HYDRAULICS AND PNEUMATICS 2024-25
Actuators
An actuator is used to convert the energy of fluid back into the mechanical power. The amount of
output power developed depends upon the flow rate, the pressure drop across the actuator and its
overall efficiency. Thus, hydraulic actuators are devices used to convert pressure energy of the
fluid into mechanical energy. Depending on the type of actuation.
hydraulic actuators are classified as follows:
1) Linear actuator: For linear actuation (hydraulic cylinders)
2) Rotary actuator: For rotary actuation (hydraulic motor)
Hydraulic linear actuators, as their name implies, provide motion in a straight line. They are
usually referred to as cylinders, rams and jacks. The function of hydraulic cylinder is to convert
hydraulic power into linear mechanical force or motion. Hydraulic cylinders extend and retract a
piston rod to provide a push or pull force to drive the external load along a straight-line path.
Hydraulic cylinders are of the following types:
Single-acting cylinders
Double-acting cylinders
Double rod cylinders
Tandem cylinders
Telescopic cylinders
Cushioned cylinders
SINGLE-ACTING CYLINDERS:
A single-acting cylinder is simplest in design and consists of a piston inside a cylindrical housing
called barrel. On one end of the piston there is a rod, which can reciprocate. At the opposite end,
there is a port for the entrance and exit of oil. Single-acting cylinders produce force in one direction
by hydraulic pressure acting on the piston during extension stroke. The retraction is done either by
gravity or by a spring.
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DOUBLE ACTING CYLINDERS:
Figure shows the operation of a double-acting cylinder with a piston rod on one side. To extend
the cylinder, the pump flow is sent to the blank-end port as in Fig.(a). The fluid from the rod-end
port returns to the reservoir. To retract the cylinder, the pump flow is sent to the rod-end port and
the fluid from the blank-end port returns to the tank.
DOUBLE ROD CYLINDERS:
A double-acting cylinder with a piston rod on both sides is a cylinder with a rod extending from
both ends. This cylinder can be used in an application where work can be done by both ends of the
cylinder, thereby making the cylinder more productive. Double-rod cylinders can with stand higher
side loads because they have an extra bearing, one on each rod, to with stand the loading.
TANDEM CYLINDERS:
A tandem cylinder is used in applications where a large amount of force is required from a small-
diameter cylinder. Pressure is applied to both pistons, resulting in increased force because of the
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larger area. The drawback is that these cylinders must be longer than a standard cylinder to achieve
an equal speed because flow must go to both pistons.
CUSHIONED CYLINDERS:
When the cylinder piston is actuated, the fluid enters the cylinder port and flows through the little
check valve so that the entire piston area can be utilized to produce force and motion. For the
prevention of shock due to stopping loads at the end of the piston stroke, cushion devices are used.
Cushions may be applied at either end or both ends. They operate on the principle that as the
cylinder piston approaches the end of stroke, an exhaust fluid is forced to go through an adjustable
needle valve that is set to control the escaping fluid at a given rate. This allows the deceleration
characteristics to be adjusted for different loads.
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TELESCOPIC CYINDERS:
It has multiple cylinders that are mounted concentrically one within the other. The design is such
that the inner most cylinder extends first, while the next cylinder extends after completion of the
full stroke of the cylinder. Thus, each cylinder extends in stage, one after the other. Each stage of
the cylinder has a sleeve that fits into the previous stage of the cylinder. The total stroke length
achieved will be sum of the strokes of all the stages.
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