve cylinder devices about the axis of rotation;
• wherein each second valve cylinder device has an axial extent which overlaps with the axial extent of one, or the axial extents of both, of the first and third valve cylinder devices;
• wherein the first valve cylinder device of the first group of valve cylinder devices and the first valve cylinder device of the second group of valve cylinder devices are provided on a first plane such that at least 50% of the axial extent of the first valve cylinder devices overlap;
• wherein the second valve cylinder device of the first group of valve cylinder devices and the second valve cylinder device of the second group of valve cylinder devices are provided on a second plane such that at least 50% of the axial extent of the second valve cylinder devices overlap;
• wherein the third valve cylinder device of the first group of valve cylinder devices and the third valve cylinder device of the second group of valve cylinder devices are provided on a third plane such that at least 50% of the axial extent of the third valve cylinder devices overlap;
• and
• wherein the first plane, the second plane and the third plane are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.