What is a Hydraulic Cylinder? How does it work?
What is a Hydraulic Cylinder? How does it work?
What is a Hydraulic Cylinder? How does it work?
Hydraulic cylinders are actually used everywhere in our daily lives. We see Hydraulic Cylinders all the time, perhaps we don't even realize it unless we pay special attention to them. Hydraulic cylinders are used in excavators, trucks, forklifts, tractors, garbage collection vehicles, lifting platforms, mining equipment. A hydraulic cylinder is one of the four main components of a hydraulic system. A technology that uses fluid, most commonly hydraulic oil, to transport hydraulic energy from a motor to an actuator, typically a hydraulic cylinder.
Simply put, a hydraulic cylinder is a hydraulic equipment that creates linear motion by converting hydraulic energy back into a mechanical motion. A hydraulic cylinder can be compared to a muscle. It creates movement through the machine's hydraulic system - so it's like a muscle.
The medium in the hydraulic transmission is the fluid we mentioned in this text, usually oil. The basic concept of hydraulics is that when the power machine rotates the pump, a volumetric flow is generated (the volume of liquid passing through the cross section per unit time, its SI unit is m3/s). The pressure of the hydraulic system is determined by the load caused by the cylinder or valve, which then resists the flow of fluid flow caused by the hydraulic pump.
Pressure spreads equally in all directions in the system and acts equally on the surfaces of the enclosed spaces of all hydraulic systems; This effect is called Pascal's law.
Therefore, pressure is produced when force acts on the surface of the item. When the force is divided by the area, we get the pressure as follows:
p= F/A, where: F = force [N, Newton]; A = area [m2]; p = pressure [N/m2] = pascal [Pa])
The hydraulic energy of a cylinder is converted back into a mechanical movement. When the pressure comes to chamber A, the rod pushes out and hence the force is pushed out (F = p x A1). When the pressure comes to chamber B, as counter action in a double-acting cylinder, the rod is pulled in and the force (F = p x A2) is also pulled in
Single acting or double acting hydraulic cylinder?
Hydraulic cylinders can be simply divided into single-acting and double-acting cylinders. As the name suggests, single-acting cylinders operate in one direction only: hydraulics move the rod in one direction, and the counter movement occurs by itself or by a mechanical structure or external load. A single-acting cylinder may have no piston at all, only a piston rod, and oil pressure action on the cross area of the piston rod, causing the piston to move outward. Forklift is an example where single acting hydraulic cylinders are commonly used.
Double-acting hydraulic cylinders operate in two directions: the cylinder is moved hydraulically in two directions, either back and forth or out and in. The piston separates the chamber, and since the oil pressure acts on the piston, the piston moves the piston rod when it moves in either direction - oil acts on the front or back of the piston. Double-acting cylinders are used, for example, in excavator booms; The excavator's cluster needs to be moved back and forth, and both movements require a large amount of force.
The purpose of the seals is to keep the oil in the right place, as it is very important that the oil stays in the right chambers. There are different types of seals to achieve this. For example, an O-ring or other type of pressure seal is placed in a groove: as oil flows, oil pressure pushes the seal to the other end of the groove and the seal is compressed and pressed against the sealing surfaces, preventing oil leakage from passing. All pressure seals work on the same principle. The O-ring is the simplest seal you can find in a hydraulic cylinder.
Versatile and adaptable components
Hydraulic cylinders exhibit versatility not only in their widespread applications but also in the integration of various hydraulic functions. Beyond their basic role, additional hydraulic components can be seamlessly incorporated into hydraulic cylinders to increase their functionality. This includes the integration of flow control, load control or pressure valves directly into the cylinder assembly.
For example, the integration of flow control valves allows precise regulation of fluid flow within the hydraulic cylinder, ensuring controlled and smooth movements. Load control valves contribute to managing and adjusting the force applied by the hydraulic cylinder, ensuring optimum performance according to specific load requirements. Pressure valves play a very important role in maintaining a safe and efficient working pressure in the hydraulic system.
The ability to integrate various hydraulic components underlines the adaptability of hydraulic cylinders to meet specific operational needs. As a result, these advanced functions contribute to the overall efficiency, safety and performance of hydraulic systems in various industries. Whether in construction equipment, agricultural machinery or industrial applications, the integration of advanced hydraulic features demonstrates continued innovation in the hydraulic technology landscape.