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Cylinders
(Unpublished)Hydraulics&Pneumatics

Astaffreport
Sun,20120101(Allday)

Thelinearmotionandhighforceproducedbycylindersarebigreasonswhydesignersspecifyhydraulicand
pneumaticsystemsinthefirstplace.Oneofthemostbasicoffluidpowercomponents,cylindershave
evolvedintoanalmostendlessarrayofconfigurations,sizes,andspecialdesigns.Thisversatilitynotonly
makesmoreinnovativedesignspossible,butmakesmanyapplicationsarealitythatwouldnotbepractical
orpossiblewithoutcylinders.

Cylinderbasics
Themostcommoncylinderconfigurationisdoubleacting,Figure1.Routingpressurizedfluidintotherod
endofadoubleactingcylindercausesthepistonrodtoretract.Conversely,routingpressurizedfluidinto
thecapendcausestherodtoextend.Simultaneously,fluidontheoppositesideofthepistonflowsbackinto
thehydraulicreservoir.(Ifairisthefluidmedium,itusuallyisventedtotheatmosphere.)
Becausetheareaoftherodendpistonfaceis
smallerthanthecapendarea,extensionforceis
greaterthanretractionforce(assumingequalfluid
pressures).Becausetotalcylindervolumeisless
withthecylinderfullyretracted(becauseofrod
volume)thanwhenthecylinderisfullyextended,a
cylinderretractsfasterthanitextends(assuming
equalflowrates).
Singleactingcylinders,Figure2,acceptpressurizedfluidononlyonesideofthepistonvolumeonthe
othersideofthepistonisventedtoatmosphereorreturnstotank.Dependingonwhetheritisroutedtothe
capendorrodend,thepressurizedfluidmayextendorretractthecylinder,respectively.Ineithercase,
forcegeneratedbygravityoraspringreturnsthepistonrodtoitsoriginalstate.Ahydraulicjackforvehicles
representsacommonapplicationofasingleacting,gravityreturncylinder.
Singleactingcylinderscanbespringextendorthemorecommonspringreturntype.Aspringextend
cylinderisusefulfortoolholdingfixturesbecausespringforcecanholdaworkpieceindefinitely.The
cylinderthenreleasestheworkpieceuponapplicationofhydraulicpressure.Springapplied/hydraulic
pressurereleased(parking)brakesrepresentanothercommonapplicationofsingleacting,springextend
cylinders.
Butthemostcommontypeofsingleactingcylinderusesareturnspring.Inthisversion,pressurizedfluid
entersthecapendofthecylindertoextendthepistonrod.Whenfluidisallowedtoflowoutofthecapend,
thereturnspringexertsforceonthepistonrodtoretractit.Factoryautomationespeciallymaterial

handlingisacommonapplicationusingpneumaticspring
returncylinders.

Standardconstructions
Constructionvariationsforsingleanddoubleactingcylinders
arebasedprimarilyonhowthetwoendcapsareattachedtothe
barrel.Additionalvariationsincludewallthicknessofthebarrel
andendcaps,andmaterialsofconstruction.
Tierodcylinders,Figure1,havesquareorrectangularend
capssecuredtoeachendofthebarrelbyrodsthatpassthrough
holesinthecornersoftheendcaps.Nutsthreadedontotheend
ofeachtierodsecuretheendcapstothebarrel.Staticsealsin
thebarrel/endcapinterfacepreventleakage.Anumberof
variationstothisdesignexist,includinguseofmorethanfour
tierodsonacylinder,orlongboltsthatthreadintotappedholes
inoneoftheendcaps.
Themajorityofcylindersforindustrial,heavydutyapplicationsusetierodconstructionandusually
conformtoNationalFluidPowerAssociation(NFPA)standards.Thesestandardsestablishdimensional
uniformitysocylindersfrommultiplemanufacturerscanbeinterchanged.However,careshouldbetaken
wheninterchangingcylindersbecauseeventhoughitconformstoNFPAdimensionalstandards,acylinder
mayhaveproprietaryfeaturesfromitsspecificmanufacturerthatmaynotbeavailablefromadifferent
manufacturer.
Weldedcylinders,Figure3,haveendflangesweldedtothebarrelandanendcapattachedtoeachflange.
Endcapsaresecuredinplacebyboltsthatslipthroughholesineachendcapandthreadintotappedholesin
eachendflange.Thisconstructionislighterandmorecompactthanthestandardtierodconfiguration,
whichexplainswhyweldedcylindersfindwideapplicationinmobileequipment.
Avariationtothisconstructionhaseachendcapthreadedintotheendofthe
barrel.Thisconstruction,however,usuallycannotaccommodateashigha
pressureratingasweldedandcanbemoredifficulttodisassembleand
reassemble.
Milldutycylinders,Figure4,haveflangesweldedtotheendsofthecylinderbarrelswithendcapsofthe
samediameterastheflanges.Boltssecuretheendcapstotheflanges.Theirconstructionissimilartothatof
weldedcylinders,butmilldutycylindershavethickerbarrelwallsandheavierconstructioningeneral.
Largemilldutycylindersoftenhaveabarrelwallthickenoughfortheendcapboltstobethreadeddirectly
intothebarrelwall.Asthenameimplies,thesecylinderswereoriginallydesignedforuseinsteelmills,
foundries,andotherseveredutyapplications.
Attheotherendofthedutyspectrumarenonrepairablecylinders,Figure5.Thesecylindersare
designedforeconomyandhaveendcapsweldedtothebarreltomakethemthrowawaycomponents.They
cannotbedisassembledforrepairorsealreplacement.However,thisdesignprovesverycosteffectivewhen
highservicelifeisnotrequired.Mostofthesecylindershavestainlesssteelendcapsandbarrel,butbecause
theyareintendedprimarilyforlightdutycycles,manymakeextensiveuseofaluminumalloysandplastics
forlightweightandeconomy.

Analternativemethodofmanufacturerollsthetubeintoa
slotontheendcapstomechanicallylockthethreepieces
together.Anotheralternativedesignhastheendcapwelded
tothebarrelandarodendcapsecuredviathreadsoralock
ring.Thesemodificationsallowdisassemblingthecylinder
forrepairbutalsoraiseitsinitialcost.

Commonvariations
Themostcommontypecylinderisthesinglerodend,in
whichtherodisnearlyaslongasthecylinderbarrel.Therod
protrudesfromtherodendcaptotransmitthegenerated
forcetotheload.Adoublerodendcylinder,Figure5,hasarodattachedtobothfacesofthepistonwith
eachrodextendingthrougharodendcap.Doublerodendcylindersareusefulformovingtwoloads
simultaneously,andtheyalsoeliminatethedifferentialareabetweentherodsideandblanksideofthe
piston.Withequalareas(andcylindervolumes)onbothsidesof
thepiston,agivenflowproducesthesameextensionand
retractionspeeds.
Mosttelescopingcylinders,Figure6,aresingleacting,
althoughdoubleactingversionsareavailable.Telescoping
cylinderscontainfiveormoresetsoftubing,orstages,thatnest
insideoneanother.Eachstageisequippedwithsealsandbearing
surfacestoactasbothacylinderbarrelandpistonrod.Available
forextensionsexceeding15ft,mostareusedonmobile
applicationswhereavailablemountingspaceislimited.The
collapsedlengthofatelescopingcylindercanbeaslittleas15itsextendedlength,butthecostisseveral
timesthatofastandardcylinderthatcanproduceequivalentforce.Modelsareavailableinwhichallstages
extendsimultaneouslyorwherethelargeststageextendsfirst,followedbyeachsuccessivelysmallerstage.
Ramcylindersareaspecialtypeofsingleactingcylindersthat
havearodODthesamediameterasthepiston.Usedmostlyfor
jackingpurposes,ramcylindersmustbesingleactingbecause
thereisnointernalcylindervolumetopressurizeforretracting
therod.Ramcylinderssometimesarecalledplungercylindersandaremostoftenusedforshortstroke
applications.Mostdonotusereturnsrpings,but,rahter,gravityortheloadtoretractthepistonrod.
Shortstrokecylinders,Figure7,generallyhavearodlengththatislessthanthepistondiameter.Itis
usedwherehighforcemustbegeneratedfromarelativelylowsupplypressure.Shortstrokecylindersalso
fitintoanarrowaxialspacebutrequiresubstantialradialwidth.Thesecylinderslendthemselvestoair
operated,automationmachinery.
Tandemcylinders,ontheotherhand,aredesignedforapplicationswherehighforcemustbegenerated
withinanarrowradialspacewheresubstantialaxiallengthisavailable.Atandemcylinder,Figure8,
functionsastwosinglerodendcylindersconnectedinlinewitheachpistoninterconnectedtoacommon
rodaswellasasecondrodwhichextendsthroughtherodendcap.Eachpistonchamberisdoubleactingto
producemuchhigherforceswithoutanincreaseinfluidpressureorborediameter.
Duplexcylindersalsohavetwoormorecylindersconnectedinline,butthepistonsofaduplexcylinder,

Figure9,arenotphysicallyconnectedtherodofone
cylinderprotrudesintothenonrodendofthe
second,andsoforth.Aduplexcylindermayconsistofmorethantwoinlinecylindersandthestrokelengths
oftheindividualcylindersmayvary.Thismakesthemusefulforachievinganumberofdifferentfixed
strokelengths,dependingonwhichindividualpistonsareactuated.
Diaphragmcylinders,Figure10,areeitheroftherollingdiaphragmortheshortstroketype.Bothuse
elastomericdiaphragmstosealthebarrelpistoninterface.Theshortstroketypeusesanelastomersheet
securedbetweenhalvesofthecylinderbodyandis
commonlyusedfortruckandbusairbrake
applications.Therollingdiaphragmcylinderhasahat
shapeddiaphragmthatrollsintothecylinderbarrelas
thepistonadvances.Bothtypesrequireverylow
breakoutforces,havezeroleakage,andaresingle
acting,springreturned.

Generalsystemdesign
Cylinders
andall
components
forthat
matter
shouldbe
readily
accessibleto
ease
installationandsubsequentmaintenance.Ifafittingcannotbecheckedfortightnesswithoutfirstremoving
adjacentlines,forexample,thereislittleincentivetobotherfixingminorleaksthatmayoccur.
Considerallcomponentsandfluidconductorsofthesystemtobeelastic:theywillflexandchangelength
duetochangesinfluidpressure,temperature,andstrain.Thesechangesarenotminor.Apressurepulseto
6,000psiwillelongateasteelcylinderwitha24instrokeby0.024in.Ifmadeofaluminumorcastiron,the
cylindercanelongateabout2to2.5timesasmuch.Ifthiselongationhasnotbeenaccountedforinthe

designofthemachine,thesystemeventuallywillleak,evenifthelatestfittingtechnologyhasbeenused.If
previousinstallationshavecontinuallyleaked,takethisasclearevidencethatanewdesignapproachwould
bebeneficial.

Cylinderlife
Anindustrialcylindershouldhaveadesignfactorofabout4:1basedonyieldatratedsystempressure.
Manymanufacturersofheavydutycylindersformobileequipmentspecifya3:1designfactor.A15,000psi
stressatratedsystempressure,withsmoothsystemoperationandnopressurepulses,isconsidered
conservative.Systempressurespikesthatcause30,000psistressoftenarenotalarming,butat30,000psi
unitstress,steel'sdimensionalchangeis0.001in./in.oflength.Fora30in.cylinder,apressurespikeof
thatintensitycausesalengthchangeofalmost1/32in.Dimensionalchangesinstressedcylinders,orthose
subjectedtowidetemperaturechanges,mayfurtherlimitallowableworkingpressures.
Largedimensionalchangescanseriouslyaffectperformanceandlifeexpectancyofnonmetalliccylinder
seals.Forexample,extrusivefailuresof80ShoreAdurometer,syntheticNitrilesealscanoccurwhen
clearanceexceeds0.004in.atfluidpressuresover3,000psi,ora0.001in.clearancewithsystempressure
of6000psi.Suchpressurescaneasilybereachedinsystemsusingdifferentialcylindersorthosewith
meteroutflowcontrols.
Youmustconsidersystemshockpressures.Ifthehydraulicsystemcontainsspeedcontrolorenergy
absorbingdevices,pressurespikescanoccurthataretwotothreetimesabovenormalsystempressure.
Therefore,determinetheloadingthecylinderwillexperienceandthenmountaccordinglytomaintainport
sealintegrity.

Mounting
Troublefreeuseoffluidpowercylindersandtheirabilitytoserveandremainleakfreedepends,inlarge
part,onproperlymountingthecomponentfortheparticularapplication.Thedesignermustdeterminethe
loadingthecylinderwillexperienceandmountitaccordingly.
TheNationalFluidPowerAssociation,NFPA,hasstandardizedonanumberofdimensionsforsquare
headedtierodcylinderstopromotecylinderinterchangeabilitybetweenmanufacturers.Partofthis
standardizationprogramincludescylindermountingstyles,whichgenerallyprovide:
straightlineforcetransferwithfixedmountsthatabsorbforceonthecenterlineofthecylinder
straightlineforcetransferwithfixedmountsthatdonotabsorbforceonthecenterlineofthe
cylinder,and
pivotforcetransferwithpivotmountswhichabsorbforceonthecenterlineofthecylinderandallow
thecylindertochangealignmentinoneplane.
StraightlineCylinderswithfixedmountsthatabsorbtheforceonthecenterlineofthecylinderare
consideredthebestforstraightlineforcetransfer.Tierodsextended,flange,orcenterlinelugmountsare
symmetricalandallowthethrustortensionforcesofthepistonrodtobedistributeduniformlyaboutthe
cylindercenterline,Figure11.Mountingboltsaresubjectedtosimpletensionorshearwithoutcompound
forceswhenproperlyinstalled,cylinderbearingsideloadingisminimized.
Cylindertierodsaredesignedtowithstandmaximumratedinternalpressure,andcanbeextendedateither
endandusedtomountthecylinder.Whenthetierodsextendatbothendsofthecylinder,oneendcanbe
usedforcylindermountingandtheoppositeendcansupportthecylinderorbeattachedtothemachine

members.
Flangemountsalsoareextremelygoodforstraightlineforcetransfer
applications.Threestylesavailableareheadrectangularflange,head
squareflange,andalargerandthickerrectangularheadwithitsown
mountingholesthesamethreeversionsareavailableforthecap.Selection
ofaflangemountdependspartlyonwhetherthemajorforcesappliedto
theloadresultincompressionortensiononthepistonrod.
Capmountsare
recommendedfor
thrustloadswhile
headmountsshould
beusedwheremajor
loadingputsthe
pistonrodintension.
Centerlinelug
mounts,Figure12,
absorbforcesonthe
centerlinetheyare
theleastpopular
fixedmountingstyle.Whenusedathigherpressuresorundershock
conditions,thelugsshouldbedowelpinnedtothemachine.
Straightline,forcenotabsorbedSidemountedcylindersdonot
absorbforcealongtheircenterlines.Thesemountingstyleshavelugsontheendclosuresandonestylehas
sidetappedholesforflushmounting,Figure13.Theplaneoftheirmountingsurfaceisnotthroughthe
centerlineofthecylinderforthisreason,sidemountedcylindersproduceaturningmomentasthecylinder
movestheload.Thisturningmomenttendstorotatethecylinderaboutitsmountingbolts.Ifthecylinderis
notwellsecuredtothemachine,ortheloadisnotwellguided,sideloadswillbeappliedtotherodglandand
pistonbearings.
Toavoidthisproblem,sidemountedcylindersshouldhaveastrokelengthatleastaslongastheboresize.
Shorterstroke,largeborecylinderstendtoswayontheirmountswithheavyloadingespeciallywithside
lugs,endlugs,andendanglemounts.
Sidemountcylindersdependwhollyonthefrictionoftheirmountingsurfacesincontactwiththemachine
toabsorbtheforcesthecylinderproduces.Thetorqueappliedtothemountingboltsshouldequalthatof
thetierodtorqueasrecommendedbythemanufacturer.
Forheavyloadsorshockconditions,sidemountedcylindersshouldbeheldinplacewithakeyorpinsto
preventshifting.Ashearkeyconsistingofaplateextendingfromthesideofthecylindercanbesupplied
withmostcylinders.Itshouldbeplacedattheproperendtoabsorbthemajorloading,thatis,attherodend
withtheloadintensionandatthecapendwithathrustload.Thismethodmaybeusedwhereakeywaycan
bemilledintoamachinemember.Thekeytakesshearloadsandprovidesaccuratealignmentofthe
cylinder.
Sidelugmountsaredesignedtoallowdowelpinstopinthecylindertothemachine.Whenused,pinsare
installedonbothsidesofthecylinderbutnotatbothends.

PivotforcetransferCylinderswithpivotmountsthatabsorb
forcealongthecenterlineshouldbeusedwhentheactuatedload
travelsthroughanarc.Therearetwowaystomountacylindersoit
willpivotduringtheworkcycle:clevisortrunnionmounts,Figure
14.Pivotmountcylindersareavailablewithcapfixedcleviscap
detachablecleviscapsphericalbearingandhead,cap,and
intermediatefixedtrunnion.Specialtrunnionassembliesthat
providegimballingactionareavailable.
Pivotmount
cylinderscan
beusedin
tensionor
thrust
applicationsat
fullrated
pressure,
exceptthat
longstroke
cylindersin
thrust
applications
arelimitedby
pistonrodcolumnstrength.Clevisorsingleearmountsusuallyare
anintegralpartofthecylindercapalthoughdetachablestylesare
availableandprovideasinglepivotformountingthecylinder.Apivotpinofappropriatelengthand
diametertowithstandthemaximumshearloadatratedcylinderoperatingpressureisincludedaspartof
theclevismount.Thefixedclevismountisthemostpopularandisusedwherethepistonrodtravelsafixed
arcinoneplane.Itcanbeusedverticallyorhorizontally.
Onlongstrokethrustapplications,itmaybenecessarytousealargerdiameterpistonrodtoprevent
bucklingoruseastoptubetominimizecylindersideloadinginitsextendedposition.Fixedclevismounted
cylindersdonotfunctionwellifthepathofrodtravelisinmorethanoneplane.Suchanapplicationresults
inmisalignmentandcausesunnecessarysideloadingonthebearingandpiston.Forapplicationswherethe
pistonrodwilltravelapathnotmorethan3eithersideofthetrueplaneofmotion,acapsphericalbearing
mountshouldbeusedaswellasasphericalbearingrodeye.Capdetachableclevismountsaremostoften
usedforairormediumdutyhydraulicservice.
Trunnionpivotmountsalsoareusedwhenthepistonrodtravelsanarcinoneplane.Trunnionpinsare
designedforshearloadsonlyandshouldnotbeusedwithbendingstresses.Thesupportbearingsshouldbe
mountedascloseaspossibletothetrunnionshoulderfaces.
Headtrunnionmountedcylindersusuallycanbespecifiedwithsmallerdiameterpistonrodsthancylinders
withthepivotpointatthecaporatanintermediateposition.Onheadtrunnionmountedlongstroke
cylinders,thedesignershouldconsidertheoverhangingweightatthecapendofthecylinder.Tokeep
trunnionbearingloadswithinlimits,strokelengthsshouldbenotmorethanfivetimesboresize.
Anintermediatefixedtrunnionmountisthebesttrunnionmount.Itcanbelocatedtobalancetheweightof
thecylinderoranywherebetweentheheadandcaptosuittheapplication.Itslocationmustbespecifiedat

timeoforderbecauseitslocationcannotbeeasilychangedoncemanufactured.

Installation
Properinstallationbeginswithmachinelayoutherearesomerules:
ifhighshockloadsareanticipated,mountthecylindertotakefulladvantageofitselasticity,anddon't
forget:thefluidlinesarealongfortheride,holdfixedmountedcylindersinplacebykeyingor
pinningatoneendonly
useseparatekeystotakeshearloads:attheheadendifmajorshockloadsareinthrust,atthecapend
iftheyareintension
locatingpinsmaybeusedinsteadofshearkeystohelptakeshearloadsandinsurecylinder
alignment.Avoidpinningacrosscornersthiscancauseseverewarpagewhenacylinderissubjected
tooperatingtemperatureandpressure.Suchwarpagealsoisimposedonfluidconnectorsatcylinder
ports,and
pivotedmountsshouldhavethesametypeofpivotasthecylinderbodyandtheheadend.Pivotaxes
shouldbeparallel,nevercrossed.
Manyfluidpowercylindersincorporatecushionstoabsorbtheenergyofmovingmassesattheendofa
stroke,includingthemassesofthepistonandrod,theloadbeingmoved,andthefluidmediumoperating
thecylinder.Whenthecushionoperates,theadditionalthrustisimposedonthecylinderassemblyandit
willchangelength.Whataboutthefluidconductors?
Considerprotectingexposedrodsfromabrasionandcorrosionthatcoulddestroytherodsurfaceand,in
turn,therodseal.Inespeciallydirtyenvironments,protecttherodwithacoversuchasarodbootor
bellows.

Operationconditions
Cylindersundergoingpressureandtemperature
changeselongateandcontract.Inaddition,flexing
androckingmakesthemountingheadswayunder
load.Thetypeofmounttospecifydependsonthe
application,buttheeffectofpressureand
temperaturechangesmustbeprovidedfororthe
cylinderwillleak.Considerthesefactors:
Cylinderswithnoncenterlinetypemountings,
Figure15,tendtochangelengthandsway
underloadandtemperaturechange.Anyrigid
tubingconnectedtoacylindercapportwillbe
subjecttothatresultingforceandmotion,Figure16.Ifacylinderisrigidlyplumbed,thequestionis
notwhetheritwillleak,butwhen.
Cylinderswithnoncenterlinemountingsoftenrequirestrongermachinememberstoresistbending,
soconsidertherigidityofthemachineframe.Forexample,whereoneendofacylindermustbe
overhung,Figure17,anadditionalsupportingmembershouldbeprovided.
Inmostcases,alayoutoftherodendpathwilldeterminethebesttypeofpivotmounting.
Fixed,noncenterlinemountedcylinderswithshortstrokesaddanotherstrengthproblembecause
mountingboltswillbesubjectedtoincreasedtensionincombinationwithshearforces.

Dothemajorappliedforcesresultincylinder
rodthrustortension?Capendflangemounts
arebestforthrustloadingrodendflange
mountsarebestwiththerodisintension.
Ifmisalignmentoccursbetweenthecylinderand
itsload,themountingstylemayhavetobe
alteredtoaccommodatetheskewingmovement.
Asimple,pivotedcenterlinemounting,suchasa
clevisandtrunnion,compensatesforsingle
planemisalignment.Ifmultipleplane
misalignmentisencountered,thecylinder
shouldhaveselfaligningballjointsonthecap
androdendsofaclevismountedcylinder
andfluidlineconnectionsshouldbeableto
acceptthemovement.

Sparetherod,doublethestroke
Thecontinuingtrendtomakemachinessmallerby
takingadvantageofmorecompactcomponentsisthe
drivingforcebehindtheincreasinglywidespreaduseofrodlesscylinders.Thethreemaintypesofrodless
cylindersarethepistonlugversion,thecablecylinder,andtheflexiblewallcylinder.Mostoftheseare
designedforusewithpneumatics,butsomemanufacturersprovideratingsforlowpressurehydraulic
service.
Thepistonlugdesignworksinafashionsimilartothatof
aconventionalcylinder,butdoesnotmovetheload
througharod.Instead,aboltextendsfromthesideofthe
pistonoutthroughalongitudinalslotinthebarrel.A
drivelugisattachedtotheendoftheboltandmoves
directlywiththepiston.
Tosealtheslotbetweenthepistonandlug,steelbands
pressingagainsteachotherseparatewhentheboltpassesby.Differentpistonwidthsareavailabletomeet
anybendingmomentsimposedbyaload.Strokelengthsofpistonlugcylinderscanexceed30ft.Options
includepositionswitches,brakes,andcarriagestosupportloadsandmaintainalignment.
Avariationofthepistonlugcylinderusesapermanentmagnetinthepistonto
createamagneticfieldthatlinksthepistontothelugthroughthecylinder
barrel.Thiseliminatestheneedforalongitudinalslotinthebarreland,
therefore,theneedforanydynamicseals.Breakawayforcesofthemagnetic
fieldcanexceed200lb.
Anewtypeofrodlesscylinderusesamagneticbrakeforprecisemotionand
positioncontrol.Thisrecentlyintroducedcylinderisdesignedtoachievethe
precisecontrolofproportionalhydraulicsusingsimplepneumaticdirectional
control.
Inacablecylinder,asthepistonmovesinsidethecylinderbarrel,itpullsacableattachedtobothsidesof
thepiston.Thecablewrapsaroundapulleymountedateachendandattachestoayoke.Asthedouble

actingpistonmovesinonedirection,theyoketravelsintheoppositedirectionbecauseofthewraparound
thepulleys.
Optionsincludeautomaticcabletensioning,singleactingmodels,cabletracksforgreaterloadstabilization
andcapacity,apulleyarrangementtodoublethestrokeandspeed,caliperdiscbrakesonthecablepulley,
andreedswitches.Thecablealsocanbewoundaroundadrumtoproviderotationalmotion.
Avariationofthecablecylinderreliesonametal
bandrunningoverpulleysinsteadofacable.
Eachendofthetheupperyokeridesonthe
cylinderbarrelforgreaterloadstabilityand
capacity,negatingtheneedforaseparateload
carriageinmanyapplications.Thesecylinders
maybefittedwithabrakethatstopsandholds
theloadanywherealongthestroke.
Flexiblewallcylindershaveevolvedfromdesigns
thatwereoriginallymadeforvibrationand
isolationmounting.Theyconsistofmetal
mountingplatesfixedtoareinforcedrubber
chamberthatextendsandcollapses,respectively,
asitispressurizedandvented.Theyhave
generouslateralmisalignmentallowancesandcanactuatethroughanarcwithoutaclevismount.
Someprecautionsshouldbe
exercisedwhenapplyingthese
cylinders.First,mechanicalstops
shouldbeprovidedtolimitthe
lengthofextension.Otherwise,
anoverrunningloadcouldpull
anendplateoffthecylinder.
Mechanicalstopsshouldalso
limitretraction,thereby
preventingcrushingthe
elastomericportionofthe
cylinderbetweenendplates.
Alignmentofthesecylindersis
muchlesscriticalthanwithconventionalcylinders.However,relativetorsionalrotationbetweentheend
capsshouldbepreventedtokeepfromhavingtheelastomericportionfailduetoexcessiveshearstress.
Analternatedesignresemblesalengthofflexiblehosesealedatbothends.Withnopressure,thehoseis
flatpumpingairintoitexpandsthehoseintoatubularshape.MaximumstrokeisapproximatelytheIDof
theinflatedhose.Usingalonglengthofsuchhosecangenerateveryhighforcefromarelativelylow
pressure.However,actuationforcedecreaseswithstrokelength.Thisisbecauseasthehoseexpands,it
becomesmoreround,soasmallerareaisincontactwiththeloadtoapplytheforce.
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