What are single acting pneumatic air cylinder?

Cylinder design:

In a single acting cylinder, air is supplied to one side of the piston through a port, causing the piston rod to extend in one direction to complete tasks such as lifting objects. The other side releases air into the environment. Movement in the opposite direction usually occurs through mechanical springs, which cause the piston rod to return to its original or basic position. Some single acting cylinders use gravity, weight, mechanical motion, or externally installed springs to provide power for the return stroke, although these designs are less common. In contrast, a double acting cylinder has two ports that provide compressed air to extend and retract the piston rod. Double acting design is more typical in the entire industry, with an estimated 95% of applications using this cylinder type. However, in some applications, a single acting cylinder is the most cost-effective and suitable solution.
In a single acting cylinder, the design can be the "base position minus" when the spring returns, or the "base position plus" when the spring extends. This depends on whether compressed air is used to provide power for the outward stroke or the inward stroke. Another way to consider these two options is to push and pull. In propulsion design, air pressure generates thrust, pushing the piston. By pulling the design, air pressure generates thrust and pulls the piston. The most widely specified type is pressure expansion, which uses an internal spring to return the piston to its basic position when air is discharged. One advantage of single acting design is that in the event of power or pressure loss, the piston automatically returns to its basic position. The disadvantage of this type is that due to the opposite spring force, the output force is somewhat inconsistent throughout the entire stroke. The stroke length is also limited by the space required for compressing the spring and the available spring length.



Also, remember that for a single acting cylinder, some work will be lost due to the opposite spring force. When determining the size of this cylinder type, it is necessary to consider the reduction of this force. Diameter and stroke are the most important factors to consider in the size calculation process. The diameter refers to the diameter of the piston, which defines the force of the piston relative to air pressure. The available cylinder diameters are defined by the cylinder type and ISO or other standards. The stroke defines the number of millimeters that the piston and piston rod can move. The general rule is that the larger the cylinder diameter, the greater the output force. The typical cylinder hole size range is 8 to 320 millimeters.

The final consideration is the installation style. Multiple configurations are available depending on the manufacturer. Some of the most common include foot mount, tail mount, rear pivot mount, and ear mount. The best choice will be determined by the specific application and other system components.