Zylindergruppe

Zylindergruppe is a term used in German engineering to designate a collection of cylinders within a machine that operates as a unit. It is most commonly applied to piston engines, where it denotes the group of cylinders that share a common crank mechanism and often a common cylinder block and cylinder head. The term emphasizes the functional arrangement of the cylinders rather than a purely physical block.

In piston engines, the Zylindergruppe comprises the cylinders themselves and their associated pistons, valves, and connecting elements. The cylinders within a Zylindergruppe are mounted on a single crankshaft and coordinated by a shared timing system. The configuration of the Zylindergruppe—whether inline with a single row, or multiple banks in a V- or W-type engine—determines the engine’s balance, firing order, and overall dimensions. In this context, a V or W engine may be described as having two or more Zylindergruppen (banks) arranged around the crankshaft. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with Zylinderbank, though Zylinderblock refers more specifically to the physical block that contains the cylinders.

Beyond engines, Zylindergruppe can also appear in hydraulic or pneumatic systems to describe several actuating cylinders fed from a common control manifold or valve block, enabling synchronized movement for tasks such as clamping, lifting, or pressing.

Overall, the concept centers on treating multiple cylinders as a coordinated unit within a larger machine. Exact usage can vary by manufacturer and region, but the core idea is a modular, synchronized group of cylinders.