Hydraulic Shock Absorber: Knowing What it’s, Types and Application
Industrial shock absorbers, as a type of hydraulic damping component, absorb and reduce energy through liquid damping. It allows the moving parts to stop smoothly when they reach the destination point, resulting in a smoother driving experience and longer service life. Whether in automotive suspension systems, automated machinery, or high-precision industrial equipment, the use of hydraulic shock absorbers can significantly improve product quality, process speed, and production stability. Moreover, shock absorbers also reduce operating noise.
Pneumatic Shock Absorbers Vs Hydraulic Shock Absorbers
From the point of view of the damping material, the shock absorber is divided into two types : pneumatic and hydraulic. The difference between the two lies in the different media, besides in the performance, life and application scenarios.
| Item | Pneumatic Shock Absorbers | Hydraulic Shock Absorbers |
| Working Medium | by compressing air | Through hydraulic oil |
| Response Speed | Fast reaction, suitable for light load | Strong stability, suitable for heavy load |
| Durability | Susceptible to temperature and humidity | Longer life, stable performance |
| Damping Effect | suitable for low impact, light vibration scenarios | Absorbing high-intensity impact, wide adaptability |
| Cost | Low cost, simple maintenance | The cost is slightly higher but the durability is strong. |
The advantage of pneumatic shock absorber is fast response speed, but it is greatly affected by the environment. Although the reaction of the hydraulic shock absorber is slightly slow, its performance is more stable in high-strength or long-running environments. In the automatic stamping production line, the pneumatic system may cause pressure instability due to temperature fluctuations, while the hydraulic system can maintain a continuous damping effect.
How does the hydraulic shock absorber work?
The hydraulic shock absorber relies on ‘hydraulic damping’ to achieve the damping effect. Its components typically include a piston, a cylinder block, and an oil-filled chamber. When the device or vehicle generates relative motion, the internal piston moves, allowing the hydraulic oil to flow from one cavity to another repeatedly from the designed gap. The resistance generated by friction during its movement converts kinetic energy into heat energy and generates shock resistance. So as to play a role in shock absorption and energy absorption.
Its working process can be divided into three stages :
- Compression : When the external force acts on the piston rod, the hydraulic oil is forced to flow through the small hole to form damping.
- Rebound : When the impact force disappears, the piston rod returns to its original position, and the hydraulic oil flows again to absorb the residual vibration.
- Heat dissipation : The hydraulic oil dissipates heat through the shell to prevent the system from overheating.
In the vehicle suspension system, the hydraulic shock absorber can effectively control the contact between the tire and the ground, so that the cars can still maintain balance and comfort on the bumpy road. The advantage of hydraulic shock absorber is ‘shock absorption’, more in the control of motion. It makes the mechanical action softer and more accurate, which is why almost all high-end industrial equipment uses the hydraulic damping system.
Three types of hydraulic shock absorbers
1.Single-tube hydraulic shock absorber
This kind of shock absorber has a simple structure, hydraulic oil and gas share the same oil chamber. However, it is easy to blister when working at high temperature or for a long time, which affects the damping performance. It has the advantages of light weight, low cost and convenient installation. It is mostly used in light mechanical equipment, automatic door systems and so on.
2.Two-tube hydraulic shock absorber
This design structure makes it have two oil chambers inside and outside, the hydraulic oil circulation is smoother and the heat dissipation performance is better. However, it is not suitable for space-constrained equipment due to its large volume. It is mostly suitable for automobile suspension systems and engineering machinery arm.
3.Hydraulic adjustable shock absorber
The adjustable design adjusts the damping force through the knob or the electronic control system to adapt to different loads or speeds. It has high flexibility and can achieve precise control. For example, in racing cars or intelligent manufacturing equipment, the adjustable shock absorber can be dynamically adjusted according to the working conditions to keep the performance in the optimal state.
For example, the suspension system of Ferrari F1 racing cars uses electronically controlled hydraulic adjustable damping technology.
For medium and low strength industrial equipment, double-tube type is the most cost-effective choice.
In applications with high precision, heavy load or need for flexible control, such as robot arm or automatic production line, adjustable has more advantages.
How About Its Disadvantage and What to Do Next?
When using hydraulic shock absorbers, you may find the following potential problems : the risk of oil leakage, the impact of instantaneous high temperature and the complexity of its maintenance. Then we need to consider the following factors when buying.
- High quality sealing ring and high temperature resistant hydraulic oil are selected.
- Regularly detect whether the oil level and the shell have oil stains.
- For high-load equipment, an adjustable shock absorber with a cooling circulation system is available.
- Keep vertical during installation to prevent bubbles from entering the oil chamber.
Discover the Application of Hydraulic Shock Absorbers
Hydraulic shock absorbers are widely used in mechanical systems that need to absorb impact energy, reduce vibration and noise, and also protect equipment. The generated energy can be transferred and dissipated more smoothly through liquid damping, which is suitable for the following common scenarios :
- Automobile and rail transit : Hydraulic shock absorber for cars is an important part of automobile suspension systems. It can absorb the impact of uneven road surface during the driving of the vehicle and enhance the adhesion between the tire and the ground, improve the ride comfort, so as to improve the driving stability and safety. On railway vehicles, hydraulic shock absorbers can also reduce cabin shaking and improve the passenger experience.
- Industrial automation equipment : In automated production, the mechanical arm, conveyor belt and feeding device in the robot system need to be buffered. Under the action of a hydraulic buffer, it can effectively reduce the mechanical damage caused by high-speed movement of components, thereby improving production efficiency and stability.
- Heavy equipment system : In heavy machinery such as excavators, cranes, and forklifts, hydraulic shock absorbers are used to absorb the strong vibration and impact generated by the equipment during operation, prevent fatigue damage to structural parts, and extend the service life of the equipment.
Furthermore, it can be seen in elevators and door control systems, medical equipment, aviation and military fields, and construction and bridge engineering.
In general, hydraulic shock absorbers have become the core components of modern industry and transportation due to their efficient absorption performance and stable damping characteristics. With the development of automation and intelligence, its application fields are still expanding.
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