Is there such thing as an electric cylinder to replace a hydraulic one?

[dannoGT]

Check out the kits available from snowblower manufactures some of them have electric actuator kits available for chute adjust you might get some ideas on how to modify ! Some of these actuators look very similar to the actuators used on power seats in cars ???

 

[ArlyA]

Well no, it really doesn't take lots of amps but we will also need to compare apples to apples. Lets say an actuator that lifts 2000lbs compared to a hydraulic cylinder that lifts the same. The electric actuator will take less amps to more that weight, than and electric pump will need to power an hydraulic cylinder. But the hydraulic system should be less costly to assemble.

 

[ddbackhoe]

hank you for the info. Where do you look for these? Are some made to specifically replace the common 8" stroke hydraulic cylinder?

this one maybe set up like you're describing. Amount of force required to move the chute?
NEW HEAVY DUTY 12 VOLT 8 INCH STROKE LINEAR ACTUATOR WITH CONTROLLER 4LB LIFT | eBay

 

[dannoGT]

Chute adjust on 6' snowblower should be less than 100 lbs force required or it will start bending sheet metal on chute! JMO

 

[ArlyA]

sixdogs should match the power of the cylinder, that the blower manufacturer originally installed on it. That is, whatever size cylinder it has on it, you can guesstimate the power it could produce. It does seem it would be much more than 100lbs. In the many machines we've added electric actuators to, we've stayed away from the max it could produce.

 

[LouNY]

If you go to surplus center you can find numerous electrical actuators,
they will not have force that a hydraulic cylinder will have, but for a snow blower you shouldn't need much.
You can also use electric window type actuators, or motors to a shaft with cable such as a small winch with a spring to pull the other way.
chute rotators are often made with a small winch with a couple of wraps around the chute and a few on the winch then forward for rotation one way and reverse to rotate the other.

 

[John_Mc]

sixdogs should match the power of the cylinder, that the blower manufacturer originally installed on it. That is, whatever size cylinder it has on it, you can guesstimate the power it could produce. It does seem it would be much more than 100lbs. In the many machines we've added electric actuators to, we've stayed away from the max it could produce.

I can't imagine that matching the power of the hydraulic cylinder would be necessary. Even a 1" cylinder would put out 1500# or more when powered by the tractor hydraulics. It doesn't take much to rotate a chute - I can rotate mine by hand if I disconnect the cylinder.

 

[Coyote machine]

An alternative would be a small hydraulic pump and tank, like is used for trim and tilt on outboard boats.

Exactly what I was going to suggest- but wouldn't those be wicked expensive? You know- MARINE gear!?
Bennett trim tabs, for one excellent brand. My Mako came with them.

 

[CobyRupert]

This is semi-related and out of left field, but how come nobody ever uses compressed air for actuation? It can be "stored energy" with a small tank, unlike hydraulics, thus for intermittent applications (like adjusting a snowblower) you only need a small palm sized compressor to replenish. Just wondering.

 

[Peter 315]

They did on dump and tractor trailer trucks , you would mount the air ram on the front and use the trucks air but it would freeze,you put anti freeze in the cylinder to stop it from freezing and control the rust , Not really any adjustment it was up or down ....