What is a Hydraulic Lift?
Hydraulic lifts are a type of lift system that is used all around the world and helps in lifting passengers as well as heavy loads.
This system is also present in machinery and equipment involved in lifting, having the same principle. This is a very effective method of moving passengers and loads across various floors, so it is used in passenger lifts, goods lifts, and vehicle lifts.
We at VLSNW install hydraulic lifts, along with inspection, maintenance, and refurbishment services. We provide all these top-class lift instalment services and additional modifications, all according to your requirements. But to understand why Hydraulic Passenger Lifts are best for your company, you must know their benefits, working, and importance. And for all that information, we are here.
How do Hydraulic Passenger Lifts work?
Hydraulic passenger lift works with the system of pressure produced by fluid. A cylinder filled with liquid is attached to the lift, called a hydraulic ram. The motor derives the pump, which moves the liquid. The liquid pressure then pushes the piston, which lifts the heavy loads across different floors.
Hydraulic passenger lifts are generally found in buildings with 2-3 floors but can also increase to 6-7 floors. These lifts are used in different setups like factories, workplaces, commercial buildings, and residential areas.
Types of hydraulic passenger lifts:
Different types of hydraulic passenger lifts are designed according to their purposes. The classes are as follows:
- Holed hydraulic lift
- Holeless hydraulic lift
- Roped hydraulic lift
- Garage lifts
- Hydraulic lift for passengers
Some of the hydraulic lift types are described below all according to their use and purpose.
Holed hydraulic lift
This type of hydraulic lift is conventional. The piston is attached to the ride’s base, and the cylinder that pushes the lift extends into the ground. The length of the cylinder equals the height lift that can travel upward.
Holeless lifts
This type of hydraulic lift is less common than the holed lifts. The cylinder is on the ground. This lift is primarily used in those buildings in which there is limited space and digging a pit is not possible.
Roped hydraulic lifts
These lifts use above-floor cylinders, and the length is even increased with the rope. It can travel a distance of four to five floors, but with the rope, extra 2-3 floors can also be crossed.
What is the mechanism of hydraulic lift?
Hydraulic lifts work with a simple mechanism: when the pump pushes the liquid into the cylinder, it pushes the piston up, and the lift moves upward. When the lift is moved downward, the valve opens, and the fluid moves back toward the source with the piston moving downward. Following are some of the parts of a hydraulic system that play a significant role in the lift’s working.
- A tank
- A pump
- A valve
The fluid is forced out of the cylinder by the pump. On the contrary, when the valve opens, the fluid moves back into the pipes and toward the tank. All these parts work in synchronization. In the end, when the lift reaches the destined floor, the lift car is on the piston, with fluid in the tank. As mentioned above, there are types of hydraulic lifts, so their working differs from each other. But the primary mechanism is still hydraulics, and all are energy efficient.
Working Principle
Hydraulic lifts work on the principle of Pascal’s Law. It states that the pressure change in fluid in any confined space is equally distributed in all directions. The diagram below provides a visual on how a typical hydraulic system works.
Pros and cons of installing hydraulic lifts
We at VLSNW offer the installation of hydraulic lifts. These lifts come with their fair share of advantages as well as disadvantages. They are more efficient than others as well and they are less costly. Some benefits and drawbacks are discussed below, which will help you evaluate hydraulic lifts.
PROS:
Following are the benefits of installing and using hydraulic passenger lifts.
Easy maintenance and service:
The hydraulic systems are easy to maintain. They are simple, and the engineers do not have to worry about worn-out ropes and pipes. As well as the hydraulic cylinder is outside the lift and is also easy to maintain. They rarely need refurbishment and replacement.
Minimum noise pollution:
Another attractive benefit of this lift system is the low noise production. The noise is produced mainly by the pump and the movement of the piston, and all that is placed outside the lift separately.
Cost-effective:
This hydraulic system is best for you if you have a limited budget. It is highly cost-effective and low maintenance, primarily affordable compared to other lifts if you want a five-floor lift.
Limited space:
This system occupies less space as compared to the other lifts. If you cannot spare any room for a lift, this system is good for you. It takes 10% less space than most of the lifts. The central working system is placed in a separate room, and in some cases, you cannot even excavate the floor; hole-less hydraulic passenger lifts can also be installed.
Smooth working:
The hydraulic lifts provide a very smooth ride without any jerks or disturbances.
Safety and protection:
Hydraulic lifts are one of the safest lift systems as there is no cable system and no regular maintenance required. Even the lift technicians are safe while they inspect the lift.
Load lifting:
These lifts are ideal for warehouses and factories as they can carry a large load quickly without any jerking or disturbances.
CONS:
When it comes to machinery they have their drawbacks, limitations, and benefits. Though the advantages outnumber the disadvantages, some of the weaknesses of this system are discussed below,
Pollution:
This elevator style produces a lot of heat, which can significantly impact the oil, disrupting the lift’s functioning. The lift may spill some of the oil, which will cause pollution above the ground and underwater pollution.
Speed:
Hydraulic lifts are slower than other lifts. They travel at the speed of 1m/s and may not be recommended above 6-7 floors.
Temperature:
It operates on oil, and oil operates differently in different temperatures. So it requires a proper system for adjusting the fat temperature for the lift to work correctly.
Why choose a VLSNW hydraulic lift?
VLSNW provides one of the best services for lift installations in the North West. With years of experience in the lifting industry we, try to satisfy clients with our maximum input and by meeting all the requirements. While working in collaboration with the client we aim to achieve our goal with great efficiency. All the information regarding our products, like the hydraulic lift systems, is presented before the customers. With this, they will know which lift to install.
Now when it comes to our VLSNW hydraulic lifts, the benefits outnumber the limitations. The benefits are that it takes a minimum of space and works efficiently. It is also cost-friendly, and you don’t have to cross your budget to get a lift. It doesn’t need as much maintenance as other lifts, but that doesn’t mean they can work without supervision forever. They require maintenance once in a while, just less than other lifts.
