Folding Cylinders

Folding cylinders – folding movement of the two-part platform

Folding cylinders move the front platform section of tail lifts with a foldable design. They fold the front segment into the horizontal working position during lifting and fold it back in for the transport state. At SULEJ Ladebordwand you will find folding cylinders in different stroke classes and connection patterns, matched to the installed component and available in various sizes and connection variants – a specialised actuator for the folding kinematics of the platform.

Folding kinematics and linkage – what makes the folding cylinder special

Unlike pure lift cylinders, the folding cylinder works against a lever linkage that translates the linear movement of the piston rod into a pivoting movement of the front platform section. Stop points on the platform frame and mounted clevises absorb the lateral forces. The design is often more compact than a lift cylinder and operates with a shorter stroke at comparatively high pressure. Rod guide, bushings and seals are designed for frequent direction changes – every loading and unloading process generates a complete folding cycle.

What to watch out for when replacing the folding cylinder

When replacing a folding cylinder, securing the platform is indispensable – the front segment must not drop during disassembly. Check the clevises and pin seats for play, grooves or ovalisation and replace the mounting pins together with the cylinder. Pay attention to the correct stroke, the matching connection pattern and an even folding movement during the first test run without load. If sagging occurs, the seals of the new cylinder are often not fully bled.

Benefits at a glance

• Compact design with short stroke for the folding movement of the platform
• Robust rod guide and pin seats for many movement cycles
• Hardened and hard-chromed piston rods for long service life
• Compatible with common linkage points and high-pressure lines

A precisely working folding cylinder ensures clean opening and closing of the platform and forms the basis for the orderly transition between working and transport position.