Leveling Cylinders – The Key to Stability
Alberta Made Leveling Cylinders and Landing Gear
When it comes to getting the job done efficiently and safely, one of the most important elements on site is ensuring the stability of your large equipment. Securing your gear using leveling cylinders also known as landing gear or stabilizers is an essential first step to getting your job done right. HRK Hydraulic Cylinder Services knows how to design, engineer, and manufacture your landing gear. We have decades of experience developing innovative solutions to our clients challenging questions. As a vertically integrated manufacturer in Edmonton Alberta, we have the ability to finish our projects with fast lead times and customizable solutions.
The Importance of Leveling Cylinders and Stabilizers
Replacing traditional methods of manual jacking and blocking, hydraulic leveling cylinders provide a precise, time saving method of stabilizing a working platform for increased operator safety and productivity.
Hydraulic leveling cylinders are used to stabilize a working platform. Also known as outriggers, stabilizers, leveling jacks and landing gear, they provide a stable base by distributing the load over a wider base. In short, it’s a device that helps keep your machinery level, stable, and safe. Leveling cylinders come in various sizes and capacities, so it’s important to choose one that’s appropriate for your needs.
Applications for Leveling Cylinders and Stabilizers:
Mobile Cranes – Stabilizers on mobile cranes are responsible for keeping the crane steady while in operation. Applications for leveling cylinders can be applied to stiff booms, knuckle booms, and aerial buckets.
Oil and Gas Equipment – If you work in the oil and gas industry, then you know that leveling cylinders are an essential part of the drilling process. But what exactly are they, and how do they work?
A leveling cylinder is a type of hydraulic cylinder that is used to level or stabilize a drill rig during the drilling process. The cylinder is filled with oil, which provides the necessary pressure to level the rig. Leveling cylinders or landing gear are often applied on service rigs, drilling rigs, coiled tubing units, and flush by units.
Transportation – Leveling cylinders can be applied to custom trailers for on and off-highway use and will ensure the stability of large transport vehicles, ensuring the safety of your team.
RHK Hydraulic Cylinder Services has created leveling cylinder solutions for a variety of other applications and we are confident we have the capability and expertise to create a solution for you.
The Difference Between Mechanical and Hydraulic Locking Cylinders
Leveling cylinders utilize an extended stroke to raise a working platform to a desired height. Once the platform has been raised and leveled, the system is locked in place to perform the required work. The locking mechanism is either mechanical or through hydraulic means. This locking method divides leveling cylinders into two categories: mechanical locking and hydraulic locking.
Mechanical Locking Leveling Cylinders
The stabilizer hydraulic cylinder, equipped with external threads on its barrel and a securing locking nut, ensures reliable mechanical locking for stability. Once the desired height is reached, a locking nut is threaded up the barrel until it meets the sleeve, holding the cylinder’s extension in place. The weight of gravity on the nut eliminates deflection (slippage from the set position). The major advantage of a mechanical lock is the compressive load strength is 3-5 times the lifting capacity. This can be a major advantage in certain situations.
PROS of Mechanical Locking Leveling Cylinders – No deflection, 3-5 times compressive strength to lift capacity
CONS of Mechanical Locking Leveling Cylinders – It takes time to position the lock nut in place (see split nut section below)
Hydraulic Locking Leveling Cylinders
A hydraulic locking leveling cylinder features counterbalance valves. This design is the industry standard and because there is not lock nut to set, offers the benefit of reduced time for setup and tear down.
PROS of Hydraulic Locking Leveling Cylinders – Reduced setup and tear down time, ease of use
CONS of Hydraulic Locking Leveling Cylinders – Limited by hydraulic push force, cylinder drift occurs over time
Combining Hydraulic and Mechanical Locking Leveling Cylinders
In certain situations, leveling jacks or leveling cylinders are designed to feature both mechanical and hydraulic locking mechanisms. This offers versatility in performance when an application requires it.
A common example of a combination design is a hydraulic locking leveling cylinder package outfitted with mechanical lock to ensure no extension during transport.
Leveling Cylinder Features
Leveling Cylinders or landing gear can be configured to an application in a variety of ways. RHK Hydraulic Cylinder Services has developed innovative landing gear solutions for clients across sectors. We are please to offer our client fast lead times and a selection of pre-engineered leveling cylinders and customized stabilizers. Our Alberta made leveling cylinders typically consist of these standard options for designing or rebuilding leveling cylinders.
- Leveling Cylinder Splitnuts
- Leveling Cylinders Mounting Brackets
- Leveling Cylinder Sleeves
- Leveling Cylinder Swivel Endcaps
- Leveling Cylinders Food Pads
Landing Gear Locknuts and Splitnuts
When it comes to a mechanical locking leveling cylinder, there are two options: the original Standard Locknut and a Splitnut.
Mechanical Stabilizers with Standard Locknut
A standard locknut is a solid, single piece, machined from high-tensile machining strength steel. The main advantage to this nut is its simplicity. No moving parts to get damaged or lost in the field.
Landing Gear with Splitnut
A Splitnut is essentially a locknut split down the center with welded hinges and a locking pin. Instead of threading the nut the entire length of a cylinder barrel, a splitnut can be inserted and threaded the few last threads. This type of nut is especially common for longer cylinders.
Mounting Options for Leveling Cylinders
Leveling cylinders can be integrated into equipment in several ways. First off, they can be welded directly to a frame. And secondly, they can be bolted onto a frame with mounting brackets.
Mounting brackets can be designed to accommodate any configuration and provide the
Leveling Cylinders and Landing Gear with Swivel Foot
A swivel foot assembly enables a certain degree of pivot to ensure a solid connection with sloped ground. The assembly consists of 2 mating parts: a dish and a ball end. The two parts fit together and are held in place with removeable foot pins or more permanent bolted foot clamps.
Footpads for Stabilizers and Landing Gear
A leveling cylinder puts force on the ground to lift and stabilize the working platform. A foot pad is typically placed between the cylinder and the ground, to distribute the load over a larger area, especially where unstable ground conditions are present. Various sizes of foot pad are available for use in all types of soil conditions.
Load Holding Valves for Stabilizers
Counterbalance valves are required in a hydraulic locking leveling cylinder to hold a load in place but can also be integrated into a mechanical locking cylinder for additional safety or for specific purpose. They are typically located in the rodcap, next to the porting, but can essentially be positioned anywhere to integrate into equipment.
Pilot Controlled Check Valves can also be integrated for particular applications.
Leveling Cylinder Coatings
Various coatings can be applied to components for rust protection, durability, and longer life.
Custom Designed Leveling Cylinders
Do you have an application that requires the custom design of custom leveling, outrigger, or stabilizer cylinders? We have the experience and in-house manufacturing capability to meet the toughest demands. Get in touch today.
Pre-Engineered Leveling Cylinders in Edmonton
We also stock a standard lineup of pre-engineered leveling cylinders ready to ship. Click here for more info.