A Quick Guide to Functions and Uses of Hydraulic Lifts

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We all use hydraulic lifts and elevators very frequently in our daily lives. But only some of us are aware of how these elevators function. A wonderful scientific approach works behind the overall functioning of these hydraulic lifts or elevators. Let us understand this science in this blog post.

WHAT IS A HYDRAULIC LIFT?

A hydraulic lift is a heavy-duty elevator built for long-term and frequent use. It has a straightforward working mechanism that involves using hydraulic power for controlling and power generation. They are accommodating in moving people and goods vertically, and this is mainly due to the piston that moves inside the cylinder. An electric motor is installed to pump the oil into the cylinder with immense pressure that moves the piston up to elevate the hydraulic lift. 

According to experts in lift modernisation works, hydraulic lifts are ideal for 5 to 6-storey high properties. Earlier hydraulic lifts were powered by water pressure, but modern-day hydraulic elevators and lifts are supported by a piston that moves inside the cylinder due to the pressure generated by oil.

Apart from hydraulic lifts, traction elevators use steel ropes, pulleys, etc., to move up and down.

WHAT ARE THE USES OF HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS?

Hydraulic lifts can be seen in almost every building, and while installing them, two factors have to be considered - the height to reach and the operation speed. As mentioned above, even after lift modernisation works, a hydraulic lift can move up to six storeys high, and the operational speed is also significantly low.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS

HOLED HYDRAULIC LIFTS

To install a holed hydraulic lift, lift modernisation professionals must drill a hole to accommodate the entire cylinder and the piston. This piston will be attached to the elevator cab to push it upwards when the oil is released into the cylinder. The maximum travel distance is 60 feet.

HOLELESS HYDRAULIC LIFTS

No holes are needed to install these hydraulic holeless lifts, and this factor sets them apart from the former. The stipulation is that this version of hydraulic lift can travel a maximum of 40 feet. They can be classified further as telescopic hydraulic lifts, non-telescopic hydraulic lifts, and roped hydraulic lifts.

WHAT COMPONENTS HELP IN THE FUNCTIONING OF A HYDRAULIC LIFT?

Here is a small list of the main components that assist hydraulic lifts.

• A hydraulic cylinder enclosing a piston

• A reservoir for oil storage

• A pump for generating fluid energy

• A motor for generating mechanical power

• Valves for manipulating fluid flow

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What Are the Uses and Advantages of Hydraulic Lifts?

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Hydraulic elevators and hydraulic lifts are one of the most critical equipment used for goods and people transportation. They are more preferred and recommended than traction elevators due to their ability to carry heavy loads very easily. These lifts and elevators have become essential to our lives due to enhanced consciousness about making buildings and structures more accessible for people with disabilities and elderly people. They also provide convenience to people travelling towards the upper part of the building, where using stairs is completely impractical. In this blog post, we look at the top uses of hydraulic lifts in our daily activities.

TOP USES OF HYDRAULIC LIFTS

RELIABLE LIFTS

Experts involved in lift modernisation consider hydraulic lifts as highly reliable lifts preferred over all other types available in the market. They are consistent, low maintenance, and easy to operate and handle. These hydraulic lifts use a hydraulic compressor as a motive force to provide safe and dependable operation.

FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY GOODS

Hydraulic lifts and table lifts are the most impressive solutions to position the work material and are ideal for carrying heavy weights. Trucks and vehicle lifts are often used to lift materials and their loading and unloading. They come with attachments that can be rear or front-mounted, and the most basic example is the dock lifts.

PROVIDE SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS

Providing safe working conditions is the top goal behind using hydraulic lifts and getting lift modernisation works done. They can significantly reduce the chances of injuries caused to people and workers due to unsafe working conditions. These dangerous working conditions mainly arise in areas where loading/unloading and shifting heavy goods from one place to another are done. These hydraulic lifts assist a lot in safely transferring, loading and unloading heavy goods and materials. They also help workers by ensuring that the humans don't have to apply too much force and hard work.

USED FOR HOLDING AND MOVING PRODUCTS 

Another advantage of hydraulic lifts is that you can use them for various purposes in different conditions. In other words, they can also be used for moving products and materials horizontally and vertically. Hydraulic lifts can be permanently fixed for a sustained work environment. The versatility of these hydraulic lifts makes them capable of working even like a forklift truck. Even after working in such harsh conditions, these machines don't require any special care or regular maintenance. Simple maintenance steps like inspecting the hydraulic fluid are required because leaking hydraulic fluid can be hazardous under high pressure. 

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Easy Maintenance Guide For Home Lift Elevators

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People are becoming more economically prosperous and getting better and more advanced features for life improvement. One of them is a home lift elevator that improves the quality of life for every homeowner. Particularly for those having mobility issues and people with disabilities, these elevators are nothing short of a boon. They can get their liberty back, and not to mention, these elevators add style and luxury to any property and enhance its resale value significantly. However, it is essential to maintain them as per the instructions given by the lift installation company because they have to comply with government rules and regulations.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR HOME ELEVATOR?

Some very common steps are taken to maintain any residential elevator and avoid expensive repair work, and some of them are discussed below.

FOLLOW THE RULES AND KEEP UP WITH THE REPAIRS

You must remember the following safety tips to prolong the life of your home lift elevator or low rise lift.

• Pay attention to the elevator’s weight limit

• Keep all contents 2 inches away from the cab gate and walls

• Always keep the landing doors closed

• Don’t operate your elevator if the car gate or landing door locking system malfunctions.

• Never tamper, bypass, disable or remove safety features.

• Don’t operate your elevator if you hear strange sounds.

• Make sure the elevator completely stops before entering or exiting.

According to the vendors, you must keep the logbook updated regarding any necessary repairs and maintenance work. This will help you save a good amount of money later by addressing any recurring problem immediately.

FOLLOW SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE

You can keep your home lift elevator and low rise elevators in perfect running condition for years by following regularly scheduled maintenance. There are some DIY steps, but apart from them, other regular maintenance steps should not be ignored at all. Remember, routine maintenance will improve the overall functionality of your home lift elevator and make it smoother, faster and safer.

WHAT DIY INSPECTIONS TO PERFORM?

As mentioned above, there are some DIY steps to take regarding maintenance and inspection. These DIY inspections ensure that you have a complete overview of every significant part of the elevator.

• Visual inspection involves checking the doors for visible damages such as dents, cracks and misalignment

• Inspecting elevator cab for cleanliness and any sign of wear or damage

• Inspecting the control panel for any warning light error message or wear and tear

• Checking the overall functioning for unusual noises and vibration

• Testing the elevator door for smooth opening and closing function

• Ensuring that door sensors are working correctly and nothing is obstructing the doorway

• Ensuring that the doors stay closed when the cab is moving up or down

EMERGENCY FEATURES TO INSPECT

• Test the emergency stop button to ensure it works.

• Check the emergency phone to confirm it is functional.

• Verify that the battery backup is operational by simulating a power outage.

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Home Lift Elevators – Some Crucial Questions and Their Answers

People with mobility issues and those using a wheelchair already have a very challenging life. Their struggle continues on every step, and the presence of stairs or inaccessibility multiplies the challenges further. With the help of office and home lift elevators, however, these challenges can be mitigated and eliminated. 

Residential elevators, in particular, are beneficial for older people, those having mobility issues and wheelchair users. Getting a home lift installation done should be preceded by several common questions, and some of them are present in the list of questions discussed here.

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HOME LIFT ELEVATOR FAQs

What is the standard size of a residential elevator?

The size of your elevator can influence your choice and requirement. The manufacturers will seek your specifications initially, and if you have some, design the lift based on them. Ideally, a home lift elevator is around 7 feet tall and between 3 and 5.5 feet deep.

How Much Space Is Needed For Installation?

This will also depend on what kind of lift you have chosen. If you have opted for a lift with a shaft, you will need a minimum of 5 feet in width and depth. However, a pneumatic shaft-less elevator will save a lot of space, and almost half of the space will be needed.

What Is The Smallest Residential Elevator?

According to the vendors of hydraulic platform lifts, the smallest residential elevators are shaft-less pneumatic lifts. By removing the shaft components, a lot of space is saved, as also the hassles of digging a pit for the shaft.

What Could Be The Minimum Size Of A Home Lift Elevator?

The smallest home elevator is the pneumatic model, which is around 20 inches in diameter.

Which Is The Best Home Lift Elevator?

The best home lift elevator will entirely depend on your choice and based on your needs. The space present at your home, the requirement and most importantly, your taste will play a significant role in determining the best lift for you.

What Are Hydraulic Platform Lifts?

Hydraulic platform lifts use hydraulic power to move up and down with the help of pistons that have a fluid pumping system. The pressurised fluid is collected in the cylinder, and it pressurises the piston up that eventually lifts the hydraulic platform lift. To lower it., the simple mechanism of releasing the fluid is run, and the car starts coming down slowly.

ARE HOME LIFT ELEVATORS COMPLETELY SAFE?

Yes, they are safe for use as long as they are made per the standards and maintained according to the specifications. It is essential that product safety guidelines are followed and regular elevator servicing and maintenance are done. Any flaw present in the mechanism should be diagnosed immediately to keep the machine in perfect working order.

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Elevator Inspection Steps Taken By an Elevator Service Company

 An elevator is a complex assembly of several machines, components and equipment. All of them sync together and work together to perform the movement that an elevator is intended to. Regular usage can wear these parts, and in such situations, maintenance becomes a mandatory process. For this, an elevator service company is an ideal choice rather than DIY. 

The lift technicians from these companies take several steps during the inspection process to ensure that the lift is performing optically. Let us go through the actions taken by them here.

INSIDE THE CABIN

• The lift technicians from lift companies will examine the interior for damages to walls, ceilings and handrails

• They will also investigate the position of indicator lights and replace those that are not working

• They will ensure that the elevator is going up and down and that levelling accuracy is also checked

• They will also inspect the acceleration and deceleration and make adjustments accordingly

• The inspection would be done to ensure that the doors are moving smoothly and they are not slamming or bouncing

OUTSIDE THE CABIN

• They will check for hall stations and lights and replace those that are not working

• They will also inspect the door panels and clearance and test the phase 1 firefighter service

INSIDE THE MACHINE ROOM

• The professionals from the elevator service company will inspect the machine room and remove everything not related to the functioning of the elevator.

• They will inspect every component for leaks, unusual vibrations or wear and tear.

• They will ensure that no overheating or premature damage is there in any electrical component.

• Lubrication would be done on the necessary components, and they will also inspect the oil level.

ON THE TOP OF THE CABIN

• Firstly, they will check that the ‘stop’ switch and other components are functioning properly

• They will clean the debris present on the top of the cable

• They will inspect for visible features like rollers, guidance and levelling devices

• Travelling cables will be inspected for wear and tear, and they will also go through the connections

• They will also check the door operator and its components

• Lastly, they will inspect the hoistway for the best fire safety and any vandalism

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Lift Maintenance Sydney Mandatory Steps to Follow

 Elevator installation is a one-time stress that property owners have to take, but this installation comes with a pressure that emerges every now and then. This stress is of keeping the installation in perfect condition and running like new. Lift maintenance Sydney has a significant role in the overall performance and efficiency of this installation. It involves several steps, and this checklist will familiarize you with the most common actions taken in different parts of an elevator.

INSIDE THE CAR:

• You need to examine the interior of your elevator for wall damages, ceiling and handrail damages. 

• You should also examine the position indicator lights and replace those not working.

• Examine your elevator's up and down movement and check the leveling accuracy.

• The speed of acceleration and deceleration should also be checked, and if any adjustments are required, it should be given immediately.

• Check that all doors are moving smoothly and not slamming or bouncing.

• The door restrictors should also operate properly, and if not, necessary repair work should be done.

OUTSIDE THE CAR:

• Outside the cabin, the first thing to check is the station lights. 

• As a part of lift modernization, you should inspect the door panels. 

• You should also test the phase 1 firefighters services associated with elevator’s performance.

MACHINE ROOM:

• In the machine room, the first thing to make sure is that there is nothing present that is unrelated to the elevator. 

• You should check every component for leakage, unusual vibration or wear and tear. 

• The lift maintenance Sydney professional will also instruct electrical components for evidence of overheating or failure.

• Lubrication of all the moving parts is necessary, and alongside this, the oil level should also be checked. 

• If any adjustments are required, they should be done immediately, and follow-up service should be scheduled right there.

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TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A LIFT MODERNISATION PROJECT

It is only after getting lift modernisation done and using the lift for some time after that, you will realise that the investment was done for the betterment of the installation. 

Not only this, timely maintenance, look after and on-time repairs also ensure that you get to save a good amount of money back in your wallets. 

The points that when going for lift modernisation, what points to touch so that you could get the maximum return out of the investment. 

Here, in this post, we will have a look at some of them.

MOTOR DRIVE REPLACEMENT-

• The first major replacement or modernisation that you can do is of the motor drive because advanced and upgraded motor drives offer more power to the machine while consuming less energy at the same time.

• Modern-day AC digital drive eliminate the need of converting AC power into DC and this is a factor to help you in saving a good amount of energy and thus, money.

The advantages of taking this step in terms of lift modernisation are – 

• Significant energy savings because power is only consumed while the elevator is running

• Regenerative drives can be utilized to contribute power back to the building

• Less heat is generated, which requires less work from the building’s cooling systems

• It has been observed that the renovation or alteration in the unit can save an average of 72% in energy costs

Know also : Types of Elevator Installations and Their Features

DC MOTOR REPLACEMENT-

• According to the experts of lift modernisation experts, one more major step or part of lift modernisation is DC motor replacement and this becomes mandatory, if the motor drive is changed.

• They further add that with the help of this step, the following advantages can be availed

• Better power factor correction lowers electricity bills

• Higher efficiency uses less energy

• Heat reduction lowers the amount of cooling required in the building

• Replacing DC motors with their modern, AC equivalent can reduce BYU loading by 45%

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