Telescopic Hydraulic Cylinders

Application-Specific Custom Telescopic Cylinder Designs

Telescopic hydraulic cylinders utilize multiple nested stages, achieving a long working stroke in compact/retracted form. Aggressive Hydraulics designs and engineers application-specific telescopic cylinders, purpose-built to withstand your application demands. Our experienced engineering team helps you work through design considerations to ensure your cylinder meets your requirements.

Common Types of Telescopic Cylinders

Single-acting telescopic cylinders
Double-acting telescopic cylinders
Combination of single- and double-acting telescopic cylinders

Telescopic Cylinder Applications

Common mobile hydraulic applications for telescopic cylinders include:

Garbage trucks
Dump trucks
Agricultural equipment
Construction equipment
Transfer trailers

Custom Telescopic Hydraulic Cylinder Features & Specifications

Single and Double Acting Telescopic Hydraulic Cylinder Types
Common hydraulic pressures up to 2,000 psi, special applications optional up to 3,000 psi
Max bore size available up to 15″

Min stage size available down to 3/4″
Common stroke lengths up to 500″
Number of stages common up to 5

Telescopic Cylinder Resources

Telescopic Cylinder Worksheet

Hydraulic Cylinders & Components Catalog

Cylinder Calculations

Single-Acting Telescopic Cylinders

Single-acting cylinders use hydraulic pressure to extend, and retract due to load from gravity or some other external force.
Hydraulic flow and pressure extends the cylinder
Gravity or some other external force will retract the cylinder
Holds position
Long stroke in a compact closed length
Larger outer diameter than rod cylinders
Less complex design than double acting

Double-Acting Telescopic Cylinders

Double-acting cylinders use hydraulic force for both extension and retraction.
Hydraulic power retracts cylinder as opposed to gravity/force
Retract force is able to pull load
Conventional telescopic cylinders
- Both ports located on rod end
- Piston seals are typically cast iron rings
- Cylinder is not designed to hold load in exact positions (drifting)
- Minimum flow required to prevent stalling
Special features can be designed into telescopic cylinders
- Both ports on the barrel design avoids moving hoses and wear patterns
- Positive piston seals allow cylinder to hold the load and eliminate the minimum flow requirement
- Less dead lengths per stage than a conventional double acting telescopic

Partially Double-Acting Telescopic Cylinders

Partially double-acting cylinders are typically used in over-center applications. These cylinders will provide retract force for a portion of the stroke, and gravity completes the retract cycle.

Plunger rod can be double acting and sleeves single-acting.
Largest sleeve can be double acting and balance of sleeves and plunger rod single-acting.
Skip-a-sleeve option, which is a sleeve or stage is skipped during design, thus increasing effective area and retract force.

Special Features for Custom Telescopic Cylinders

Both ports on the barrel design avoid moving hoses and wear patterns
Positive piston seals allow the cylinder to hold the load and eliminate the minimum flow requirement
Less dead lengths per stage than a conventional double acting telescopic