Do you want to know what are the two types of hydraulic cylinder? There are two main hydraulic cylinders: single Acting cylinders and double-acting cylinders.
I remembered this very question when I went for an interview, and it was this very question that was asked me” what are the two types of hydraulic cylinder? Thank God I was able to answer it correctly.
Below I will provide you with detail of the two types of the hydraulic cylinder.
Two Types Of Hydraulic Cylinder
Single Acting Cylinder
It is a type of cylinder that will only move in one direction hydraulically, and the opposite movement is done by mechanical means, such as a spring or by the law of gravity.
At first glance, they can be identified by having only one hydraulic connection.
A single-acting cylinder is only able to move in one direction actively. It is because it only has a hydraulic fluid port on one side.
The simple cylinder can move back into position by passive movement in several ways.
For example, through its own weight, an external force in the form of a spring return or through direct external influences such as the weight of a vehicle ensures that a lifting platform is lowered again.
Double Acting Cylinder
It is a type of cylinder that generates movement in both directions utilizing hydraulic energy.
They have two hydraulic connections, one to extract the piston and the other to contract the piston using the components of the hydraulic circuit.
A double-acting cylinder has two ports for fluid. It can, therefore, actively move in two directions through forward and backward movement.
The piston and the piston rod form one component in the double-acting hydraulic cylinder.
However, the area on the piston side is significantly larger than the annular area at the end of the piston rod.
That leads to a slower extension and retraction of the cylinder. Since this hydraulic cylinder can be moved in two directions in a controlled manner, it is often used in construction machinery or conveyor technology.
This design is also known as a differential cylinder. The terms double-acting cylinder and differential cylinder are often used synonymously.
What Are The Three Types Of Hydraulic Cylinder
Hydraulic cylinders, also known as actuators, are the circuit’s last element that performs the dehydration task mechanically by means of hydraulic components.
There are several hydraulic cylinders, and I will detail the most used.
Single-acting cylinder: It is a type of cylinder that will only move in one direction hydraulically, and the opposite movement is done by mechanical means, such as a spring, or by the law of gravity.
Double-acting cylinder: It is a type of cylinder that generates movement in both directions using hydraulic energy.
Diver’s cylinder: It is a type of cylinder that only has one chamber, works as a single-acting cylinder and normally returns by gravity or acting on a mechanical element such as a lever, etc. Jacks and elevators are usually of this type.
What Is The Most Commonly Used Hydraulic Cylinder
The most common that we can find are the following:
Single-acting cylinder: it only moves in one direction, so the opposite movement is done by mechanical means or by gravity.
It is characterized by having a hydraulic connection only.
Double-acting cylinder: it moves in both directions and has two hydraulic connections, one to extract the piston and the other to contract it.
Diver cylinder: They do not have a plunger as such, but the plunger rod itself works as a plunger.
It only has one chamber and works like a single-acting cylinder, using gravity or some mechanical element as a lever, allowing the operation of jacks and elevators, to mention a few uses.
They have a more favourable mechanical performance but must be inserted axially.
The telescopic cylinder can be single or double acting, but its main characteristic is expanding and contracting utilizing rods.
What Hydraulic Cylinders Are Used For
Hydraulic cylinders are used for the following
- To lift
- Reduce
- Lock
- Move
Practical examples of hydraulic cylinders are discussed below.
Hydraulic cylinders are typically found in every type of modern machine and vehicle.
They are used in cranes, excavators, dump trucks, dump trucks, agricultural machinery, machine tools, lifting platforms, and aeroplanes and tanks.
A hydraulic cylinder also drives carousels at fairs and amusement parks. The classic example of a hydraulic cylinder is the brake on a car.
As soon as the brake pedal is depressed, the brake fluid in the brake cylinder moves the piston with it.
The pressure thus created in the cylinder is first transmitted to the brake shoes and then, in the form of braking force, to the vehicle’s brake discs: the car stops.
What Is The Name Of The Hydraulic Cylinder
A hydraulic cylinder, a linear hydraulic motor, is a mechanical actuator that gives a force through a linear path.
Hydraulic cylinders get power from a pressurized hydraulic fluid, typically some oil.
The hydraulic cylinder consists of a barrel cylinder and a mobile piston or plunger connected to a rod.
The barrel cylinder is closed at both ends. In one is the bottom, and in the other, the head through which the piston is introduced, which has a perforation through which the stem comes out.
The hydraulic cylinder piston divides the inside of the cylinder into two chambers: the lower chamber and the rod chamber.
Hydraulic pressure acts on the piston to produce linear motion.
This force is constant from the beginning to the end of the race.
Conclusion
The article has surely helped you know the two hydraulic cylinder types. I also mentioned another name for hydraulic cylinder. Don’t forget what the hydraulic cylinder is used for.
The post also mentions the commonly used hydraulic cylinder. In addition, the article also mentions the 3 types of the hydraulic cylinder.