Pneumatic cylinder

Operation diagram of a single acting cylinder. The spring (red) can also be outside the cylinder, attached to the item being moved.

Operation diagram of a double acting cylinder

Pneumatic cylinder, also known as air cylinder, is a mechanical device which uses the power of compressed gas to produce a force in a reciprocating linear motion.^[1]^: 85

Like in a hydraulic cylinder, something forces a piston to move in the desired direction. The piston is a disc or cylinder, and the piston rod transfers the force it develops to the object to be moved.^[1] ^: 85 Engineers sometimes prefer to use pneumatics because they are quieter, cleaner, and do not require large amounts of space for fluid storage.

Because the operating fluid is a gas, leakage from a pneumatic cylinder will not drip out and contaminate the surroundings, making pneumatics more desirable where cleanliness is a requirement. For example, in the mechanical puppets of the Disney Tiki Room, pneumatics are used to prevent fluid from dripping onto people below the puppets.

^ ^a ^b [1]Majumdar, S.R. (1995). Pneumatic System: Principles and Maintenance. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill.

[Majumdar-1] [1]Majumdar, S.R. (1995). Pneumatic System: Principles and Maintenance. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill.

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