What Is A Dual Action Hydraulic RAM?

When you are introduced to the world of hydraulics, it can be difficult to understand the ins and outs of hydraulic RAM, what it does and what it can be used for. This is incredibly common in the industry for people that are not attuned to the business.

Some of the most common questions posed to leaders in the hydraulics business are the differences between single-action hydraulic RAM and dual-action hydraulic RAM.

Throughout this blog post, we are going to be discussing some of the key differences between single and dual-action hydraulic cylinders as well as the areas in which they can be used.

What Is Hydraulic RAM?

Hydraulic RAM, otherwise known as hydraulic cylinders, are cylindrical pieces of metal that are used to pull and lift heavy objects.

For these tools to work, an external fluid must be injected into either side of the cylinder simultaneously to create a high-pressure environment on one end of the cylinder and a low-pressure side on the other.

Hydraulic cylinders are typically built with 6 main components the cylinder itself, piston, neck gland, rod, cylinder ports and end caps. These components are all vital to the proper functioning of hydraulic RAM and if any of these malfunction, then you may be in need of a Hydraulic RAM repair service.

What Is Single Action Hydraulic RAM?

Single-action hydraulic cylinders only have one single inlet connection to the hydraulic fluid. This means that as fluid flows into the cylinder, then it pushes the piston rod to extend only in a single direction.

Once the flowing of liquid has stopped, the rod will stop extending and when the valve operating the cylinder is reversed, a spring or gravity causes the piston to retract.

An example of where a single-action hydraulic cylinder would come into use would be a construction front loader which would move heavy equipment on a construction site.

When the cylinder line is opened for tank gravity, the weight of the bucket and its contents will cause the piston within the loader arm cylinders to retract and lower the equipment back to the ground.

What Is Dual Action Hydraulic RAM?

As the name would suggest, a dual-action hydraulic cylinder, as opposed to a single-action cylinder, has two inlet connections to the hydraulic fluid allowing for the piston rod to move in multiple directions.

However, instead of using a spring or gravity to retract the piston, dual-action hydraulic cylinders use hydraulic fluid for this purpose.

The process involves stopping the flow of fluid to the piston extension inlet while introducing hydraulic fluid through the second inlet at the opposite end of the cylinder.

As a result, the piston rod smoothly retracts, simultaneously pushing the hydraulic fluid behind it out through the inlet. Using double-acting hydraulic cylinders provides more flexibility in controlling piston extension and retraction.

This design allows for seamless back-and-forth movement, ensuring that the plunger can be fully retracted to its original position without any issues.

Furthermore, double-acting cylinders help to speed up operations since there is no need to wait for gravity or spring to retract the piston. Instead, the hydraulic fluid quickly facilitates piston retraction, making the entire process more efficient and time-saving.

Benefits Of Dual Action Hydraulic RAM

When discussing dual-action hydraulic RAM, it can be very easy to wonder what some of the greatest advantages of using them are for both machinery and your business as a whole.

If you are working for a business that regularly works with hydraulics systems, our team can provide you with an expert emergency hydraulic repair service to ensure that you are never without your hydraulics.

Continue reading to find out some of the greatest benefits of using dual-action hydraulic RAM instead of its counterpart and what this can do for your business.

Multi-directional force

The main advantage of a dual-action hydraulic ram is its ability to generate force in both directions. It can extend and retract, allowing it to perform work in both the pushing and pulling directions.

This adds much-needed flexibility and versatility to your hydraulic system and will allow your business to become much more competitive with the other businesses on the market to drive revenue up.

Increased efficiency

Since the hydraulic ram can perform work in both directions, it eliminates the need for separate components for extending and retracting tasks. As a result, the system becomes more compact, lighter, and more efficient in its operation.

Having greater efficiency than single-action hydraulics means that businesses can increase their workload and, in turn, earn more money in the long run.

Reduced Cycle Time

With a dual-action hydraulic ram, the cycle time (the time taken to complete a full extension and retraction) can be reduced, leading to improved productivity in applications such as material handling, construction equipment, and manufacturing processes.

One of the most important things for a business to do is to increase its productivity to ensure that more customers can be appeased by the services provided. Dual-action hydraulic RAM is one of the best ways that businesses can do so.

Simplified Hydraulic Circuit

Using a dual-action ram makes the hydraulic circuit much simpler, which can result in much less money being spent on hydraulic maintenance services and will also improve system reliability. This reduces the need for additional valves and components that would be necessary with single-action rams.

Making these systems much simpler is greatly beneficial to the maintenance and repairs of these units as it means that there are fewer components for the repairs team to focus on.

Safety Features

Dual-action hydraulic rams often have built-in safety features, such as overpressure relief valves, to protect the system from damage due to excessive force or pressure.

Devices like these must-have safety features to keep the people using the devices safe and reduce the number of hydraulic-related workplace accidents across the country.

Diverse Applications

Dual-action hydraulic rams can be applied in various industries, including construction, agriculture, mining, marine, aerospace, and manufacturing. They can be used in cylinders, presses, excavators, dump trucks, and many other machines and equipment.

Having a hydraulic RAM that is capable of being used in multiple different areas of your business can be an incredibly useful tool for you to use throughout the various sectors of your business. It is also important to be aware of how often a dual action hydraulic RAM needs replacing.

No matter how large or small your business is, dual-action hydraulics will lead to a much more productive business and much of this is down to the sheer amount of applications that they can have in the different areas of your business.