C-Series Off-Highway
Installation Manual
I 14 I
6. Cylinder handling after sensor installation
6.1 Washing and drying cylinders with installed sensors
Frequently, hydraulic cylinders are washed or degreased before
painting. For this purpose, various chemical and/or thermal methods
are used, whereby cleaning agents are sprayed onto the components
under high pressure up to 50 bar. During this procedure, the following
measures relating to polyurethane (PUR) connecting cables and plug-
in connections must be taken.
6.1.1 Sensors with M12 connector system
• When washing at low pressures up to approximately 5 bar, the
plastic cap supplied with sensor and connector system is sufficient
to protect the M12 connector system (part no. 403287).
• When washing at higher pressures, an M12×1 metal protective
device should be used to protect the connector system against the
effect of chemicals.
• The actual MTS connector system won`t be damaged due to its high
protection class, however, mating plugs which are connected might
corrode due to the effect of chemicals.
• If temperatures higher than +85 °C are used for drying after
washing, the connector systems should not be exposed to this
temperature for more than 5 minutes.
6.1.2 Sensors with connecting cable
• Protect the connecting cables using suitable enclosures (e.g. bags)
against the effect of moisture, high pressures and temperatures.
• Normally, cable entry glands meet the requirements of IP67,
however, they are not pressure-tight. For this reason, they must be
protected against moisture as well, in order to prevent moisture
from accumulating in the connecting compartment of the cylinder.
• MTS connecting cables are made of PUR and relatively resistant
against a large variety of chemicals and oils. However, exceptions
are e.g. carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene,
which can be ingredients of fat solvents and cleaning agents.
• Therefore, make sure that cables are protected adequately, if
cleaning agents that can attack PUR are used.
• If temperatures higher than +85 °C are used for drying after
washing, the connecting cables shouldn`t be exposed to this
temperature for more than 5 minutes.
6.1.3 Sensors provided with third-party connectors
• If third-party connectors are used, a sealed screw cap must be fitted
when washing, since third-party connectors normally have only
protection class IP67.
• Moreover, check if the housing of the third-party connector
is sufficiently tight to resist high pressures when washing. If
necessary, measures for protection of the housing should be taken.
• These connectors must be protected against the ingress of moisture
as well to prevent moisture from accumulating in the connecting
compartment of the cylinder.
• If temperatures higher than +85 ˚C are used for drying after
washing, third-party connectors shouldn‘t be exposed to this
temperature during more than 5 minutes either.
6.2 Painting cylinders
6.2.1 Electrostatic painting
Various dry and wet methods of applying paint to the component
surface use electrostatic charge to paint cylinders. These methods
employ very high voltages up to 100 kV, which can damage the
electronics of position measuring systems. To prevent this damage,
it is mandatory to take the following measures during electrostatic
painting.
• Attach the cylinder to the painting frame by the barrel side of
the cylinder rather than by the piston rod. The reason is that the
integrated sealing and slide rings can cause electric isolation
between the piston rod and the cylinder/sensor housing, i.e. low-
impedance connection between the painting equipment ground and
the sensor housing is not ensured.
• Clean the suspension points at the painting system and all
connections used for short-circuiting conductors and connection to
the painting system ground regularly and remove paint as well as
other residues, in order to ensure low-impedance connection.
Fig. 13: Electrostatic painting
