The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Hydraulic Cylinders
Hydraulic cylinders, also called working cylinders, are devices that transform hydraulic energy into mechanical motion. This transformation results in linear motion, which is why hydraulic cylinders are also called linear motors. The working pressure inside the hydraulic system allows for large forces that can be controlled by hydraulic valves such as pressure relief valves. The working speed depends on the flow volume and the piston surface. First, understand what is Hydraulic Cylinders.
How a Hydraulic Cylinder Works
Hydraulic cylinders are lifting devices that use hydraulics to operate. They are commonly used in businesses and factories to lift and move heavy loads. Hydraulic cylinders can be operated manually or with a hydraulic pump. The working principle of a hydraulic cylinder is quite simple: there is a small chamber filled with oil, and a piston that moves in this oil. When the piston is pushed down, it compresses the oil and the force is transmitted to the arm of the cylinder, which allows the load to be lifted. The advantages of hydraulic cylinders are numerous: they are very powerful (they can easily lift very heavy loads), precise (they can move a load exactly where you want it), and reliable (they do not break easily).
Components
The main components of a hydraulic cylinder are the cylinder body, usually made of a tube, and a piston rod with a piston. The cylinder body is usually made of a seamless steel tube.
The working piston moves with the piston rod inside the cylinder body, which is designed for the maximum system pressure. The direction of movement depends on whether the fluid is supplied from the rod side or the bottom side, resulting in an inlet or outlet movement. The fluid displaced from the opposite side of the piston is normally returned to the reservoir. The piston, fitted with seals, separates the two chambers of the cylinder and minimizes internal leakage. The cylinder body is closed at the ends by cylinder covers that are either screwed, welded or tightened by tie rods. These covers house the hydraulic connections, the end-of-stroke damping and the piston rod guide with the piston rod seals.
Advantages of Hydraulic Cylinders
Hydraulic cylinders are very common components in hydraulic systems:
The use of hydraulic cylinders as direct drives is simple in design and can be easily positioned by the machine builder.
By eliminating the transformation of a rotary motion into a linear motion, the cylinder drive offers high efficiency.
A hydraulic cylinder can maintain its maximum cylinder force constant from the beginning to the end of the stroke. An easy restriction of the lifting force can be accomplished by a pressure valve.
The speed of the piston in a hydraulic cylinder depends on the flow volume and the effective area of the piston. If the volume conveyed is constant, the speed of the piston also remains constant from the beginning to the end of the stroke.
Depending on its construction type, a hydraulic cylinder can generate only compressive forces or both compressive and tensile forces.
The correct dimensioning of hydraulic cylinders enables powerful drives to be achieved with small installation dimensions.
Who are the Main Manufacturers of Hydraulic Cylinders?
A hydraulic cylinder is a device that converts hydraulic energy into mechanical energy. It consists of a cylinder and a rod, connected by a piston. Fluid (oil or water) is pumped into the cylinder by a hydraulic pump. The pressure of the fluid exerts a force on the piston, which transmits it to the rod. The length of the rod can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder. Hydraulic cylinders are commonly used in vehicle lifting, suspension, and braking systems. They are also used to lift heavy loads in the manufacturing and mining industries. The main Hydraulic cylinder manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders is Dynamic Hydrofab.
