A hydraulic system is based on Pascal‘s principle of fluid pressure, which hypothesizes that a change in pressure in a fluid is transmitted to all points of the fluid in all directions. With a hydraulic lift, an electrically powered pump pushes fluid into a cylinder at the base of a lifting jack system that lifts the platform up and down.
Hydraulic systems consist of a ram that slides inside a fixed cylinder with openings at the bottom for hydraulic fluid to enter and is designed to allow the ram to slide up and down. A cage is attached at the top of the ram and acts as a platform to carry people or goods. The pressure of hydraulic fluid, beneath the ram, pushes the platform upward. When the hydraulic fluid is drained from the cylinder into a reservoir, the platform moves downward.
Hydraulic lifts are less expensive and take up less room than other systems. They can lift heavy loads effectively and efficiently without the need for overhead controlling mechanisms.
Hydraulic lifts are preferred over other types of lifting equipment for their reliability and ease of maintenance. Though they have applications in multiple environments, they have four basic features that make them a dependable form of lifting equipment in every situation.
Made to perform safe and repeated operations. They can place items wherever is necessary and can be loaded and unloaded as many times as required. They replace the need of manual lifting and moving, which can be dangerous and hazardous.
Used for moving workers. In construction and manufacturing sites with multiple stories but no staircases, hydraulic lifts can safely move personnel from one level to the next as well as lift heavy materials.
Immediate access to hard to reach places. On-site technicians require access to remote or high locations. Hydraulic lifts make inaccessible areas easily accessible to perform maintenance, make repairs, or add features.
Accelerate the progress of operations. Warehouse maintenance is easy and effortless. Facility inspections, loading and unloading goods and materials, or regular maintenance becomes stress free and quick.
Manufacturing industries are a major user of hydraulic lifts for warehousing requiring personnel lifts, and material handling. Other industries that use hydraulic lifts include construction for roofing and masonry work, automotive and transportation for vehicle repairs and inspections, docking, shipping, and air transport for passenger, cargo, and luggage movement. Senior citizen homes and residential facilities use them to assist the elderly in wheelchairs.
A key factor in the operation of hydraulic lifts is choosing the right lift for the application. Though they are available in a wide range of standardized sizes, they can be customized to fit unique requirements. Listed below are some common forms of hydraulic lifts.
Aerial Lifts are platforms that can be raised and lowered by a hydraulic mechanism. All hydraulic lift systems are used to position people or objects in a way that will give people better access to an area or better access to an object. The words "aerial lift" are usually used in reference to elevated work platforms, which are platforms that can be raised and lowered in order to bring a person nearer to something that would otherwise be out of reach.
Industrial turntables are a type of lift used in commercial and industrial applications. In manufacturing and production contexts, industrial turntables provide a rotating platform, for example with items stationed on the platform at intervals. As each item passes a production station, as on an assembly line, work may be performed on it. Turntables come in a large variety of configurations, and may be powered or manually operated. Industrial turntables are used in factories, warehouses, and in many different applications, from automotive to food production.
Lift tables are surfaces designed to raise and lower objects, mostly within industrial and manufacturing settings, on a relatively small scale. They make alterations in the workplace easy by providing a way for items to be brought to selected heights for optimal access, where they can be moved or worked on. Lift tables champion the concept of ergonomic workspaces, which places emphasis on how space can be used and equipment can be built to create safer, more productive environments for workers.
A mobile lift is used on construction sites to raise and lower workers or building materials. This can be useful when working at high levels on the interior or exterior of a building. The lift has four wheels and a motor that allow it to be steered and driven by the operator so that it can be moved and positioned conveniently while working. Mobile lifts are manufactured in a variety of styles with varying weight capacities and height capabilities, but the idea is to provide access to rooftops and mezzanines safely and efficiently.
Scissor lifts are tools that are used to raise and lower objects. Scissor lifts use linked, folded supports that, when extended, form diamond shapes. Compared with other types of lifts, scissor lifts are able to hold large, heavy loads and handle wider work areas. They are among the most common types of hydraulic lifts.
Pneumatic lifts use pressurized air to lift items higher or move them up floors. Pneumatics are used over electric or hydraulic for their low cost. However, they cannot get as high as their counterparts due to air being a weaker power source. An external pump increases internal pressure inside the lift, which allows the cylinder the move along the axis of the piston.
Dock lifts are a component of loading docks, designed to assist in the functions of shipping and receiving, promote efficiency and discourage product damage and injury. They do so by making sure that a delivery vehicle connects completely to the dock, so it can transfer goods without a hitch. Specifically, they permit platforms to be adjusted and create a bridge between the delivery vehicle and dock.
A hydraulic table uses a motor powered by hydraulic pressure to raise and lower a table that is attached to moving parts. The arms that raise and lower the table are usually in a scissor pattern so they can extend and retract with a greater range of motion. The hydraulic pressure moves a piston on a cylinder beneath the table, causing the table to go up or down as the pressure is increased or decreased. A hydraulic table can be made to extend just a few inches, a few feet, or even more based on the application requirements. For less demanding applications, the lift mechanism may not use a motor at all and will instead use a foot pedal to generate hydraulic pressure.
The basic component of a hydraulic lift platform is the drive system. This system is made up of the cylinder on which the ram slides and the ram on which the capsule or carrying platform is placed. Other components of the system include a reservoir, pump, valves, and actuators.
Mechanics use vehicle lifts that have a frame consisting of two or four strong metal posts that are firmly bolted into the ground. Arms that can be raised and lowered extend from the post and create four points of contact underneath the vehicle so that it can safely be raised and lowered to the desired height. It is important that these four points of contact underneath the vehicle are even so that the weight is not unequally distributed once the car leaves the ground, causing it to tip forwards or backwards.
Post Car Lifts are designed to raise vehicles so their undersides can be accessed and worked on. They have two upright support columns, four arms, attached to a carriage assembly, two hydraulic cylinders, a hydraulic power unit, and a mix of hoses, pulleys, and cables. Typically, they‘re mounted on a concrete floor.
Scissor Lift Tables are often found in construction sites and used for maintenance applications. The lifting mechanism on a scissor lift uses crossed tubing that works in a scissor like fashion to raise a platform. Slab scissor lifts have solid tires and are designed to work on concrete slabs. Rough terrain scissor lifts have an engine with foam filled tires and can move across unsmooth or uneven terrain.
Mobile Scissor Lift Tables are like a rough terrain scissor lift that is equipped with castors to be moved as needed and can include foot pumps and tiltable tables to prevent injuries during transport of awkward or bulky objects.
Small hydraulic lifts, which can also be referred to as miniature hydraulic lifts, are hydraulic lifts that are under the average industry size, thus they are generally used for more small-scale applications. Since small hydraulic lifts are termed "small" relative to other hydraulic lifts, and therefore what is small to an industrial manufacturing worker may seem very large to an electronics or medical worker.
Aerial Lift Tables are versatile equipment with extendable platforms that allow access to extremely high areas such as roofs, ceiling windows, and HVAC systems. The platform is supported by a boom arm that can lift to heights well over ten feet. Specially designed atrium lifts are able to go even higher.
Platform Lifts, or elevated work platforms, are larger than table lifts and are used for large scale tasks.
Pallet Lifts are for material handling and shipping applications for pallets. Known as transporters, pallet lifts raise pallets from a ground level to placement on a rack or put in storage.
Electric Lifts are manufactured in different styles and sizes for industrial lifting. Sometimes hydraulic pressure components are integrated into an electric lift to give it more power for heavy duty applications. The hydraulic system is powered and controlled by an electric motor that allows the operator to easily adjust the height of the lift.
Portable Lifts are useful in industrial or commercial settings because they can be wheeled across a flat surface. Basic portable lifts do not have a motor but have a simple scissor mechanism with a small platform that can be manually moved up or down.
Rotary Lifts is an Indiana company that is credited with producing the world‘s first vehicle lift equipment in 1925. Rotary Lift products are used in automotive repair and are the centerpiece of automotive service. They come in light and heavy duty in a variety of styles and designs.
Scissor Lift Tables use scissor shaped arms that expand and contract when the table is raised or lowered. A motor exerts hydraulic pressure to raise and lower the moving arms.
A welding positioner rotates round or tube-shaped pieces of work, such as pipes, flanges and pipe fittings, which allows a welder to sit or stand in one place and work on a level surface. Using a welding positioner increases efficiency, productivity and consistency of work while also reducing worker fatigue, since the welder does not have to keep moving around the pipe, or reach overhead to get to the work piece they are welding. At the same time, using a welding positioner increases the consistency and quality of welds.
As with any part of a manufacturing operation, safety is the first consideration, which directly applies to the operation, maintenance, and use of hydraulic lifts. Though they provide many benefits, they are a piece of heavy duty equipment that requires training, guidance, and maintenance. Lift operators must be required to be trained and certified in lift producer training. Literature regarding the safe operation of a hydraulic lift as well as a list of safety procedures is provided during delivery, which should be carefully studied before beginning operation.
Every customer will have a set of codes they follow, but there are overlaps and similarities, which include OSHA standards and ISO standards. European countries have EN or British EN standards. Suppliers and industry experts know industry specific standards and regulations.
Hydraulic lifts should be operated by certified and experienced lift operators to avoid mistakes and accidents. New operators or new hires should be sent to a certification training program offered by the manufacturer.
Part of the specifications from producers include descriptions of proper maintenance and care of equipment. Every hydraulic lift has a description of its load capacity and capabilities. To keep the lift in prime working order, it is essential to pay close adherence to the directives regarding its use.
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