Actuators

• Converts fluid power to mechanical power.

• Single acting cylinders
• Double acting cylinders
• Vane Cylinders
• Rotary Cylinders (also non-rotating)
• Hydraulic and Air motors
• Oscillators (back and forth rotary motion)
• Telescoping Cylinders
Hydraulic Cylinders
Pneumatic Cylinders
Double Acting Cylinders
Non-Differential Cylinder
 Single Acting Cylinders

May be of the PUSH or PULL types. (Spring and

connection can be reversed)
Cushions
Telescoping Cylinder
 Cylinder Operation
• To hold the load, the fluid pressure must
balance the load pressure.
• To move the load, fluid pressure must be
greater than the minimum needed to
balance the load pressure and overcome
friction.
 Speed of an Air Cylinder
• The higher the air pressure, the faster the
cylinder will move.
• Speed limited only by air resistance in
lines and valves.
• 25% to 100% over-pressure is supplied
but speed is adjusted by constricting air
flow (designing to get a particular speed is
not accurate)
 Speed of a hydraulic cylinder
• Volumetric flow from the pump limits the
speed of the cylinder.
 Sizing a Cylinder
• Starting with air pressure 75% less than
available air pressure, determine the bore
needed to produce the desired force.
• Consult a handbook to select a
combination of bore diameter and load
balance pressure.
Pneumatic Symbols
Flow Control Valves
 Flow control
• Used to adjust speed of actuation
• Normally, only one flow control valve is needed
for hydraulic cylinders.
• Normally two valves are used with air cylinders.
• Meter-out gives smooth control with high
pressure on the piston throughout stroke
• Meter-in gives more gradual pressure rise as
the piston advances against a load.
Hydraulic meter-out
Meter-In Air flow Control
 Cylinder Attachment Points
• Lug

• Flange

• Trunion

• Clevis
 Cylinder Cautions

• Side loading
– Rod Bearing Failure
– Barrel scoring
– Stop collar
– Alignment
• Column Strength
– Rod buckling occurs where the diameter of
the rod is too slim for the length of stroke and
the size of the load force.
 Air Motors Advantages
• Ease of speed control
• Tolerance of Environment
• Safety
• Can be Stalled indefinitely while holding torque
• Low first cost
• Less Maintenance
• Clean Leakage
• Speed and torque adjust to load
• Rapid acceleration
• Lower HP per pound than electric
 Air Motor Disadvantages
• Low operating efficiency
• Poor speed self-regulation
• Low power level.
• Variable torque
• Noisy
Rotary Vane Air Motor
Radial Piston Air Motors
Axial piston with Planetary Reducer