Synchronizing Cylinders

[Roach]

I need to synchronize 2 pneumatic cylinders stroking in the same direction about 7 feet apart. Rack and pinion would be great if they were stroking in opposition, but they are in the same direction. Are there any valves, or mechanical concepts that can be applied to allow synchronzed stroke of these cylinders?


Thanks in advance.

 

[ve7brz]

It would appear that a simple flow divider won't suit your need. You could use a cable and pulley arrangement to achieve synchronization (think of a drafting plotter or similar system).

You could use two different sized cylinders such that head end flow from one was the same as blind end flow from the other (in series).

You could reverse one cylinder and use the rod as the fixed part, again with series flow. There are too many more possibilities to go into without some idea of the restricting factors.

 

[Roach]

Thanks for the ideas. I think that I have decided to go with rack and pinions at each cylinder, with the rack tied to the rod of the cylinder. And the pinions will be tied together by a keyed shaft between them.


Thanks again.