HOW CAN HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS HELP YOUR COMPANY? HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Have you ever asked yourself something along the lines of: “Could I use hydraulic energy from hydraulic cylinders to help lift and move my heavy items on the shop floor?”

If you have, you're in the right place as we're going to cover everything to do with hydraulic cylinders in this article. You may not have asked a question like this but are wondering what solutions are available to you to lift your items and in that case, this article will give you insight into a potential product that can help you. 

At Lifting Equipment Store (LES) we want to inform all our customers about our products and services so that you feel that you have purchased the right solution for your industry.

That's why in this article we're going to give you an overview of what these mechanical actuators are, how they work, and the safety measures to take whilst using them to give you an understanding of if this is the right solution for your business challenge. 

If by the end of the article you have any questions about this item and anything else you can get on our store or you require some assistance in choosing a particular model, then please contact a member of our LES team who will be more than happy to help you.

WHAT ARE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS?
It's an essential piece of equipment that is found within a hydraulic system. This piece of equipment is useful for heavy lifting and tense duty, especially where electricity is unavailable. The equipment get their power from from pressurised hydraulic fluid, usually oil, which enables it to lift the heavier items.

There are a range of cylinder mounting options that include flanges, trunnions, and clevises that you can get for your equipment to make it suitable for your specific challenge. You will also find that the piston rod has mounting attachments that connect the cylinder to the object or machine component that you are using it to push or pull. 

There are a range of places you will find they are used thanks to their versatility for lifting heavy items. A number of examples you can expect to see them in action are in applications that include manufacturing equipment, robotics, forklifts, farming equipment, and metal compactors. 

HOW DO THEY WORK?
Although it may seem and look like a complicated piece of equipment, it's actually not as complicated as it might look at a first glance. Let's have a look in simple terms how this effective piece of equipment works. 

Hydraulic cylinders need to create a force (F) in order to do the desired job, such as lifting. To create this force, you need some sort of pressure (P) within a specific area (A). Using these 3 components we can create a simple equation (P x A=Force). Within a hydraulic system, the pressure is given by an HPU (Hydraulic Pumping Unit), and the area within it is the size of the hydraulic piston. 

These two components (pressure and area) as previously shown, can determine the force that can be exerted by the cylinder. With this force, the weight of the object can be pushed or lifted by the mechanical actuators. Additionally, the pump on the machinery dictates the speed at which the cylinder can operate so you can change different variables depending on your specific needs.

If you want to get a deeper insight into how this piece of equipment works, you can check out our article ‘how do hydraulic cylinders work’ where we give you a full breakdown of the parts and functions of the equipment. 

Product variations and examples

Now that we've looked at the above, we're going to give you a breakdown of the variations and examples. 

There are single and double acting cylinders for this piece of equipment. You may be wondering: “What is the difference between a single acting and double acting cylinder?”

The main difference is single-acting cylinders work where either a push or a pull force is required. This means the hydraulic fluid only acts on one side of the piston rod. Another force (such as gravity, the weight of the load, or a spring), operates the cylinder in the other direction. 

A double-acting cylinder uses hydraulic power to both extend and retract. You will be able to tell which cylinder is a double-acting by looking at the number of ports. Once you become familiar with the different parts and types of hydraulic cylinders, it becomes easier to understand how they work.

LET'S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES 
You've now got an overview of what this piece of equipment is, how they work, and the difference between single and double acting cylinder. However, we're aware it's sometimes easier to see what the products look like. That's why we've put a number of examples below for you to get an idea of what different variations can do for you. 

As always, if you're looking at the products and are not entirely sure which one might be right for you, that's no problem as you can contact an experienced member of the LES team who will listen to what your challenge is and recommend the most suitable solution. 

Tecpos single acting

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS YOU CAN TAKE WHEN USING 
With any piece of equipment, it is imperative to know the safety measures to ensure you and your workers are kept safe. Before considering whether to purchase this piece of machinery, it's important for you to know what it does and how to use it safely so you can get the best experience and get the most value from your hydraulic lifting equipment. 

Here are five main safety precautions for you to consider when using this equipment:

When you or your team are using one, you should always use a relief or bypass to ensure the oil flows correctly and opens when the oil becomes clogged or too thick. This will prevent a pressure build up which can be dangerous if you leave it unattended. To avoid any further unnecessary issues, we recommend that you always use fresh and filtered oil that is exactly for this type of product to ensure the best operation. 

You always want to make sure your hydraulic cylinder is working as efficiently as possible. Rough places on the rod and damage on the seals can reduce their effectiveness and often result in you having to replace them.

When you purchase a mechanical actuator, you want to avoid any damage to the rod. In the long run, it will save you and your company a lot of money. Similarly, we recommend that you do not exert pressure within your machinery - this can be dangerous and damage your cylinder which can lead to costing you money and time.

You can check the pressure rating of the cylinder against the pump pressure of the tractor to see if the pressure is within its means. 

Just like you hopefully do with any other piece of equipment you own, lifting specific or not, it's important for you to regularly inspect all aspects before use to ensure safe usage by you and anyone else!

Damage can occur to your equipment at any time and you particularly need to keep a close eye on any pinhole leaks. If you spot one, you will have to stop using that particular cylinder, since it will no longer work at its optimum level of operation.  

IS IT A SUITABLE SOLUTION FOR YOU?
As you might have gathered from this article, mechanical actuators are used more often than you might think thanks to their various uses over multiple industries and allow work to be done more simply.

You can hopefully see by now that the main benefit of using a hydraulic cylinder is its ability to exert massive levels of force for your lifting needs. However, does this mean that this solution is right for your business?

If you are unsure about anything discussed in this article, how this equipment can work with other lifting solutions for your business, or you require more help on finding the right model for you, you can always contact an experienced member of the LES team. We will be more than happy to help you find a suitable solution.