Hydraulic Cylinders for Cranes

Mobile cranes are found on job sites across markets, including construction, demolition and scrap, material handling, mining, and more. To operate safely and efficiently during critical jobs, hydraulic cranes use hydraulic cylinders to move, lift, and reposition heavy loads.

How Hydraulic Cranes Function

Operators power hydraulic cranes with a combination of combustion engines, electric motors, and hydraulic cylinders. Pressurized fluid delivers massive lifting power. Cranes typically use two cylinders in their hydraulic system. When the operator compresses one cylinder, the other extends. This action moves the crane boom and lifts heavy objects.

What are Hydraulic Cylinders in Cranes Used For?

Hydraulic cylinders allow cranes to function at a high level. While most use telescopic designs for normal operations, which hydraulic cylinder is best for your machinery can vary and may include:

• Single-acting telescopic cylinders
• Double-acting telescopic cylinders
• Welded rod cylinders
• Position sensing smart cylinders
• Integrated valve cylinders

Hydraulic Cylinders for Crane Booms

Operators use crane booms as the primary arm to handle heavy loads. Depending on your crane type, the boom may include a jib or lattice section that extends from the main boom for greater reach and capacity. Two main types of crane booms dominate industrial applications.

• Folding crane booms feature a folding boom arm, enabling the crane to have a range of reach and mobility. Hydraulic cylinders provide support at each stage of articulation.
• Fixed crane booms, as implied by the name, are comprised of a fixed or stiff boom that generally telescopes instead of folding out. This allows the crane to lift extremely heavy or oversized loads.

Truck-Mounted Hydraulic Cranes

Truck-mounted cranes are an excellent mobile solution for jobs involving remote locations. They rely on an internal hydraulic system to hoist weighty loads while also being mounted on wheels to move from place to place at your job site. Due to the versatile operations of truck-mounted cranes, your best hydraulic cylinder option may include:

• Boom hoist lift cylinders
• Counterweight mover cylinders
• Jib boom cylinders
• Steering cylinders
• Telescopic extension cylinders
• And many others!

Cylinders for Hydraulic Gantry Crane Systems

Gantry cranes function differently than traditional hydraulic bridge cranes. Instead of using an overhead assembly, gantry systems straddle the work area and are ideal for extreme lifting operations. They are generally fixed in their location or mounted on rails, and they require heavy-duty hydraulic cylinders to manage their excessive loads. They are ideal for sites with space restrictions where overhead cranes cannot fit.