Lightweight composite materials offer revolutionary benefits for the machine designer, manufacturer and end user. With exceptional strength and stiffness relative to their weight, superior fatigue life when compared to comparable metal components, and high corrosion and chemical resistance, carbon fibre composites make possible designs and structures which, only a few years ago, would have seemed impossible
Parker has combined these exciting new materials with innovative manufacturing techniques to create a range of high performance hydraulic cylinders and accumulators which offer exceptional benefits in a range of applications. In comparison to a similar steel component, a composite equivalent can be up to 80% lighter. Lightweight hydraulic cylinders, made from carbon fibre composites and high performance lightweight alloys, typically weigh less than 50% of the weight of a comparable steel cylinder. This has benefits for many applications in which weight is a critical factor, including mobile, aviation, military, robotics and others. In small-scale applications, manual handling is simplified while, at the other end of the spectrum, the need for costly heavy lifting equipment is reduced or removed.
The use of these light weight, high performance cylinders on, for example, a concrete pump, enables a larger extension of the distributor booms to be achieved without exceeding the permitted axle load or total weight of the vehicle. In military applications, the low thermal expansion, corrosion resistance and non-magnetic nature of composite materials offers creative solutions for system designers. On platform lifts, mobile cranes, material handling machines and aerospace, the application of carbon fibre composite cylinders leads directly to increased payload capacity, resulting in higher productivity.
The carbon fibre composite hydraulic cylinder and accumulator tubes are manufactured using production technologies which permit a high degree of customization. Different properties can be achieved in different directions, while cosmetic surface finishes are available for applications such as the marine leisure industry. By incorporating wire or fibre optic elements into the weave, features such as condition monitoring can be integrated into the finished product. Additionally, the good electrical conductivity of carbon fibres allows heating of the composite barrel for special applications like tap water hydraulic systems which operate at low temperatures.
