{"id":2764,"date":"2024-03-07T16:01:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T15:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/encyclopedia\/return-force\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T11:52:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:52:43","slug":"return-force","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/return-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Return Force"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2764\" class=\"elementor elementor-2764 elementor-1011\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-735b55f8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"735b55f8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2820cb8b\" data-id=\"2820cb8b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fb9997 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9fb9997\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Return force for retracting hydraulic cylinders<\/h1><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/return-force\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Return force for retracting hydraulic cylindersThe return force is the counterforce to the hydraulic pressure acting on the linear cylinder. When the cylinder is fully extended, this counterforce is needed&hellip;\" class=\"encyclopedia\">return force<\/a> is the counterforce to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/hydraulic-pressure\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Hydraulic Pressure ExplainedPressure is generally a force acting on a surface. Hydraulic pressure is accordingly a force transmitted through a fluid that acts on the internal walls of a hydraulic&hellip;\" class=\"encyclopedia\">hydraulic pressure<\/a> acting on the linear cylinder. When the cylinder is fully extended, this counterforce is needed to return it to its initial position. In hydraulics, there are various solutions for this. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/return-force\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Return force for retracting hydraulic cylindersThe return force is the counterforce to the hydraulic pressure acting on the linear cylinder. When the cylinder is fully extended, this counterforce is needed&hellip;\" class=\"encyclopedia\">Return force<\/a> can be distinguished between externally and internally acting forces.   <\/p><h2>Characteristics of External Return Force<\/h2><p>External <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/return-force\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Return force for retracting hydraulic cylindersThe return force is the counterforce to the hydraulic pressure acting on the linear cylinder. When the cylinder is fully extended, this counterforce is needed&hellip;\" class=\"encyclopedia\">return force<\/a>s can include:<\/p><ul><li>Weights<\/li><li>Tension springs<\/li><li>Second hydraulic cylinder<\/li><li>Pneumatic pressure<\/li><\/ul><p>The externally acting gravitational force is the simplest and most cost-effective solution to return the hydraulic cylinder to its home position. First, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/hydraulic-system\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Hydraulic system: design &amp; applications explained simplyA hydraulic system is used to apply large forces in a targeted manner over a defined distance with minimal effort. The underlying hydraulic principle&hellip;\" class=\"encyclopedia\">hydraulic system<\/a> is relieved, and then the vertically positioned piston is pushed back into the cylinder by an external weight. The displaced hydraulic fluid flows back into the tank. This solution is common, for example, in manual hydraulic devices such as engine hoists, car jacks, transmission jacks, or manual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/hydraulic-presses\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Hydraulic Presses: Workhorses in Crafts and IndustryHydraulic presses are used where particularly high compressive forces are required. These machines are available in a wide variety and are an indispensable part&hellip;\" class=\"encyclopedia\">hydraulic presses<\/a>.   <\/p><p>Tension springs for piston retraction are rare, but they are occasionally used. They have the advantage that they can retract a cylinder even in a horizontal or even hanging position. However, they are not particularly efficient, as the spring force reduces the force of the extending piston.  <\/p><p>A second external hydraulic cylinder is also rare. This solution is occasionally used for flap control. The cylinders are positioned opposite each other and can precisely and powerfully push a central element into a specific angle.  <\/p><p>A pneumatic accumulator in the form of a piston or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/bladder-accumulator\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Bladder AccumulatorBladder accumulators combine the advantages of hydraulics and pneumatics. They are used to maintain pressure in a hydraulic system without requiring a pump to run. Bladder accumulators are part&hellip;\" class=\"encyclopedia\">bladder accumulator<\/a> can also serve to retract a piston externally.<\/p><h3>Internal Return Force<\/h3><p>Two design solutions are available for internal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/return-force\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Return force for retracting hydraulic cylindersThe return force is the counterforce to the hydraulic pressure acting on the linear cylinder. When the cylinder is fully extended, this counterforce is needed&hellip;\" class=\"encyclopedia\">return force<\/a>:<\/p><ul><li>Switching the volume flow as suction flow<\/li><li>Switching the volume flow as pressure flow<\/li><\/ul><p>The directed volume flow pushes the piston of a linear cylinder outwards. If the flow is reversed, it can be converted into a suction flow. This pulls the piston back into its home position. This solution sounds simple but is technically difficult to implement. In reality, the external air pressure pushes the piston back. The suction force only supports this. Therefore, this solution is only used at low pressures, such as in power steering. On a large technical scale with hundreds of bars of operating pressure, volume flow reversal has not proven effective for this purpose.       <\/p><p>The internally acting force in double-acting cylinders is ensured by the changeover valve and the second hydraulic line. It is more elegant, precise, and reliable than externally acting solutions, but it is also more expensive. This technical implementation is recognizable by the second hydraulic line leading to the tip of the cylinder. If the piston is to be retracted, a changeover valve is actuated. This directs the volume flow from the end to the tip of the hydraulic cylinder and pushes the piston back into its home position.    <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-17578f6\" data-id=\"17578f6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18d5d30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-sidebar\" data-id=\"18d5d30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"sidebar.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"display:none;\">Search<\/div><form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" class=\"encyclopedia search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/encyclopedia\/\">\n    \n    \n    <label class=\"screen-reader-text\" for=\"encyclopedia-search-term\">Search<\/label>\n    <input type=\"text\" id=\"encyclopedia-search-term\" name=\"s\" class=\"search-field\" value=\"\" placeholder=\"Search&hellip;\">\n    <button type=\"submit\" class=\"search-submit submit button\" id=\"encyclopedia-search-submit\">Search<\/button>\n<\/form>\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/hydraulik-lexikon\/\" style=\"border-radius:0px;background-color:#005b9a\">Back to overview<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-99eb194 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"99eb194\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings='{\"stretch_section\":\"section-stretched\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6df5c98\" data-id=\"6df5c98\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e10e6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"2e10e6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\">\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"2947\" class=\"elementor elementor-2947 elementor-223 elementor-223\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c017d14 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched bgKnowHowCaller elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c017d14\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings='{\"stretch_section\":\"section-stretched\"}'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-35f2767\" data-id=\"35f2767\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-deaeec8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"deaeec8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Questions, requests, placing an order?<\/h4><p>&raquo; You can submit an enquiry directly here!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4a72297 contatcSectionEnd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4a72297\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-273fb42\" data-id=\"273fb42\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f43633 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"2f43633\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\">\n<div class=\"wpcf7 no-js\" id=\"wpcf7-f2946-o1\" lang=\"en-US\" dir=\"ltr\" data-wpcf7-id=\"2946\">\n<div class=\"screen-reader-response\"><p role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><\/p> <ul><\/ul><\/div>\n<form action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/2764#wpcf7-f2946-o1\" method=\"post\" class=\"wpcf7-form init wpcf7-acceptance-as-validation\" aria-label=\"Contact form\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" data-status=\"init\">\n<div style=\"display: none;\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7\" value=\"2946\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_version\" value=\"6.0.6\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_locale\" value=\"en_US\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_unit_tag\" value=\"wpcf7-f2946-o1\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_container_post\" value=\"0\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_posted_data_hash\" value=\"\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n\t<div class=\"col-md-2\">\n\t\t<p><label for=\"formname\" class=\"inlineInputs\">Last Name*:<\/label>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"col-md-4\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"formname\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required form-control\" id=\"formname\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"formname\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"col-md-2\">\n\t\t<p><label for=\"formvorname\" class=\"inlineInputs\">First Name*:<\/label>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"col-md-4\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"formvorname\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required form-control\" id=\"formvorname\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"formvorname\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n\t<div class=\"col-md-2\">\n\t\t<p><label for=\"formemail\" class=\"inlineInputs\">Email*:<\/label>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"col-md-4\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"formemail\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-email wpcf7-validates-as-required wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-email form-control\" id=\"formemail\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" value=\"\" type=\"email\" name=\"formemail\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"col-md-2\">\n\t\t<p><label for=\"formtelefon\" class=\"inlineInputs\">Phone:<\/label>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"col-md-4\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"formtelefon\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text form-control\" id=\"formtelefon\" aria-invalid=\"false\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"formtelefon\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"mitteilung\"><textarea cols=\"40\" rows=\"10\" maxlength=\"2000\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-textarea wpcf7-validates-as-required\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" name=\"mitteilung\">Your message to us ...<\/textarea><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row mt-2 mb-3\">\n\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"newsletter\"><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-checkbox\"><span class=\"wpcf7-list-item first last\"><label><input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"newsletter[]\" value=\"I would like to subscribe to the newsletter.\"><span class=\"wpcf7-list-item-label\">I would like to subscribe to the newsletter.<\/span><\/label><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"datenschutz\"><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-acceptance\"><span class=\"wpcf7-list-item\"><label><input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"datenschutz\" value=\"1\" aria-invalid=\"false\"><span class=\"wpcf7-list-item-label\">Yes, I have read the <a href=\"\/datenschutzerklaerung\/\" target=\"_blank\">privacy policy<\/a> and agree that the data I have provided may be collected and stored electronically. My data will be used strictly for the purpose of processing and responding to my inquiry. By submitting the contact form, I agree to this processing.<\/span><\/label><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<p class=\"aiowps-captcha hide-when-displaying-tfa-input\"><label for=\"aiowps-captcha-answer\">Please enter an answer in digits:<\/label>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"aiowps-captcha-equation hide-when-displaying-tfa-input\">\n\t\t\t<p><strong>twenty + eight = <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"aiowps-captcha-string-info\" class=\"aiowps-captcha-string-info\" value=\"707fbubthn\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"aiowps-captcha-temp-string\" class=\"aiowps-captcha-temp-string\" value=\"1776417632\"><input type=\"text\" size=\"2\" class=\"aiowps-captcha-answer\" name=\"aiowps-captcha-answer\" value=\"\" autocomplete=\"off\"><\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"aiowps-captcha\"><\/span><input class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-submit has-spinner\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Send inquiry\">\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"wpcf7-response-output\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"author":1,"template":"elementor_header_footer","encyclopedia-tag":[],"class_list":["post-2764","encyclopedia","type-encyclopedia","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/2764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/encyclopedia"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/2764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2766,"href":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/2764\/revisions\/2766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"encyclopedia-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia-tag?post=2764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}