Air Cylinders Are Used Extensively in Industrial Applications

Air cylinders are used extensively in industrial applications. The most well known type of air cylinder is the ubiquitous oxygen cylinder that we see in a variety of commercial establishments. However, the air cylinders that are used in most industrial settings are used to store not only air but also compressed gases like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Therefore air cylinders are more commonly called gas cylinders. In an industrial application, air cylinders need to be stored in safe places. To avoid close proximity to hazardous substances, cylinders need to be carefully marked and color-coded to avoid confusion and to avoid mishandling because the gases stored in these containers may be stored in a high pressure condition. Air cylinders are normally made out of steel. In normal industrial usage, air cylinders normally store about 200-units to 400-units of atmospheric units of gas (1 unit is equal to 101325 kg/ms2). Another type of air cylinder is known as a pneumatic cylinder. These cylinders are pneumatic linear actuators that are driven by a pressure differential in the cylinder's chambers. They may be either single-acting with a spring return or double-acting. These types of cylinders are mechanical devices that are used to impart a force from a fluid. The fluids are generally compressed air or hydraulic oil. These air cylinders are available in a variety of styles, including tie rod, compact, round body, rotary, gripper, escapement, guided, and rod less cylinders. Other features of air or pneumatic cylinders include the ability to have multiple strokes or a full stroke with intermediate stopping points, adjustments to control the amount of extension or retraction of a given actuator, and locks that can serve as safety mechanisms in case the machine suffers from a loss of air pressure. These air cylinders are used in many positioning, actuating and clamping applications, and devices. Some important factors to consider when searching for an air or pneumatic cylinder include cylinder stroke and operating pressure range. Some other things you should take into consideration include the mounting options, the connectors or port size, the body material, and the cylinder's features. Air cylinders are made out of materials such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, and thermoplastic. Source: industrial101.com