How Do Hydraulic Cylinders Work?

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Our team at Dalton Hydraulic has over 20 years of professional experience in the hydraulics industry, and we’re familiar with the various applications of hydraulic cylinders. For instance, hydraulic cylinders are used in many types of heavy construction equipment and manufacturing machinery. If you need hydraulic cylinders for any industrial purpose, we’re confident that we can help you find right products for your needs.

How Do Hydraulic Cylinders Work?

In this article, we’d like to share a few key facts about hydraulic cylinders and how they work to give you a better understanding of these essential tools.

  • Parts of Hydraulic Cylinders – Every hydraulic cylinder consists of a cylinder, a piston, and a piston rod. One end of the barrel is closed off by a cap, and at the other end, the piston sticks out of the cylinder. Both ends of the cylinder also feature ports which connect to a reservoir of hydraulic fluid, and the cylinder itself is connected to the component or mechanism it is meant to push.
  • Hydraulic Cylinder Mechanism – Now that you know the parts of a hydraulic cylinder, we can explain how they work. The pistons and their seals divide hydraulic cylinder barrels into two chambers. When hydraulic fluid flows into the cap end (the back or bottom chamber), the force of the fluid causes the piston to move up, which pushes whatever mechanism the cylinder is connected to. Then, when hydraulic fluid drains back out of the chamber, the piston sinks down again. This basic mechanism can be used to power a wide variety of moving parts.

If you require hydraulic cylinders for your commercial or industrial operation, we encourage you to give us a call today.