Mobile hydraulic drive designers make use of changing the state of motor circuits from series to parallel when "on the run" so vehicles can have a wide power range of speed and torque i.e increased gearing options.
Doing the same with hydraulic cylinders operating in series and parallel is just as easy. The issues to look out for are:
1. Intensification
2. How to easily re-position the cylinders from either parallel to series configuration i.e 180 degrees out of phase or in-phase.
3. Cavitation
Here is a simple solution and modification HADES made to a CLARK 18T Container forklift. The CLARK forklift carrier needed the fork tynes to have a side shift option as well as the normal extend and retract.
Doing the same with hydraulic cylinders operating in series and parallel is just as easy. The issues to look out for are:
1. Intensification
2. How to easily re-position the cylinders from either parallel to series configuration i.e 180 degrees out of phase or in-phase.
3. Cavitation
Here is a simple solution and modification HADES made to a CLARK 18T Container forklift. The CLARK forklift carrier needed the fork tynes to have a side shift option as well as the normal extend and retract.