Can two hydraulic cylinders of two different sizes, be plumbed together?

[Bigshooter81]

What about when retacting the cylinders? Could the larger one pull the rod or damage the packing of the smaller one?

No because the cylinders won't be connected, and actually the drawing above isn't exactly the way it's going to be.... the larger cylinder will push and pull like it does above, but the the small cylinder will push and pull the entire assembly on its own fulcrum. they will not share fulcrums, so the only overload potential is from payload.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I'm thinking this is for the car-eating, fire-breathing, robo dinosaur at the monster truck show? Am I right?

 

[Bigshooter81]

I'm thinking this is for the car-eating, fire-breathing, robo dinosaur at the monster truck show? Am I right?

Negative, but I'm sure in the wrong hands it could be!

 

[muddstopper]

If I am reading this right, you have a boom you want to make move a total of 65degrees, vertical/horizonal doesnt matter. Is there some reason the cyl must have 17in of stroke, or can one of a shorter stroke work. I cant see why you cant make it work with only one cyl, size the cyl to handle the maximum load and keep it simple.

 

[Bigshooter81]

If I am reading this right, you have a boom you want to make move a total of 65degrees, vertical/horizonal doesnt matter. Is there some reason the cyl must have 17in of stroke, or can one of a shorter stroke work. I cant see why you cant make it work with only one cyl, size the cyl to handle the maximum load and keep it simple.

I need 110 degrees of motion. It will essentially work like a hoe bucket, except instead of a linkage between the bucket and cylinder, there will be another cylinder. My attachment points on the machine side do not allow for manipulation of radial arcs based upon advantages leverage points.. ie: attaching the cylinder low on the lever to maximize swing with a given stroke allowance.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I need 110 degrees of motion.

So instead of trying to invent something new why don't you mimic the bucket curl linkage from a backhoe. It's a suggestion that I just thought of.

 

[CCWKen]

So instead of trying to invent something new why don't you mimic the bucket curl linkage from a backhoe. It's a suggestion that I just thought of.

I think is was mentioned before but you're right. A link is the way to go. Multiple cylinders will just make it look like some kind of 25 cent carnival ride.

I haven't had the chance to use the ones I have yet but I bought a pair of tandem axle spring mounts to use as links. Mounting the cylinder to the center basically doubles the curl range. The image below shows a spring kit but I bought the forged steel mounts individually at Northern Tool.

 

[Bigshooter81]

So instead of trying to invent something new why don't you mimic the bucket curl linkage from a backhoe. It's a suggestion that I just thought of.

As stated earlier, I need 17" of stroke length, but do not have adequate area to install a cylinder of that retracted length. Again, if I could utilize only one cylinder I would.

 

[CCWKen]

That's where the link comes in. It can double the stroke too. Look at the way it's already being done. Your situation is not new.

 

[Bigshooter81]

That's where the link comes in. It can double the stroke too. Look at the way it's already being done. Your situation is not new.

It can, but also halves the leverage, or with a larger cylinder to compensate, requires a ridiculously robust linkage design.