Sage-Tips

Can a hydraulic cylinder explode?

When a mixture of air and oil is compressed in a hydraulic cylinder it can ignite and burn, or even explode! When this happens, a negative pressure develops in the rod side of the hydraulic cylinder, which can result in air being drawn into the cylinder past its rod seal.

Why does a hydraulic cylinder go faster on retraction stroke?

In a hydraulic cylinder, the rod and piston will move faster when retracting than extending, matching our earlier observation. When the piston moves faster, fluid expelled from the extend port is greater than the flow used to retract the cylinder. That is how all single rod hydraulic cylinders amplify flow.

Which factors decide the working pressure of a hydraulic cylinder?

The force produced by a cylinder is equal to the cross-sectional area of the cylinder multiplied by the working pressure. Therefore, the working pressure of a hydraulic cylinder depends on the diameter of cylinder.

What causes a hydraulic cylinder to bounce?

Hydraulic cylinder drift can be caused by an internal leak in the cylinder across the piston or an external leak. When internal leaks occur, the hydraulic fluid physically moves from one side of the piston to the other, creating an uneven distribution that causes the cylinder to move or “drift.”

Do I need to bleed my hydraulic cylinders?

Issues such as pockets of air entering the hydraulic cylinder chamber will result in your cylinders not working as efficiently as they should. This is why it is necessary to bleed your hydraulic cylinders. If your hydraulic systems are not bled it might even lead to catastrophic system failure.

Why do hydraulic cylinders fail?

Hydraulic cylinders fail by physical damage or by deterioration of their seals. Physical damage to a hydraulic cylinder is usually from an external source, such as another machine or a falling object. Damage can take the form of a bent rod or dented barrel, both of which could prevent the cylinder from stroking fully.

What would cause a hydraulic cylinder to not retract?

Worn or Damaged Piston Seals Having insufficient hydraulic fluid in your system causes cylinders to become hydraulically locked and unable to fully retract or extend. Worn seals can also cause misalignment issues between the seal and cylinder rod, which may cause trouble when retracting hydraulic cylinders.

How does a hydraulic cylinder retract?

In a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, the plunger retracts when hydraulic fluid is pumped under high pressure into the top port, forcing the plunger back to its original position. This can be done quickly, if required, or very gradually with precise control.

What is cylinder mounting?

Cylinder mountings can be generally grouped into three categories: 1. Centerline mountings that are fixed and absorb force on the centerline of the cylinder. 2. Foot mountings that are fixed and absorb force eccentric to the cylinder centerline.

What is the advantage of using single acting cylinder?

One advantage of the single-acting design is that in case of either power or pressure loss, the piston automatically returns to its base position. A disadvantage of this style is the somewhat inconsistent output force during a full stroke due to the opposing spring force.

How do you stop a cylinder from drifting?

In addition to the lock valve, the spool in Valve 2 must be a float center type, venting both cylinder ports to tank when the spool is centered. The lock valve will prevent cylinder drift in either direction.

What is the right way up to mount a hydraulic cylinder?

They must be protected from damage caused by the function of the machine and are mounted in the “best” fashion and the upside or downside is not relevant. There is no “right way up” for a hydraulic cylinder but by upside down I assume you mean with the cylinder rod vertically downwards.

Is it bad to install hydraulic hoses upside down?

If the seals work properly there is no reason not to install them “upside down.” It is often more important that the hoses are protected and have minimum flex than other considerations. Also the cylinder is usually provided with a much more substantial mount than the rod end. This is a primary consideration in a lot of circumstances.

Can you replace a hydraulic cylinder in a car?

Many times, a hydraulic cylinder in your car can be repaired by changing out pistons or seals inside the cylinder. However, on rare occasions, you may need to replace the entire cylinder itself. If that situation arises, you will need to know how to correctly remove the old hydraulic cylinder and install a new one.

How do you use a bottle jack upside down?

I have used bottle jacks upside down for some years. The trick is to slide the base (now at the top) into a pair of steel channels welded to the top frame. Then the jack can be removed easily at any time. If there is any danger of movement during use, extend the channels slightly and add a locating pin.