Synchronised movement of different cylinders

[mikk.vo]

Hello,

What would be the simplest and most reliable way to make cylinders move in synchronized way?

The problem is lifting a 4 ton container. It needs to move horizontally at first to clear an obstacle/frame and then at an angle to the up and right. We were thinking that we would have cylinders that move it horizontally and separate cylinders that move it vertically. The horizontal motion cylinders would have to activate first and then at certain distance the vertical cylinders would also activate and in combination the container would move at an angle. And it would have to work in reverse also. First at an angle and then the last movement would be the horizontal motion back to the starting position.

Could this be done? Could this be done without electronics? Would it be reliable?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks

 

[hydtools]

Push the load horizontally onto a platform mounted to linkage. Continue pushing to cause platform to rise.

Ted

 

[3DDave]

This can be done with cam followers on hydraulic valves and some mechanism to feed the position of the load back to those cams. Placing the hydraulic valves on the cylinder mounts and tracks along the path is the most direct approach, but other methods can also work; basically it's an analog computer, no electronics required.