Hydraulic Cylinders

Myounggyu Noh
Dept. Mechatronics Engineering
Chungnam National University

Spring Semester, 2004

PLC and Fluid Power

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Objectives

1. Become familiar with the various types of cylinders and the terminology.

2. Calculate the force and speed capabilities of cylinders.

3. Discuss the flow-speed and pressure-force relationships of cylinders.

4. Calculate inertial and friction loads and understand how they affect pressure
requirements.

5. Explain the concepts of regeneration in a cylinder circuit.

PLC and Fluid Power Hydraulic Cylinders

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Cylinder Terminology
Load
Vent
Port

Vent Port

Port
Port

Port Port
Load

Single−acting Single−acting Double−acting Double−ended

(extend) (retract) (extend and retract)

PLC and Fluid Power Hydraulic Cylinders

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Cylinder Terminology (cont.)

Rod Piston Seals
End Cap (Packings) Cap End

Piston
Rod

Rod
Eye

Rod End Cap End

Port Port
Rod Bearing
Piston Assembly
and Seals

PLC and Fluid Power Hydraulic Cylinders

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Force vs. Pressure Relationship

• The pressure resulting from the load F

F
p=
A

• In a single–ended, double–acting cylinder, extending force is different from the

retracting force.
Fext = p × Apiston
Fret = p × (Apiston − Arod)

• If the force balance is maintained, the pressure in the rod end would be higher than
that of the piston end. This is called pressure intensification.

PLC and Fluid Power Hydraulic Cylinders

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Speed vs. Flow Relationship

• The velocity of the cylinder

Q
v=
A

• If the same flow rate is maintained, the retracting speed would be higher than that
of the extending speed.

• When extracting, the flow leaving the cylinder through the rod end port would be less
than the flow entering the cvlinder through the cap end port. This is called the flow
differential, which can be expressed as

QIN (Apiston − Arod)

QOU T =
Apiston

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Output Power

• 1 HP = 550 ft·lb/sec

• Cylinder horsepower
F ×d
HP =
550t
where F is in pount, d in feet, t in sec.

• In SI unit,
P =F ×v
where F in newton and v in meter per second give power in watts.

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Regeneration

• The flow rate to the cap end

Qtotal = Qpump + Qrod

• As a result, the regenerative velocity

Qpump
vregen =
Arod

• Increase in speed while decrease in force.

Fregen = p × Arod

PLC and Fluid Power Hydraulic Cylinders

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Cylinder Cushioning

PLC and Fluid Power Hydraulic Cylinders

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Cylinder Load Calculations

• Steady state force

Ftot = W × (sin θ + µ cos θ)

• Dynamic force (acceleration force)

Fa = W × (fa + sin θ + µ cos θ)

• Downward acceleration: Fa = W × (fa − fL + µfw )

• Upward deceleration: Fa = W × (fa − fL − µfw )

• Downward deceleration: Fa = W × (fa + fL − µfw )

• Load–supporting idler pulleys distribute loads, but increase the stroke requirement.

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Selection Criteria

• Sizes

• Mounting

• Piston Rod Diameter: sufficient structural strength to prevent buckling or other

load–related failures.

• Contaminant Sensitivity

PLC and Fluid Power Hydraulic Cylinders