Our team at Dalton Hydraulic has extensive experience in the hydraulics industry, and we offer a variety of components to help you streamline your operation. We provide a wide range of hydraulic cylinders for a diverse array of applications, and you can count on us to help you find the best option for your needs. In this article, we will provide a basic overview of how all hydraulic cylinders work to help you master the fundamentals of these devices.
- Parts – Hydraulic cylinders consist of several key components. First, there is the barrel, which forms the outer casing for all the other parts. Inside the barrel is the piston, a smaller rod which is driven up and down by the hydraulic fluid. The piston is connected to the cylinder head, which contains seals and gaskets to maintain pressure inside the cylinder and allow the mechanism to work.
- Mechanism – Hydraulic cylinders work by using fluid pressure to move the piston—as the barrel fills with fluid, the piston is driven up, and that motion is transferred to whatever piece of the larger mechanism the piston is attached to. As fluid drains out of the cylinder, the piston sinks back down, and that motion too is transferred to the next part of the machine.
- Applications – Hydraulic cylinders are used in a wide variety of mechanisms, including but not limited to construction equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, and cranes, as well as machines on industrial production lines, such as robotic arms or mechanized presses.