Double acting hydraulic cylinders: Usage and applications

Cylinders are used for converting energy into linear motion with the help of compressed air or hydraulic fluid. In processes where serious heavy duty moving and lifting is required, hydraulic cylinders are the go-to option because of their powerful and tremendous holding strength. There are two types of hydraulic cylinders that are most commonly used:

·        Single acting cylinders

·        Double acting hydraulic cylinders

There is no better choice between the two making a person wonder whether to look for a single acting or a double actinghydraulic cylinder suppliers near me. Rather both have their own applications and uses making them one ideal for some processes than the other. Here in this article, we will discuss about double acting hydraulic cylinders, how they work and the different applications where they are used.

What are double acting hydraulic cylinders?

Double acting hydraulic cylinders are capable of exerting pressure on alternative sides of the position. This helps in achieving both retraction and outward movements with the help of cylinder’s own pressure without any external help from another external power source. This cylinder helps in returning the piston to its original position or for application of alternating force on both the cylinder sides such as that needed in operating crankshaft.

Advantages of using Double acting hydraulic cylinders

There are several advantages of using this cylinder, making them the perfect choice next time when you look for double acting hydraulic cylinder supplier near me.

·        Huge range of applications in different potential fields

·        Precise and defined stroke measurements

·        Accurate repetitiveness

·        Controlled pace of acceleration

·        Reliable and rugged

·        Usage of less hydraulic fluid

·        Saves energy due to the return of the piston to the original starting point

·        Since these are most commonly used hydraulic cylinders in industries, there is a good stock availability with the double acting hydraulic cylinder supplier near me.

Usage and Application

These cylinders are most commonly used in applications where there is non availability of an external power source for retracting the piston. These include:

·        Large scale engines like shipping motors

·        Industrial furnaces

·        Lift shafts

·        Digging machines

·        Steering mechanisms and several others.

Control

Whether one needs a double acting or a single acting hydraulic cylinder , this decision finally boils down to one thing- control. It is in terms of controlling the precision required during the exertion of force in the hydraulic system. If you require exertion of a large force for moving the load in one direction such as that required in heavy lifting applications, single acting cylinders are more than enough. However, if there is a need to direct load in two different directions or get greater flexibility on the cylinder movements, double acting cylinders are the ones to choose. They give better control. You only need to remember that the decision of choosing which cylinder is right for your application depends on what work you need to accomplish with that. Single direction movements can be done with the help of single acting cylinders while movements in two directions under power requires double acting cylinders.

 Double acting hydraulic cylinder | AARIV PRECISION 

Double acting hydraulic cylinder is the most common type of cylinders found in hydraulic systems. There are many reasons behind this but before we discuss the benefits of double acting hydraulic cylinder lets us see how these double acting hydraulic cylinders work.

How double acting hydraulic cylinder works –

The basic principle of the fluid mechanics in a double acting hydraulic cylinder is that in this type of cylinder fluid acts at both sides of the piston within the cylinder. Therefore, no external force is required for operation of double acting hydraulic cylinder. In double acting hydraulic cylinders, there are two ports at both ends of cylinder for extraction as well retraction of the piston. The piston of the cylinder is attached to the shaft of the external part with a hole. Through this the piston is extracted and the fluid at other side of the piston automatically retracts the piton to the previous position. To prevent leakage of fluid from the cylinder a stuffing box is used with the cylinder.

Advantage of double acting hydraulic cylinder over other types –

Double acting hydraulic cylinders can pump hydraulic fluid to both side of the plunger within the cylinder. That means you need not apply any external force for the extraction retraction process. This function saves on energy as well as makes the system faster. The connecting ports attached at both ends allows the piston rod of cylinder to move in forward and backward directions. The extra port of double acting hydraulic cylinder ensures more control over the operation of cylinder. The automatic retraction after extraction gives precise control as the retraction is done upto a fixed position. The faster and precise retraction of piston in double acting cylinder makes this cylinder a better choice when the job requires repeatable accuracy. So, if are looking for a cylinder that will let you generate force at both the ends with optimum control over the operation, you should always opt for a double acting hydraulic cylinder.

Where double acting hydraulic cylinder are primarily used –

As we have already discussed, double acting hydraulic cylinders are used where precision is the key. The most common areas of use of double acting hydraulic cylinder are presses and punches and for placing things on the conveyor belts and taking them off the belt. In both the cases repetitive actions are required in high speed with greater precision. Other than that, double acting hydraulic cylinders are also used for opening and closing of automated gates and valves, in carwash systems and for operating dock doors. These cylinders are used for painting and powder coating objects. Apart from these regular jobs double acting hydraulic cylinders are also used for operating sophisticated medical equipment and even the state-of-the-art shuttle bay doors of the International Space Station are opened and closed with double acting hydraulic cylinder. So, it is evident that double acting hydraulic cylinders have multifarious usage in hydraulic systems in everyday usage as well as in sophisticated systems and that is primarily because of its high precision output.

AARIV PRECISION PVT LTD is India’s best heavy industrial component manufacturing company, It manufacturer’s hydraulic cylinder and gear coupling products.

Referral link: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/double-acting-hydraulic-cylinder-aariv-precision-aariv-precision/

Difference Between single-acting hydraulic cylinders and double-acting hydraulic cylinders

The basic difference of single acting hydraulic cylinder and double acting hydraulic cylinder lies in the mechanism of operation of these two types of cylinders. In a single-acting cylinder hydraulic fluid acts only at one side of piston of cylinder. Pressure generated by the pump is transmitted through the fluid to extend the piton. In single acting hydraulic cylinder, the spring retracts to its original position by the force generated either by gravity or by the weight load. But in case of a double acting hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic fluid acts on both sides of piston. These cylinders have ports at both ends for retraction and extraction of piston and force is produced at both ends. In double acting hydraulic cylinders no external force is required for movement of piston to both sides.

The difference between a single acting hydraulic cylinder and double acting hydraulic cylinder that you can tell simply by looking at the cylinders is the number of ports these cylinders have. A single acting hydraulic cylinder typically has one port. This port is connected with the pump through the hydraulic hose fittings and the pressure is applied through this hose to extend the piston and the piston is then retracted to its original position by the weight. While in case of double acting hydraulic cylinders there are two ports attached to the cylinders. One port that is referred as the advance port is used to attach the hydraulic hose and extend the piston and the other port is used to retract the piston.

A single acting hydraulic cylinder is simple machine that is easy to assemble, install and maintain. On the other hand, the double acting hydraulic cylinders are complex machines that require more maintenance and comparatively difficult to install.

Functioning and maintenance of Double acting hydraulic cylinders are more complex than that of single acting hydraulic cylinders but they are good for completing repetitive jobs. Double acting hydraulic cylinders offer better precision in terms of application. So, if the job demands high precision and repetitive action double acting hydraulic cylinders are always better option to choose. Both the single acting and double acting hydraulic cylinders have their own advantages and disadvantages. It depends on the requirement of the job on the basis of which you need to select the type of cylinder.

Referral link: https://aarivprecision.com/blogs/what-is-a-difference-between-single-acting-hydraulic-cylinders-and-double-acting-hydraulic-cylinders/