The lifts and elevators around us function on three different types of drive systems: electrical, traction, and hydraulic. The most interesting one to understand and read is the hydraulic platform lifts, and we have covered the details in this post.
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| Machine powered by a hydraulic cylinder - Oldmateelevators |
WHAT IS HYDRAULIC LIFT?
A hydraulic lift is a machine
powered by a hydraulic cylinder
system to move and position the cab. The design
varies based on the application, but the overall function and components of any hydraulic lift, including hydraulic platform lift, are almost similar –
- A hydraulic cylinder enclosing a piston
- A reservoir for oil storage
- A pump for generating fluid energy
- A motor to generate mechanical power
- Valves for manipulating fluid flow
WHAT COMPONENTS CONSTITUTE TO FORM A HYDRAULIC LIFT?
Let us quickly go through the
interacting systems or the critical components of a hydraulic platform lift.
THE CIRCUITS
The role of these circuits is to
control the flow and pressure of the liquid. There are pumps, and their work is
to convert mechanical energy into hydraulic energy.
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Convert mechanical energy into hydraulic energy - Oldmateelevators |
THE MOTOR
The motor installed in the
hydraulic platform lift is a rotary actuator, and its role is to
convert hydraulic energy into torque and rotation.
THE CYLINDER
The cylinder has to convert the
hydraulic fluid energy into force and create pressure in the fluid for further
actions.
THE PISTON
The piston is the most critical
part of any hydraulic machine and it is situated inside the cylinder.
It moves upwards in response to the pressure coming from the fluid.
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Crucial component of hydraulic platform lift - Oldmateelevators |
THE FLUID
This is another crucial
component of hydraulic platform lift, and it powers the entire machine to move
the piston up and down. Water and mineral oil are the two most common fluids,
and other options used are –
- Glycol ether
- Organophosphate ester
- Polyalphaolefin
- Propylene glycol
- Silicone oil
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF HYDRAULIC PLATFORM LIFTS?
Hydraulic platform lifts used at
our homes come with the following pros.
- Take up less space and usually have a smaller footprint
- Simple and quick to maintain and service
- Usually take a higher weight limit
- Hydraulic home lifts do not need a vast oil pit
- The lift cannot fall to the bottom
- Very little noise from a hydraulic home lift
- Low energy use makes the system economical to run
CONS
Here is a quick list of the cons
of hydraulic lifts.
- Need a small box or room to house the pump and oil reservoir
- In oil leak situation, there will be oil in your home
- Oil can get quite warm in the system
- More filters and seals in a hydraulic lift than other types
- Not the fastest option as the fluid limits the speed
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