Have you experienced slow, slow or abnormal movement and changes in cylinder position when operating the machine? Or, you may notice that the hydraulic cylinder sinks slowly when carrying heavy objects. What happens in these situations is hydraulic cylinder drift-this is a way that hydraulic cylinders fail. Although the problem may be a system problem, let us focus on the hydraulic cylinder.
What Causes Hydraulic Cylinder Drift?
A common misconception about hydraulic cylinders is that if the piston seal leaks, the hydraulic cylinder will drift. Although piston seal leakage may be the root cause of cylinder drift, the physical principles involved are often misunderstood.
The fact is that if the piston seal is completely removed from the double-acting hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder is filled with oil and the oil port is blocked, the hydraulic cylinder will maintain its load indefinitely unless the rod seal leaks.
In this case, because the volumes on both sides of the piston are not equal, the fluid pressure is balanced, and the cylinder is hydraulically locked. Once this happens, the hydraulic cylinder can only move when fluid escapes from the hydraulic cylinder through the rod seal or its port.
Double-rod cylinder – oil volume is equal on both sides of the piston
Why You Should Never Ignore the Signs of Hydraulic Cylinder Drift
Leakage usually occurs when the piston seal, holding valve, or piston rod seal is worn or damaged for various reasons. One of the causes of hydraulic cylinder drift is contaminated hydraulic oil, which can damage seals and/or sealing surfaces.
For several reasons, hydraulic cylinder drift is problematic. First, drift can cause sudden hydraulic movements of equipment that used to run smoothly. When we talk about equipment that lifts several tons, this can be a serious safety hazard.
In addition, the uneven distribution of hydraulic oil will increase the force exerted on a certain area of the equipment and the distribution of their respective pressures, leading to malfunctions. Likewise, when you lift, hold and move heavy objects, this can create a dangerous situation.
Diagnosing hydraulic cylinder drift at the moment you start to discover the problem will help you prevent costly equipment downtime and potential collateral damage to the hydraulic system or equipment. Always check your hydraulic system regularly, and only operate the equipment within the speed and load capacity recommended by the manufacturer.
Tips for Hydraulic Cylinder Drift Prevention
1. Use high-quality special hydraulic cylinders. We recommend that you choose special hydraulic cylinders for your business instead of general-purpose hydraulic cylinders.
2. Daily maintenance of hydraulic cylinders.
If you have any further questions about hydraulic cylinders, please contact email: [email protected] or contact us.