Tandem Cylinder
A tandem cylinder, shown in Fig. 1.7, is used in applications where a large amount of force is required from a small-diameter cylinder. Pressure is applied to both pistons, resulting in increased force because of the larger area. The drawback is that these cylinders must be longer than a standard cylinder to achieve an equal speed because flow must go to both pistons.
Through-Rod Cylinders
These are similar in construction to the standard double-acting cylinders, but have a cylinder rod extending through both cylinder end caps. Although it is possible to have both the piston rods with different diameters at each end of the cylinder, generally the rods have the same diameters. The main applications of through-rod cylinders are as follows: the same speed is required in both the directions, both ends of the rod can be utilized to do work and the non-working end is used to indicate or signal the position of the load. In some applications, the rod is fixed at both the ends and the cylinder body carrying the load moves on the rod.
A major problem in the manufacture of through-rod cylinders is achieving the correct alignment and concentricity of cylinder bore, piston, end caps and rods. Any misalignment can result in excessive seal wear and premature cylinder failure.
Displacement Cylinders
A displacement-type hydraulic cylinder shown in Fig. 1.8 consists of a rod that is displaced from inside a tube by pumping hydraulic fluid into the tube. The volume of the rod leaving the tube is equal to the volume of fluid entering the tube, hence the name “displacement cylinder.”
The rod of the displacement cylinder is guided by bearings in the nose or neck of the cylinder body. A collar on the end of the rod prevents it from being ejected and limits the stroke of the cylinder. Elastomer seals in the neck prevent any leakage of fluid along the outside of the rod. This design is a single-acting “push” or extension cylinder, which has to be retracted by gravity, a spring or some external force. The bore of the cylinder body does not require machining other than that for the neck bearing and the inlet port; the manufacturing cost is, therefore, low when compared with other types or hydraulic cylinders.
The maximum thrust exerted by a displacement cylinder is given by
Categories: Actuators | Leave a comment