An air cylinder is a tube-shaped device containing a shaft, plunger, and rod. It can be single or double acting and is rated on pressure, bore, and stroke. It has many uses, including controlling air brake pressure on vehicles and helping to open and close doors.
An air cylinder is usually a cylindrical or tube-shaped device that contains a shaft, plunger, and rod. There are other shapes and sizes, but the tube-shaped version is the most common.
The rod inside the air cylinder fits into the shaft and is able to move in and out freely. The plunger is attached to the end of the rod and cannot be seen. The purpose of the plunger is to take the shock of the air pressure flowing inside the cylinder. The larger, flatter surface area of the plunger provides a wall against which it pushes the air pressure.
There are two main types: single acting and double acting. A single acting one pushes out while a spring pulls the rod back into the shaft. A double acting pneumatic cylinder moves the rod both in and out due to air pressure at one end, which creates a vacuum at the other end. The vacuum pulls the rod back inside the shaft.
Pneumatic cylinders have many uses. They are found in cars, homes, hospitals and businesses. How it is used depends on its rating. It is rated on three elements: pressure, bore and stroke.
Pressure is the determination of the safest pounds per square inch (PSI) load the air cylinder can handle. The bore is the diameter of the cylinder inside the shaft. Finally, the stroke is the distance or length the rod can move inside the shaft without snapping or bending the plunger inside.
An air cylinder is used to control air brake pressure on an 18 wheeler vehicle. It is also used to help a car’s engine push pistons, which in turn help turn the crankshaft, which spins the car’s tires. It can also help close certain types of doors. Many of these actions occur unseen, so they can be difficult for a beginner to understand.
The most common example of an air cylinder is the tube-like device that helps a storm door open and close. When a person opens the storm door, the rod within the rod extends and the cylinder uses a stream of air to help propel the rod. When the door is released, the air flows back out of the cylinder. The rod extends, re-enters the well and the door closes. This is a perfect example of a double acting pneumatic cylinder.
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