Mark D.

Swartz

Mechanism Description:
Maxim WSB Welded End Hydraulic
Cylinder

EGR-3350-01

January 29, 2016

Introduction
The Maxim WSB Welded Cylinder (Manufactured by Bailey Hydraulics, Bailey No. 400533) is a

motor that converts energy from oil pressure to linear displacement. Hydraulic cylinders are used

to apply force to another component of a system. This cylinder has an outer diameter of 3 in,

and has an overall length of 47 in. It is composed of a painted black steel tube welded closed

at with a buttplate one end, a ductile iron piston that seals against the inside diameter of the tube,

a hard chromed C-1045 steel rod that transmits the force, and a ductile iron endcap through

which the rod passes (See Figures 1.1 and 1.2).

Figure 1.1: Cutaway of a pin mounted welded body cylinder.

Source: Miller Fluid Power, Parker Hydraulics RDH series catalog.

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 Figure 1.2: Maxim WSB hydraulic Cylinder
Source: Bailey International, http://www.baileyhydraulics.com/Maxim-WSB-3000-PSI-Welded-
Cylinders_33

Discussion

Tube

The tube is a cylindrical steel component that holds the endcap, guides the piston, and maintains

the oil pressure in the hydraulic system. In the Maxim WSB welded cylinder the tube has 3/16 in.

wall thickness and a 3 in. inner diameter. It is welded closed with a buttplate at one end, and that

buttplate has a spherical bearing mount welded to it. There are two SAE 8 ports on the body. One

port is on the front side and one port is on the back side of the tube. The open end of the tube has

internal threads to secure the endcap. The outer surface of the tube is smooth and painted glossy

black. The inner surface of the tube is smooth and clean so the piston can effectively travel and

seal.

Piston

The piston is a pressure zone divider that seals against the inside of the tube and attaches to the

rod. The piston is a ductile iron disc with smooth faces save for a smooth in. hole through the

center. A in. groove is cut into the outside diameter to hold a polyurethane seal. The piston is

attached to the rod by passing the threaded end of the rod through the center hole and torquing a

nut down.

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Rod

The rod is a force transmitting component that attaches to the piston and applies force to the

target piece according to the pistons movement. It is made of hard chromed C-1045 steel with a

smooth, polished surface. One end of the rod is threaded and is used to secure the piston inside

the tube. The other end is used to apply force and has a spherical bearing mount welded on. The

rod passes through and seals with the endcap to maintain pressure during operation.

Endcap

The endcap is a pressure zone divider that attaches to the end of the tube and seals against the

rod. The outer surface has a groove for a polyurethane seal, threads to attach it to the tube, and a

in. lip to cap the tube (See Figure 2). There is a hole through the center for the rod to pass

through that has 3 grooves cut into it for a wiper seal that keeps outside contaminants out of the

system, a rod seal that separates the

pressure zones inside and outside of

the tube, and a wear band that

minimizes metal on metal contact

during operation. The outer face of

the endcap has several spanner

wrench holes drilled into it used to

fix the endcap to the tube.

Figure 2: Endcap of similar design, different spanner hole placement.

Source: Sprockets NZ 2016, http://www.sprocketsnz.co.nz/view/hydraulics/glands/
Conclusion

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The Maxim WSB Welded Cylinder (Manufactured by Bailey Hydraulics, Bailey No. 400533) is a

type of motor that converts energy from oil pressure to linear displacement. The cylinder is

composed of a painted steel tube, a piston inside to divide pressure zones, a hard chromed steel

rod to transfer force, and an endcap to contain the oil pressure and seal the tube. Welded end

hydraulic cylinders are widely used in portable hydraulic applications where space is limited.