Energy Hydraulic Cylinder

Single acting cylinders
These cylinders have a one-way port. The piston rod expands to accommodate either fluid or gas when it is introduced to the system. External pressure is applied to revert the expansion, a load string can also be used for the same purpose. They are equipped with a spring that is responsible for the movement of the piston and the port fluid. There is a seal on the piston’s head that ensures that the fluid stays put.

Double-acting cylinder
The double-acting cylinders contain connection ports on the rod and the head. The two ports provide a bidirectional passage which allows for increased fluid movement making it more efficient. Hydraulic force is utilized to push and pull the plunger from their respective ports. The piston rod in this type of cylinder can have pressure applied to it on both sides. External force is not required to achieve the movement when pressure is present. The double-acting cylinder is equipped with a ram lip which provides extra support to the rod.

Tie-rod cylinder
This type of hydraulic cylinder has a steel rod that is threaded. Threading is done to reinforce and strengthen the rod. They are fitted with two caps at the end that seal in the fluids. It consists of a barrel, head, and base held together by four or more tied rods. Larger cylinders can contain up to twenty tie rods. It can be used to lift heavy objects as well as push and pull them.

Welded cylinders
Welded cylinders get their name from their end caps that are welded at the end of the barrel. The ports are also welded to the cylinder’s barrel. The rod gland at the front is threaded into the barrel cylinder. This provides an allowance for the rod assembly and seals to be easily removed.

High-tonnage cylinders
This type of hydraulic cylinder comes in a variety of designs. The designs include single-acting and double-acting designs. High tonnage is used to refer to its weight tolerance. They are used for lifting extremely heavy objects. It has a weight limit of up to 1000 tons.

Telescopic cylinder
The telescopic hydraulic cylinder gets its name from it is design. It consists of tubes that are arranged according to size in decreasing order so that they fit into each other.
The tubes are typically made of aluminum or steel. The tubes are referred to as stages this cylinder can have up to five or more stages. Telescopic cylinders can therefore be categorized according to the number of stages they contain. They come in both single-acting and double-acting types.

Lightweight cylinders
Lightweight cylinders get their names from their mass. These types of cylinders are made with lightweight materials such as aluminum. They come in different variations suited for different purposes.

Hollow plunger cylinder
This cylinder has a collar that is threaded inside its plunger and an open center. This threaded section is ideal for hooking up attachments which are then used to pull, push, or lift heavy objects. They are different types including single-acting and double-acting hollow cylinders.

Keep your fluid clean
As we mentioned above, one of the most common causes of hydraulic failures is hydraulic fluid contamination. Fit your system with high-efficiency filters, and be sure to change them on a regular basis.

Follow a regular maintenance schedule
Follow a prescribed schedule of regular maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your hydraulic cylinders performing at an optimal level. Beyond paying attention to fluid levels, you also want to look for any misalignment issues. Misalignment can easily result in premature wear of any hydraulic cylinder.

Rotate or alternate cylinders as needed
Assuming downtime is never a good option, it’s a good idea to have another cylinder available as a critical spare, or for rotating in as an alternate. This will help to keep all of your cylinders in good shape, and will further prolong the longevity of your hydraulic system.

Maintain your cylinder accessories, to
The piston is another crucial element of a hydraulic cylinder assembly. If the piston becomes damaged, the cylinder system can fail. Pistons naturally show some wear and tear over time, but this wear can be accelerated by things like fluid contamination or side loading stress.

Hydraulic cylinder testing
Regular hydraulic cylinder testing is another proven strategy for maintaining optimal performance. This usually means checking for any leakage, which involves pressurizing the cylinder at the end of a stroke. For double-acting cylinders, a mid-stroke bypass test might be more valuable. And hydrostatic testing can help to evaluate a piston at any point in the hydraulic process. Got questions about hydraulic cylinder testing, or need some help in this regard? Just reach out to the pros at AES!

Capacity
Medium-duty systems account for most of industrial applications and are typically at 1000 PSI. Standard heavy-duty hydraulic cylinders are capable of handling pressures as high as 3000 PSI, which are typically required for hydraulic presses, automotive applications and other related industrial applications.

Stroking distance requirements
Although custom stroke distances above 10 feet (3.05m) are possible. Pressure rating can be a concern. Rod diameter needs to be determined to handle the load.

Speed
Standard hydraulic cylinder seals can easily handle speeds up to 3.28 feet (1 meter) per second. The tolerance threshold for standard cushions is roughly two thirds (2/3) of that speed. Frequently, a standard low-friction seal is the better choice for higher speed applications.

Temperature
Hydraulic cylinder systems using standard components can be designed to meet application temperatures as hot as 500°F (260°C) and as cold as -65°F (-54°C). Applications requiring temperature extremes at either or both ends of the temperature spectrum require extensive knowledge of the interdependency of individual components to achieve the best balance of short- and long-term performance expectations.

Mounting styles
There are three types: a) Fixed mounts that absorb force along the centerline of a cylinder, b) Fixed mounts that do not absorb force along the centerline, and c) Pivot mounts that drive a load in a curved path.

Cylinder bore size
Bore size is related to operating pressure. It is the amount of push or pulls force required that determines the bore size needed.

Piston rod size
OEM design engineers probably request customization of piston rod sizes more frequently than any other hydraulic cylinder component. Remember to always consider that push or pull is never independent of stroke length when determining rod size.

Cylinder configurations
For applications requiring equal force pressure on both sides of the piston, a standard double-acting cylinder configuration using pressure to extend and retract the cylinder, combined with a four-way directional control valve to direct pressure to either the head or the end cap, is almost always preferable to more customized solutions.

Rod ends/rod threading
Standard threads can be made in inch or metric format, customization is rarely needed or warranted due to delays, expense, and the inability to readily mate with accessory components.

Cylinder body tube
Standard cylinder bodies are plain steel or chrome-plated and will be able to handle a majority of applications. Using alloy steels, stainless steel or brass materials are prevalent in special applications like a water type environment.

Stop tubing
Stop tubing is generally used to lengthen the distance between the rod bearing and the piston bearing in order to reduce bearing load on push-stroke cylinders when the cylinder is fully extended. Stop tubing is especially critical for horizontally mounted cylinders where it helps to restrict the extended position of the rod.

Seals
Experienced hydraulic system manufacturers will offer seals to meet a complete range of temperatures and fluid types and can help guide an engineer’s specification to meet precise application requirements.