Double Acting Cylinders

The double acting cylinder is more common than the single acting cylinder. It works at any angle, and in almost any application where hydraulic power is needed.

Travel in one direction always differs from travel in the other, all things being equal: the push action requires more force, and is slower, but more work output is generated.
The pulling action is faster, but less work output is created.

All of the double acting cylinders product manufactured by Best Metal Products are piston type. The cylinder pushes against the piston while the seal prevent the bypass of hydraulic fluid.

Best Metal is also distinctive in that we build four types of proprietary safety valves into our cylinders.

As a group, these are known as "cartridge valves," and they include pilot-operated check valves, flow control valves, internal bypass valves and counterbalance ("CB") valves.
The latter is particularly critical because it protects against "over-center" conditions.

Finally, Best Metal has invested heavily in cylinder cushioning technology. Stopping fast travel in a precise, vibration-free and repeatable way - a soft landing, so to speak - has significant advantages. It is a must for applications such as manually-controlled manlifts, but also highly desirable as a way to reduce mechanical stressors and lengthen the service lives of the cylinder and associated components.