Tie Rod Cylinders

What Is a Tie Rod Cylinder?

A hydraulic cylinder, also referred to as a linear hydraulic motor, is a mechanical actuator used in many applications such as manufacturing, machinery, construction and civil engineering. These cylinders generate their power through pressurized hydraulic fluid and propel vehicles and machines through a unidirectional force. There are many varieties of hydraulic cylinders. Here’s what you need to know about these cylinders:

Tie rod style hydraulic cylinders utilize strong threaded steel rods to secure two end caps to the cylinder’s barrel. There are small-bore style cylinders and large bore cylinders. Small-bore cylinders typically contain four tie rods, while large cylinders require as many as 20 tie rods to secure the end caps. Tie rod hydraulic cylinders can be disassembled easily for service, replacement or customization.

Tie Rod Cylinders vs. Welded Cylinders

Although both tie rod and welded cylinders are utilized in power fluid systems, they have visible differences. The end caps used to keep the cylinders together make the most significant difference. Welded cylinders are manufactured with the end caps fixed to the barrel. The fittings and mounts are also welded to each respective cap. The designs are static and cannot be altered.

Welded cylinders are more complex and expensive than their tie rod counterparts, but they offer advantages. They are durable, compact and can weather high pressures. Because the welded cylinder is compact, they are popular in industries where space is limited. The durability makes these cylinders ideal for harsh settings such as steel mills or offshore oil refineries. However, the complexness of the design makes them more challenging to repair.

On the other hand, cylinders of the tie rod variation have four or more threaded tie bolts that hold together the cylinder tube. Tie cylinders are common in the U.S. because they are easy to repair and disassemble. They have a bulkier design that features static seals between the cylinder barrel and the end cap. These designs are often used in plastics or machinery applications.

NFPA Cylinders

Several years ago, manufacturers decided to adopt criteria to standardize linear actuators’ features and designs. Features such as port sizes, cylinder dimensions and mounting styles have been standardized to ensure cylinders are easily interchangeable between manufacturers. This means that any NFPA tie rod air cylinder can be replaced by another cylinder from a certified vendor.

The National Fluid Power Association is a U.S. organization that currently sets regulations and dimensions for hydraulic tie-rod cylinders. NFPA cylinders come in both hydraulic and pneumatic versions and are available in aluminum, steel and stainless steel models. All NFPA cylinders, also referred to as Joint Industry Council cylinders, come with four tie rods secured with end caps.

Cylinder Repair

Yates Cylinders is a respected leader in the hydraulics industry. We sell all varieties of cylinder parts, including small and large bore options. We also manufacture hydraulic cylinders, all of which are designed to NFPA standards. If you need to replace or repair an NFPA cylinder, we have the manufacturing mechanisms in place to quickly and affordably repair the cylinder. If you need a replacement part for your cylinder to get your manufacturing process running again, we can sell you the part and repair any other malfunctioning cylinder mechanisms.

Yates Cylinders also builds customized cylinders to be used in various industrial applications, including manufacturing, construction, mobile machinery, and more. No matter your industry, we can design a tie rod hydraulic cylinder to automate or simplify your industrial process. All of the custom cylinders we build are affordable and built to NFPA standards to allow for easy repair in the future.