High pressure hydraulic cylinders convert the hydraulic energy of highly pressurized fluids into the mechanical energy needed to generate linear force and motion along a predetermined plane. Heavy duty hydraulic cylinders such as these are needed in a number of industries to lift, push, pull, tilt, turn, press and steer attached loads and mechanical linkages.
Related Categories
High pressure hydraulic cylinders are valued as one of the most efficient means of producing high-powered linear motion as even a relatively small motor and reservoir of pressurized fluid can return a very high work force with substantial gains on energy. High pressure cylinders in particular utilize pressure intensification to improve capabilities sometimes offering working pressures as high as 10,000 pound-force per square inch gauge (psig). This is necessary in industrial settings where the attached load or mechanical components are exceedingly heavy or will encounter a great deal of resistance. Mining, hard milling, power generation, forge and foundry, turbines, oil and gas, injection molding, construction, demolition, earth moving, automotive, material handling and aerospace industries all utilize hydraulic cylinders in everyday operations. The cylinders are the driving force behind industrial cranes, continuous casting machinery, forklifts, material testing and transforming equipment, compactors, excavators and more. These rugged machines require cylinders made of durable materials such as stainless steel, bronze, aluminum, cast iron, nickel and chromium. These materials must withstand not only the pressure, wear and friction of operation, but also be compatible with the hydraulic fluids.
Not only the material used, but the construction of the cylinder itself must be as rugged as the environment and workloads it encounters. While other models are available, tie rod hydraulic cylinders and welded hydraulic cylinders provide the soundest construction and are therefore the most common design choice for high pressure cylinders. Each cylinder works in a similar fashion. Hydraulic fluid pressurized to anywhere between 500 and several thousand PSI is forced into an enclosed barrel, the main body of the cylinder. This pressure then acts on the piston, a disc-shaped component positioned in the cross section of the chamber, dividing it into two compartments. The piston and surrounding seals are responsible for the building of pressure as they prevent the fluid from moving freely between the two sides of the cylinder. A rod is attached to one or both sides of the piston and moves in and out of the cylinder through seals in the endcap. When the hydraulic fluid is forced into the cylinder below the piston the rod is extended while the inverse retracts it. This pump action exerts a great deal of force. Tie rod cylinders have attached steel rods along the outside diameter of the cylinder which encounter much of this force, protecting the barrel itself from damage. As the additional rods significantly increase the diameter of the cylinder, however, this particular body type is best suited to relatively immobile equipment. Welded cylinders on the other hand retain the compactness necessary for mobile devices. They are composed of a solid piece of metal with welded endcaps allowing them to withstand extremely high pressures. It is integral to productivity and safety that the type and maximum pressure ratings of high pressure cylinders of either body type be calibrated to match the application for which they are used.
