Reservoir questions - how big/adding second

[lhfarm]

I have a small dump trailer with a 24" x 4" cylinder. Works great using the hydraulics on my TC40DA. But I want to pull and dump the trailer with my Jeep and Cub Lo-Boy, so am trying to build a portable 12V pump unit. The attached picture shows the pump unit I have been trying to use. The reservoir is too small. The pump will lift the bed quickly, until the reservior is emptied.
Is there a simple way to calculate the size reservoir I need? Since the unit I have (and would like to use to save some $$$) is a single unit, can I rig a second tank to set on top? It would drain into the top of the current reservoir and the return hose plumbed into the top.
Or should I give up on this pump and buy a new rig?

Thanks

 

[David Ferguson]

The reservoir size would have to be at a minimum the volume of your hydraulic cylinder when extended (ie. extension length x 3.14 x square(piston diameter/2)).

for a 4" cylinder with a 24" stroke, this would be:

24 x 3.14 x (4/2) x (4/2) = 301.4 cu in. or 1.3 gal.

I think you need a 1.5 to 2 gallon reservoir for that size cylinder.

Hope this helps.

 

[lhfarm]

The reservoir size would have to be at a minimum the volume of your hydraulic cylinder when extended (ie. extension length x 3.14 x square(piston diameter/2)).

for a 4" cylinder with a 24" stroke, this would be:

24 x 3.14 x (4/2) x (4/2) = 301.4 cu in. or 1.3 gal.

I think you need a 1.5 to 2 gallon reservoir for that size cylinder.

Hope this helps.

That does help - thanks! I'll do some measuring and see if I can determine how big the current tank is - I'm thinking less than a gallon. And I'll see if I can find an auxillary tank.