Many
times, companies overlook the importance of the hydraulic cylinders in their
equipment and mechanical devices. A great deal of power comes through these
cylinders when they are designed and manufactured correctly to handle the
pressurised fluid that flows in, through and out of them. The manufacturing,
railroad, construction, aircraft, waste management, recycling and shipping
industries along with the military are examples of the entities that depend
upon these cylinders year after year. In spite of their reliable natures when
they are made with quality materials and techniques, they still require
maintenance to prevent them from failing. Below, learn about some of the most
common causes of hydraulic cylinder failure to keep your cylinders operating properly.
1. Tainted Hydraulic Fluid
The fluid that runs through the hydraulic cylinder must be a specific makeup
for the cylinder to operate properly. If this hydraulic fluid becomes
contaminated or tainted by foreign particles or other substances, it can cause
damage to the interior of the cylinder or its components, such as fittings and
seals. Major degradation can happen when the problem is not addressed soon
enough.
2. Damaged Seals
Cylinder seals are crucial to maintaining the proper internal pressure of the
cylinders. They can be easily damaged by tainted fluid, as mentioned earlier,
or through incorrect handling. As the damage becomes worse over time,
performance degradation escalates dramatically, and this leads to the complete
failure of the hydraulic cylinders.
3. The Side Loads of Hydraulic Cylinders
When applied correctly, the force of hydraulic cylinders should travel along a
specific axis that needs to be in perfect alignment with the cylinder. This
bi-directional force happens according to the position of the hydraulic
cylinder. The installation must consider the intended direction of this force.
However, at times, the hydraulic cylinders are installed in such a way that
they apply force to an axis that is perpendicular to the desired direction of
the movement. This method is called side loading, and it places unplanned
strain on the cylinders and all its components. When the strain is severe
enough it will lead to catastrophic failure of the cylinder since it increases
the rate of the cylinder’s deterioration.
4. The Amount of Pressure in the
Cylinder
Design specifications of the hydraulic cylinder mandate that the fluid must be
kept at the proper internal pressure at all times for the cylinder to operate
at maximum efficiency. Variations in the pressure either higher or lower than
the specified level will significantly affect the cylinder’s performance.
Monitoring pressure on an ongoing basis is the only way to prevent failure from
occurring due to an undesirable pressure level.
The above are just some of the most common causes of hydraulic cylinder
failure. Other ones are piston damage, physical damage to the cylinder and
improper maintenance. With knowledge and proper techniques, though, you can
prevent failure from happening.
Factory 89, 38-40 Popes Road
Keysborough, Victoria, 3173
Phone: (03) 9798-6511
Optimized by NetwizardSEO.com.au
