3d rendered telescopic hydraulic cylinder

Application-Specific Telescopic Cylinder Designs

Telescopic hydraulic cylinders utilize multiple nested stages, achieving a long working stroke in compact/retracted form. Aggressive Hydraulics designs and engineers application-specific telescopic cylinders, Purpose-Built™ to withstand demanding applications and work environments.

An experienced engineering team helps you work through design considerations to ensure your cylinder meets your requirements. Choose from the following custom telescopic cylinder design options:

Single-acting telescopic cylinders
Double-acting telescopic cylinders
Combination of single- and double-acting telescopic cylinders

Customized to Your Equipment and Application

Purpose-Built™ designs ensure that you get the best performance from your custom telescopic cylinder. Experience across various markets and hydraulic applications helps us understand your unique challenges and design the best solution for the equipment and operating environment. Typical applications for our custom telescopic cylinders include:

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Custom Telescopic Hydraulic Cylinder Features & Specifications

Single and Double Acting Telescopic Hydraulic Cylinder Types
Common hydraulic pressures up to 2,000 psi, special applications optional up to 3,000 psi
Max bore size available up to 15″

Min stage size available down to 3/4″
Common stroke lengths up to 500″
Number of stages common up to 5

Telescopic Cylinder Resources

Valuable resources to help you plan your custom telescopic cylinder design. Browse FAQs, watch informative videos and use our calculators to build and quote your application-specific telescopic cylinder.

Hydraulic Cylinders & Components Catalog

Telescopic Cylinder Worksheet

Single-Acting Telescopic (SAT) Hydraulic Cylinder Calculator

Double-Acting Telescopic (DAT) Hydraulic Cylinder Calculator

Hydraulic Cylinder Videos

Common Hydraulic Cylinder Formulas

Frequently Asked Questions

Single-Acting Telescopic Cylinders

Single-acting telescopic hydraulic cylinders use hydraulic power to extend the cylinder and gravity or mechanical force to retract the cylinder into its original position. This design is low-maintenance and compatible with most machinery.

Hydraulic flow and pressure extends the cylinder
Gravity or some other external force will retract the cylinder
Holds position
Long stroke in a compact closed length
Larger outer diameter than rod cylinders
Less complex design than double acting

Orange Philippi-Hagenbuch loading gravel in Rear Eject Body

Double-Acting Telescopic Cylinders

Double-acting telescopic hydraulic cylinders utilize unidirectional hydraulic power to extend and retract the cylinder. This telescopic cylinder design is best for heavy-duty applications.
Hydraulic power retracts cylinder as opposed to gravity/force
Retract force pulls the load
Conventional telescopic cylinders
- Both ports located on rod end
- Piston seals are typically cast iron rings
- Cylinder is not designed to hold load in exact positions (drifting)
- Minimum flow required to prevent stalling
Special design features for custom telescopic cylinders
- Both ports on the barrel design avoid moving hoses and wear patterns
- Positive piston seals allow the cylinder to hold the load and eliminate the minimum flow requirement
- Less dead lengths per stage than a conventional double acting telescopic cylinders

Partially Double-Acting Telescopic Cylinders

Partially double-acting cylinders are typically used in over-center applications. These cylinders will provide retract force for a portion of the stroke, and gravity completes the retract cycle.

Plunger rod can be double acting and sleeves single-acting.
Largest sleeve can be double acting and balance of sleeves and plunger rod single-acting.
Skip-a-sleeve option, which is a sleeve or stage, is skipped during design, increasing the effective area and retract force.

Add Special Features to Your Design

Both ports on the barrel design avoid moving hoses and wear patterns
Positive piston seals allow the cylinder to hold the load and eliminate the minimum flow requirement
Less dead lengths per stage than a conventional double acting telescopic