A hydraulic lift uses fluid pressure to raise and lower loads through a hydraulic cylinder. It is commonly used for lifting heavy loads such as cars and in elevators due to its added safety features.
A hydraulic lift is a lifting device that raises and lowers through the use of a hydraulic cylinder. A hydraulic lift relies on the fluid pressure and resistance provided by the hydraulic fluid to perform its functions. As the hydraulic cylinder is compressed, energy is stored in the compression and as it is slowly released the lift rises, relieving pressure as it does so. When the lift is lowered again, it slowly descends due to the amount of resistance provided by the hydraulic fluid inside the cylinder, which is how the cylinder creates the energy needed for the next lift.
In a hydraulic lift, the housing for the lift sits above a piston rod that slides into the chamber for the hydraulic cylinder or hydraulic chamber. There is an external housing which holds the hydraulic fluid when the lift is not in use and when the controls for the lift system are engaged, the fluid is pushed through a pumping mechanism into the ram housing. This causes the piston to move directionally, pushing it up until it reaches the desired height. When the elevator is descending, the system and piston housing are both decompressed, slowly adding pressure to the fluid housing for the next time the system is activated.
Hydraulic lifts are used in a few different applications, generally when the load that is commonly lifted by the lift system falls within a substantial weight class. Car lifts and floor jacks used to lift cars even a short distance off the ground are the most common forms of hydraulic lifts. Many of the elevators exhibited in public places such as shopping malls are being installed with hydraulic elevator systems due to lower maintenance costs and noise reduction.
The added safety of an elevator that is on a hydraulic lift system is of great appeal in cases where the elevator is used to transport people. This added security comes in the form of the cylinder that houses the fluid. Even if the cylinder were to fail and allow the elevator to fall freely, unless the hydraulic fluid was completely drained from the cylinder, the resistance provided would allow the elevator to slide down safely. This allows for a greatly reduced chance of injury compared to the traditional shaft system which depends on cable supports in the event of an elevator failure.
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