Seal plate method for communicating retract oil to retract side of piston in hydraulic cylinder

A hydraulic cylinder, comprising:

• a cylinder housing comprising a base end and a cylinder tube extending from the base end;
• a piston and cylinder rod positioned in the cylinder tube, the piston adjacent a base end of the cylinder housing, wherein said piston comprises an extension side facing toward the base end and an opposite retraction side facing away from the base end;
• an extension port fluidly connected to an extension path for supplying a hydraulic fluid from the extension port to the extension side of the piston;
• a retraction port fluidly connected to a retraction path for supplying the hydraulic fluid from the retraction port to a retraction side of the piston;
• and
• a T-shaped seal plate adjacent the piston at the base end of the cylinder housing, the seal plate sealing the retraction path from the extension path of hydraulic fluid;
• and
• a single check valve in fluid communication with the extension and retraction ports in the base end of the cylinder housing,
• wherein the extension port and retraction port are positioned adjacent one another on the cylinder housing.

A method of operating a hydraulic cylinder, comprising:

• extending a cylinder rod by supplying a hydraulic oil via an extension port and through an extension path to the extension side of a piston connected to the cylinder rod, wherein the extension side of the piston faces towards a base end of the hydraulic cylinder;
• retracting the cylinder rod by supplying the hydraulic oil via a retraction port and through a retraction path to a retraction side of the piston, wherein the retraction side of the piston faces away from the base end of the hydraulic cylinder;
• and
• separating the extension and retraction paths with an end seal plate adjacent the piston at the base end of the cylinder housing;
• wherein the extension port and the retraction port are positioned adjacent one another on the cylinder housing.