Long Reach, Short Profile

RHK offers telescopic, or multi-stage, hydraulic cylinders that deliver long strokes while maintaining a compact retracted length. Using two or more nested stages, these cylinders provide extended reach beyond what a single stage rod-style actuator can achieve.

Designed and Manufactured to your Requirements

RHK’s sales and engineering team has extensive experience designing cylinders from a set of specifications or even a conceptual idea. Let us engineer a design to your specific application.

Custom Bore Size

Stroke Length

Lifting Capacity

Custom Mounting Configuration

Threaded/Bolted Gland

Welded/Threaded/Bolted Endcap

Counterbalance

Pilot Operated Check Valves

Porting options (ORB, NPT, C61)

Custom Paint To Your Spec

Telescopic/Multi-Stage Designs for Extended Reach

RHK’s telescopic/multi-stage hydraulic cylinders are designed to deliver long stroke lengths in a compact retracted package, making them ideal for applications such as material handling, lifting systems, and mobile equipment. Available in single acting, double acting, and combination configurations, these cylinders provide reliable performance while maximizing efficiency and space utilization.

Single acting designs extend using hydraulic pressure and retract through an external force such as gravity, offering a simple and cost-effective solution. Double acting cylinders use hydraulic pressure for both extension and retraction, providing greater control and precision through engineered internal staging. Combination designs balance performance and cost by using hydraulic retraction for part of the stroke while allowing gravity to retract remaining stages.

Multi-Stage Cylinder Worksheet

Use this sheet to help design a custom multi-stage cylinder and obtain a quote. Not all specs are required but the more information provided, the better.

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Telescopic/Multi-stage FAQs

How does a telescopic/multi-stage cylinder work?

A telescopic/multi-stage cylinder features an outer barrel and 2-6 nested stages (sometimes called sleeves) that decrease in diameter and fit inside each other. As hydraulic pressure is applied, the largest sleeve extends until fully extended. Then the process repeats until the final sleeve (also known as the rod or plunger) is extended, resulting in the total cylinder extension.

What is the advantage of a telescopic/multi-stage cylinder over a standard cylinder?

Telescopic/multi-stage cylinders, also known as multi-stage cylinders, can achieve a longer stroke than a single-stage cylinder, while maintaining a short retracted length. It is helpful in space-constrained environments such as the dump body of a dump truck. Think of a telescope, where the telescopic cylinder got its name.

What is the difference between a single or double-acting telescopic/multi-stage cylinder?

A single acting telescopic/multi-stage cylinder uses hydraulic pressure to extend an external force, such as gravity to retract. A double acting telescopic/multi-stage cylinder uses hydraulic pressure to both extend and retract. A single/double acting combination cylinder uses hydraulic pressure to retract only a portion of the stroke, maintaining design simplicity and reducing overall cost.