How Does a Hydraulic Cylinder Work?
Hydraulic cylinders are essential components found in various hydraulic systems. From construction equipment and aeroplanes to elevators and manufacturing presses, hydraulic cylinders can be found in just about every industry. The cylinders help perform the necessary work like lifting heavy objects or removing large sections of earth.
Pascal’s Law and Hydraulic Cylinders
Pascal’s Law is considered the foundation for hydraulics and hydraulic systems. It describes the complexity between fluids and how they respond when forces are applied to the fluids using various methods.
In general, when a force is applied to the hydraulic fluid, it generates pressure. The same amount of pressure is applied to all of the hydraulic fluid.
When it comes to hydraulic cylinders, Pascal’s Law states the force of the fluid divided by the area on which the fluid acts is equal to the pressure of the fluid. This concept is vital to understanding why hydraulic cylinders can perform the work that they do.
To illustrate, the fluid pressure multiplied by the area of the piston over which the fluid is acting equals the force exerted by the load on the cylinder rod when it is extending or retracting.
As the diameter of the piston increases and the area of the face of the piston increases, the maximum force that can be generated at a given pressure continues to increase. Equally, the pressure required to generate a certain force will reduce as the piston area is increased.
It is this increase in force that helps complete the required work. As such, even quite small single-acting cylinders or double-acting cylinders can apply substantial forces to accomplish desired tasks.
Hydraulic Cylinder Components
All hydraulic cylinders typically contain the following components:
- Cylinder Barrel – The cylinder barrel or tube is the exterior housing of the hydraulic cylinder.
- Cylinder Rod – The cylinder rod or piston rod is the part of the cylinder that moves in and out of the tube and is attached to the piston at one end.
- Cylinder Piston – The piston is connected to the cylinder rod and moves back and forth inside the cylinder barrel.
- Mounting Interface – This is the part of the cylinder that is secured at both ends to the hydraulic equipment. The type of mounting interface depends on the particular equipment and the work to be performed.
- Neck Glands – The neck glands help keep the hydraulic fluid inside the cylinder using various seals that allow the cylinder rod to move the piston in and out of the tube without fluid leaking out.
- Hydraulic Fluid Ports – The hydraulic fluid enters and exits hydraulic cylinders through inlet and outlet ports.
- Cylinder Seals – There are different seals used in various places to help prevent fluid from leaking out of the cylinder or from one side of the piston to the other as it moves.
The Benefits of Hydraulic Cylinders from White House Products, Ltd.
Why choose hydraulic cylinders from White House Products, Ltd.? As we discussed, hydraulic cylinders are an essential part of hydraulic systems that can generate a great deal of force to complete tasks.
We stock a wide range of
hydraulic cylinders, cylinder components, cylinder parts, and accessories to make it easy to find the ones you need. We also make bespoke cylinders to customer requirements, as well as repair all sorts of cylinders whenever it is economically feasible to do so. Feel free to explore our inventories online or contact us at +44 (0) 1475 742500 today!
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