A rod clamp is a mechanical device used to stop and immobilize the stroke of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder when necessary. This clamping element secures a lifting operation and/or controls its movement for a specific purpose. Douce-Hydro specializes in the design of hydraulic systems, and manufactures rod clamps to meet the specificity and complexity of your needs.
What is a KERALOCK ® stem clamp used for?
In hydraulic systems, the KERALOCK ® rod clamp plays a very important role. On a hydraulic cylinder, for example, the rod lock is a clamping device fitted to and attached to the cylinder rod, an elongated, movable element which receives and transmits the force generated by the fluid pressure. Its function is to hold the cylinder rod in a fixed position when the pressure reaches its maximum level. The KERALOCK ® rod clamp is therefore an essential part of many pieces of industrial equipment whose movements are triggered by the action of a cylinder.
The KERALOCK ® rod clamp provides enhanced safety: it prevents any unintentional or inadvertent movement of the cylinder under load. It is particularly useful in certain more or less critical situations: for example, when unwanted movement of the rod, caused by a loss of pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, is likely to compromise user safety or cause material damage. The rod clamp can also be used to hold a load in position during an emergency stop or power failure.
When the KERALOCK ® rod lock is activated, it creates a safe stopping point to prevent unintentional movement of the cylinder rod. This locking function is crucial in industrial and mechanical applications requiring precise positioning to stabilize a lifting tool, for example, or a sliding system.
Which rod clamp for which cylinder?
The use of a rod clamp is not limited to a specific type of cylinder. In fact, they can be adapted to a variety of cylinders, whether hydraulic or pneumatic. However, the choice of an appropriate rod-locker is highly dependent on the characteristics of the cylinder to which it will be coupled.
For hydraulic cylinders, which are often subjected to heavy loads and high pressures, a robust, heavy-duty rod clamp is essential for optimum safety. The rod clamp’s ability to withstand the pressure and to stop the rod of a cylinder with a very high thrust force are two essential criteria to consider when choosing a device. Douce Hydro’s design office determines all the data required to create a rod-locker perfectly calibrated to meet your specific needs.
A rod clamp is particularly useful in systems requiring a temporary halt to rod movement: this is sometimes necessary for maintenance operations, to adjust the position of a tool, or to momentarily immobilize the cylinder during a production phase.
A stem clamp to suit your needs
Thanks to the expertise of its design office, its cutting-edge technologies and its fleet of numerically controlled machines, Douce Hydro, a specialist in hydraulic systems and cylinders, is able to design and manufacture a rod clamp adapted to each specific application. We take into account the various pressure and load requirements, as well as the constraints linked to the industrial environment concerned, to offer a range of rod-locking devices capable of meeting a variety of needs.
Douce Hydro is committed to providing rod locks that not only make operations safer, but also improve the efficiency and performance of hydraulic systems, aiming to offer the best possible solution for every hydraulic cylinder application.
