Often overlooked, a cylinder clamp performs a vital role in all types of industrial-based machinery.
Let’s take a moment to explore how they work and why their performance can be directly tied to the effectiveness and safety of a machine.
What is a Cylinder Clamp
It’s always good to start with the basics. Cylinder clamps provide a precision force to hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical systems.
In short, their function is to maintain the power that keeps a system in motion. When they malfunction, it can cause an erratic system behavior or even a stoppage. This holds not just production issues but also safety concerns, both of which are good reasons to perform preventative maintenance on each cylinder clamp within a system.
These clamps also work to maintain the stability of a system. When placed correctly, they can keep the extra movement in a system down and guard against quick shifts in the positioning of a pipe due to inevitable pressure surges.
System Check
Some preventative maintenance measures can be performed while a system is running. For instance, have you noticed a change in the machine output? Is there anything to indicate that it’s not running at capacity?
A visual inspection is also important, both of the cylinder clamp itself and the surrounding area. Do you notice any blemishes, rust, cracks, or other marks that might indicate the start of an issue?
Do you also see any displacement of oil, feel the excess air, or detect any pooling of hydraulic fluid that might indicate the equipment is not performing as needed.
Repair vs. Replacement
If you notice any areas of concern that a repair may not overcome, it might be time to look at a replacement. There are some variations of cylinder clamps that you could consider changing to.
Before making a decision though, make sure to do your research to ensure that changing clamps will not void the warranty of the machine or cause potential compatibility (and safety) issues.
Rod Locking Cylinders
One replacement option can be found in rod locking cylinders. These have been specifically designed to lock into place should the system fail.
So, if there is an issue that causes a loss of hydraulic pressure, the machine will not continue to operate or stop hard but essentially freeze in place. This can help prevent damage to the machine overall and, more importantly, could head off serious injury caused by a misfiring machine.
While a rod locking cylinder can add a safety component to your equipment, it’s important to note that it is not intended to be a replacement device for your entire safety system.
Next Steps
We just took a brief look at what a cylinder clamp does. If you have one machine or hundreds working for you, you’re bound to rely on this part to keep your operation running smoothly, efficiently, and safely.
We’d love to talk with you in more detail about how you can keep this key piece of machinery from causing you headaches and downtime.