What Are the Pros and Cons of Hydraulic Platform Lifts?

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.

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.

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.

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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What Is the Cost of Different Types of Lifts and Elevators?

Image source: https://www.oldmateelevators.com.au/low-rise-platform/

 Limited mobility is a curse for anyone, and people with disabilities have it attached to their lives forever. They find it impossible to access areas with stairs, and situations become even worse when no arrangements are there to mitigate the problem. In this situation, platform lifts and other kinds of lifts can be very useful. Before getting one installed at your home or office, it is vital to be aware of the options available in the markets along with their cost. This is what we have come up with in this blog post.

HOW MANY TYPES OF LIFTS AND ELEVATORS ARE THERE?

These lifts and elevators are divided into three categories – home elevators, vertical platform lifts and stair lifts.

WHAT ARE HOME ELEVATORS?

Compared to hydraulic platform lifts that we see at shopping malls and commercial complexes, home elevators are small and installed at your home or a small office to enhance accessibility. They are further divided into three different types.

HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS 

They require more space for operation, hence ideal for homes that are being constructed as a dedicated space can be allotted for installation. 

The next is the traction elevator, which uses steel ropes and a pulley system. The benefit is that it can be retrofitted into your home very quickly. 

The last name of the pneumatic residential elevators that use air pressure and lower the elevator.

WHAT IS THE COST OF HOME ELEVATOR INSTALLATION?

The primary residential elevator cost can be between $15000 and $25000, apart from the cost to build a shaft or a machine room and any other renovation. A fancy or custom-designed home elevator can cost up to $100,000.

WHAT ARE VERTICAL PLATFORM LIFTS?

These lifts are also called wheelchair platform lifts or porch lifts. They are designed to give independence to wheelchair users to move from one level to another. According to the vendors of hydraulic lift table trolley systems, they allow users to easily roll into the lift before ascending or descending.

WHAT IS THE COST OF VERTICAL PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATION?

Some structural modification will be required, but it is less expensive than residential elevators. Any company offering lift installation services will install them for anywhere between $10000 and $15000, apart from renovation costs.

WHAT ARE CHAIR LIFTS?

Apart from platform lifts, one of the most versatile solutions is the stair lifts that allow people with mobility issues to move up and down the stairs quickly. They are also called chair lifts, as a chair is installed on a track that runs along the stairs to move up and down. No additional renovation or remodelling is required, and no separate equipment will be needed. You can plug in to keep the battery charged, and even if the power outage is there, you can use these lifts easily.

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Types Of Hydraulic Lifts You See Commonly Around Us

Commercial facilities and buildings are impossible to access entirely in the absence of several pieces of equipment, and one of them is the hydraulic lift. These lifts are available in many forms, and they are a part of different industries and sectors. They help patients, along with their hospital beds to be shifted from one floor to another and, in fact, from one building to another. Let us go through some common types of hydraulic lifts that elevator companies offer.

Source: https://www.oldmateelevators.com.au/commercial

TABLE LIFTS

They can move items from one floor to the workable level. Transportation companies are the biggest beneficiaries of these lifts, and they use them to lift materials onto truck beds or warehouse floors.

PERSONNEL LIFTS

These lifts offered by an elevator service company are designed to lift people safely to different heights for work or to move materials. These materials could be anything like electrical lines, inventory placement on mezzanine floors and for accessing certain products and materials.

FORKLIFT

The most common type of hydraulic lift available in the market is a forklift, and it can move materials at construction sites, where houses, factories, retail stores and so on. They are also used frequently for loading and unloading trucks and aeroplanes. They are compact and powerful enough to quickly move items from one location to another, even in cramped areas.

MEDICAL LIFTS

These lifts are designed for lifting devices for surgical tables, hospital beds and marketing equipment. Using these lifts is a convenient method for moving patients along with their hospital beds from their rooms to treatment areas and other floors.

Apart from these types, there are also automotive lifts to lift the vehicle for repair inspection. It is considered the most potent type of hydraulic lift offered by an elevator service company. Then, there are post-car lifts, platform lift and pallet lifts available for use, and all are from the family of hydraulic lifts only.

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What Are Low Rise Platform Lifts and What Are Their Features?

The concerns related to people with mobility issues have grown a lot in all parts of the world and it is because of grown awareness that different kinds of lifts and elevators have mushroomed. 

Yes, manufacturers are now manufacturing different kinds of lifts not just to aid people with disabilities, but others too in various tasks related to lifting or moving up and down. 

One such kind of lift that people have been use very much is the platform lift that has another version named low rise platform lifts. 

People are fully aware of different kinds of elevators, but this version is something that not many people are aware of and here in this post, we will have a deeper look at this kind.

What is a Platform Lift?

• According to a reliable low rise platform lift provider in Sydney, this version has emerged as a solution for elderly people having mobility issues and people with disabilities get access to inaccessible areas with extreme ease. 

• This means that because of these low-rise platform lifts, people can experience the comfort and convenience of an elevator and these lifts can on multiple floors.
• They are not like stair lifts and you will see that these lifts can be operated by the user himself as the controls are inside the lift only.
• According to the experts, these low-rise Platform lifts have become a great way to ensure that wheelchair users can get to their required destination with simplicity and dignity.

What Are Their Benefits? 

Perhaps the biggest benefit of Platform lift as well as low rise platform lifts is that those having mobility issues and people with disabilities get better access of certain areas. 

These kinds of lifts can be used in indoors as well as outdoors and have numerous features that can make the ride even smoother for these people. From a reliable low rise platform provider in Sydney, you can get this lift built as per your specifications, dimensions and requirements. 

Ultimately, platform lifts can be one of the most cost-efficient and convenient ways for people in care home environments to ensure that their residents have a comfortable mobility solution. 

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Top Features That You Need To Look For While Getting Mobility Lifts

As far as mobility lifts are concerned, there are a number of things you take note of to make sure that you get the best performance out of them. Here in this post, we have discussed several points that will help you invest in the right manner and get the best out of it. As far as the mobility lifts are concerned, they will also save you on space as well as the running cost and not to mention, reduce the energy consumption. They are self-sufficient and super-easy for everyone to operate. 

Here are some features you should look for while looking for mobility lifts – 

• They are Suitable for Residential and Commercial purposes
• They Are Fully Compliant With Disabled Standards
• They are Available in Platform Lift or Full Cabin Options
• They Are Low On Maintenance, Running Costs And Energy Consumption
• There Are Disruption-Free Installation And Maintenance
• They Can Be Designed In Any Configuration

Design Features

• The companies engaged in designing these mobility lifts say that they can custom-design them and even platform lifts based on the specifications.
• With whatever design you get, they make sure that you get plenty of headroom as well as moving space to move around.
• The mobility lifts, as well as platform lifts, can be offered in a wide range of sizes to match your requirements and budget and for accommodating different mobility aid devices.
• The experts from the company chosen by you will help you choose the right kind of lift or inclined wheelchair lift based on the needs.
• At the same time, it would be possible for you to choose the right colour and design to match your decor.

Here are some technical features that you need to have at the time of selection – 

• Maximum Number Of Stops – 8
• Lifting Capacity 400kg – 630kg – 1000kg
• Maximum Lifting Travel – 15,000mm
• Pit Depth Minimum – 50mm

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The Most Suitable Mobility Lifts for Your Office Environment

Different kinds of mobility lifts can be used as an office, but in actual terms, only two of them are designed for use in the office. One of them is the stair lifts while the other is platform lift and this means that the selection for your office would come down to these two names. In this post, we will try and find out with one would be better for your office and for this, we will mull upon different factors.

Stair Lift

• According to the sellers of mobility lifts, one of the top features of stair lifts is that it allows PwDs to move up and down without any aid.
• This lift travels along with the length of the staircase, where the lift is actually mounted on a wall or stanchion posts and this feature makes for the speedy installation in the outdoors.
• The most significant advantage of stair lifts is that it takes up minimal space and moreover, it can be removed folded and stored away when not required.
• This will leave the staircase open for people to use.
• One more thing to know is that stair lifts are available with many different features for different requirements. 
• At the same time, you will find many designs that can be used in the indoors as well as outdoors, both.
• Lastly, this version is an ideal solution for areas, where it is impossible to build a ramp. 

Platform Lift

• According to the vendors of inclined wheelchair lifts the top feature associated with this version of mobility lifts is that it is suitable for premises where stairs aren’t available or it is not suitable for a stair lift. 
• This version can be placed between two levels and allows users to travel up and down like an elevator.
• Just like the one discussed above, this version too is very easy to install and maintain as you will simply have to call in the experts for the same.
• They can be used indoors or outdoors and a wide range of finishes means you can find one that blends in with its surroundings. 

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