What jacks are there and how to use them?

Modern devices for lifting various loads are now widely used in almost all areas and industries. Jacks these days, you can find it not only in the arsenal of motorists and employees of service stations.

In addition, such structures are often constituent elements of more complex mechanisms, the main task of which is to create compressive forces. It is for this reason that it is worth considering what types of jacks are and exactly how to use them correctly in certain situations.

To understand the principle of operation of the described devices, it is necessary to initially note that their main purpose is to lift loads to a relatively low height. This, of course, applies mainly to car jacks, since there are models with a different purpose.

The principle of operation of most lifts can be explained by the example of hydraulic models. Their functioning is based on Pascal's law and the principle of communicating vessels... At the same time, all existing samples of mechanisms have a common property - this is the obligatory use of a lever (handle) in one form or another. The main feature of most modern jacks is mobility. It is also important to consider the absence of assistive devices. Today jacks are most commonly used in the following areas.

• Construction... Lifting of blocks and structural elements, as well as their fixation. Special attention should be paid to lifting systems for the installation of drywall and other sheet materials. There are also tensor jacks designed for screwing with a certain force of connections under load.
• When repairing vehicles of varying complexity - from changing a wheel on the way to performing more complex work in the conditions of car services and tire shops.
• As a lifting device, if you need to move and mount different dimensional parts or equipment on supports.

There are several main types of jacks. All of them have a certain principle of operation or combine several of them at once. Taking into account this technical parameter, such devices are as follows.

• Mechanical, representing the simplest design from a technical point of view. Their function is based on the application of force to move the lifting part.

• Hydraulicoperating by pumping the working fluid between the cylinders. You can often find lifts with a pressure gauge.

• Pneumatic - models in which the main element is the pressure of the pumped air. Today, manufacturers offer motorists jacks that are connected to the vehicle's exhaust pipe. More efficient modifications require a compressor.

• Electrical... In this case, we are talking not so much about the design of the lift, but about the principle of driving its working part.

• Electrohydraulic - lifting devices in which the hydraulic circuit is activated by means of an electric drive. By the way, some modifications can be additionally equipped with a manual drive.

In this case, the determining factors will be design features of the device and its carrying capacity. So, often rolling models for cars are made of aluminum alloys. At the same time, more powerful cargo jacks produce made of cast iron or high-strength steel. It is important to note that the material directly determines the load capacity.

In some cases, you can even find plastic car jacks. A material has been published on the Internet in which the owner of a new VAZ demonstrates a plastic lift. By the way, according to the author of the video, the device was included in the auto package.

Taking into account this parameter, the jacks existing today are classified as follows.

• Rhombic - purely mechanical devices of the pantograph type. Outwardly they resemble a rhombus, the sides of which fold in a horizontal plane and unfold when lifted.

• "Tablet" - a device in the form of a cylinder with a low profile, mated to the hydraulic circuit.

• Rack - mechanical jacks, the basis of which is a gear-type rack with a hoist moving along it.

• Wedge with mechanical or hydraulic drive.

• Bottle type, which are one of the most popular among motorists. This type of jacks got its name because of the characteristic type of the working cylinder. In another way, such lifters are called telescopic due to the fact that the hollow rod in the lower position almost completely goes into the body. There are one- and two-rod models, folding according to the principle of a telescopic rod.

• Lever, the principle of operation of which is based on the extension of the rack due to the operation of the drive lever.

• Screw... In this case, we can talk about different categories of lifting mechanisms, including columnar and diamond-shaped. The operation is based on the transformation of rotation into translational movement of the platform.

• Pulling - models of jacks, widely used both for lifting loads when suspended on supports, and for tightening with fixation of various structures (for example, for tensioning reinforcement). Many models come with a hook (hooks) and other devices for better and more convenient fixation of objects. When it comes to chain mechanisms, the hooks are attached directly to the rod through special lugs.

• Trolley - one of the classic versions of jacks in the form of a lever mounted on a bed with wheels and equipped with a thrust platform (heel). This mechanism is driven by a horizontal hydraulic cylinder.

• Scissor, representing a lifting block folding into the body (bed) according to the principle of conventional scissors. There are now models of such jacks on the market that have switches for lifting and lowering the load. Scissor models can have a short, medium or elongated base.

It's no secret that the key characteristic of any jack is its lifting capacity... This parameter is directly determined by the design features of the device and its dimensions.In the vast majority of cases, a large mechanism will be more powerful than a small one.

For example, a 2-ton bottle model has a height of 150-180 mm and weighs only about 3 kg. At the same time, a rack and pinion long mechanism with a similar carrying capacity can reach a height of 1 meter or even more, and it will weigh up to 15 kg. Naturally, you shouldn't expect outstanding performance from mini-devices.

Taking into account the functionality and performance indicators, the classification of modern lifting devices will be as follows.

• Car lifts... They can be intended for a regular garage and professional service stations and tire stations.

• Cable - devices with a special design and designed to work with cable drums.

• Diesel locomotives - models belonging to the category of industrial and used for the lift of cars and locomotives.

• Travel - are used to perform work from the element of the railroad bed.

• Shrinkage compensators - a variety of screw mechanisms used in the construction of wooden buildings and, in particular, log cabins.

• Furniture jacks... This refers to the simplest devices in the form of levers, with the help of which the objects are slightly raised above the floor covering so that the transport platform can be started. By the way, the latter are included in a set that allows you to independently move bulky and weighty pieces of furniture.

• Vacuum for glasses.

In addition to all of the above, which are widely used, for example, in the automotive industry, there are also specialized models of jacks.

• "Tilters".
• Repair supplies of telescopic or screw type.
• Transmission racks. This type is used when removing and installing the vehicle's gearbox.
• Pit (ditch) jacks. In this case, we are talking about devices belonging to the category of auxiliary. With their help, the axles of machines located in inspection pits or raised on scissor lifts are hung out.

Nowadays, on the market for special equipment and, in particular, lifting mechanisms, many Japanese, German, as well as Chinese and domestic companies present their products. Taking into account the current statistics and user reviews, the following can be added to the list of the most popular brands.

• Forsage - a manufacturer specializing in the production of reliable tools, including lifting devices. The products are mainly focused on performing amateur and semi-professional vehicle repairs. Initially, the creators of the brand planned to enter exclusively the Belarusian market, but in the end it turned out to be in demand and widely represented in the CIS countries. Now products are produced by factories located in the territory of the Middle Kingdom.

• Matrix - a brand with an optimal price-quality ratio. The products are manufactured by factories in China and are now presented in the markets of Europe, the United States and the Russian Federation.

• Stels - initially it is a brand representing Germany in the corresponding segment. At the moment, jacks are manufactured in Taiwan and China.

• "Bel Auto Kit" Is a company whose history began back in 1996. Today we are talking about a large international holding company, in the structure of which there are production facilities, laboratories and organizations involved in the sale of products.

• Sorokin - a manufacturer that began its active activity in 1996. Now the company's catalog contains a wide range of high-quality garage equipment, for the development of which advanced technologies are being introduced.

The choice of each type of jack has, of course, its own nuances. However, there are general rules, taking into account which you can choose the most suitable model of the lifting device in each case. In this case, special attention should be paid to the following key criteria.

• Carrying capacity - the main characteristic of any jack. As a rule, this parameter is indicated on the device case and in the technical documentation, which is necessarily included in the delivery set. When choosing a specific lift model, it is strongly recommended to take potential loads into account. Exceeding the indicators specified by the manufacturer can lead at least to the failure of the lift itself. In addition, more serious negative consequences are possible.
• Pickup height... Most often, this parameter is most relevant for motorists, since it is determined by the vehicle's clearance. This operational indicator most often ranges from 6 to 25 cm. As practice shows, it is easier to choose the right model for owners of SUVs with increased ground clearance.
• Working height, or the maximum lifting height. The indicator of most of the models on the market varies in the range from 30 to 50 cm. There are even car jacks with a working height of up to a meter or more.
• In some cases, there is such a concept as "Working stroke". This term is usually understood as the difference between the minimum pickup height and the maximum lift height. Naturally, the wider the given range, the better.

In addition to everything already listed, when choosing a model of a lifting device, you should take into account the type of drive. In this case, we are talking about the following main options.

• Mechanical drivebased on the force applied to the jack handle. Such models are distinguished by maximum simplicity of design, and, consequently, relatively low cost.
• Hydraulic circuit, which drives the plunger of the mechanism with a load due to the pressure of the working fluid created in the cylinder. By the way, as in the situation with the previous type of device, the key element is also the handle, which acts as a lever for the hydraulic pump.
• Pneumatic drive, which provides lifting and lowering of the load using compressed air. The principle of operation is as simple as possible and is based on filling the working chamber with any gas. Due to the maximum ease of use and minimum labor costs, such models are correspondingly popular.

An equally important criterion is jack brand... Naturally, experienced professionals and users strongly recommend choosing original products from well-known brands. Such an approach to the selection of equipment makes it possible to count on the maximum correspondence of real performance indicators to the technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer. It is important to remember that large companies care about their reputation, and for them the corresponding risks are of great importance.

In parallel, it is worth paying attention quality of materials and workmanship... In a situation with branded jacks, this, as a rule, does not arise any problems. As a result, a device is acquired that is extremely reliable and with a maximum service life. This, unfortunately, cannot be said with certainty about the models belonging to the “no name” category. Often, such mechanisms fail after the first attempts to use them.

Experienced professionals prefer not to take risks, since the use of an unreliable lift can lead to extremely negative and sometimes even tragic consequences. At the same time, for many, the financial side of the issue plays a decisive role.However, now, taking into account more than a wide range of products on the market of many companies, you can easily find the optimal combination of price and quality.

Along with all the above criteria, the determining parameters often become dimensions and weight of equipment. This is most relevant for car owners. Not every jack model can be freely placed in the trunk of a vehicle.

Operation of jacks, like any other device, involves strict observance of safety regulations. In fact, the use of such lifts is very simple, but mistakes can be costly. It is important to take into account that branded equipment samples are tested at the manufacturer's plant in various conditions. But the use of even the most reliable devices must be carried out taking into account certain requirements and rules, which will avoid potential risks.

The easiest way to consider the corresponding algorithm is using a car jack as an example. In this case, we are talking about the following important points.

1. The vehicle (cargo) should, if possible, be located on a level surface.
2. It is required to immobilize the vehicle (lifted object) as much as possible. For reliable fixation, you can use special stops and improvised means.
3. In order to properly raise and lower the load, it is necessary to ensure the most smooth movement of the mechanism.
4. It is important to know how to properly position the lifter. It should be located on a level and solid supporting surface. There are special places for a jack on the bottom of the car. It is strongly not recommended to use car bumpers as stops.
5. After lifting the load to the desired (working) height, use stands. This is due to the fact that the jack does not hold the load, but only raises and lowers it. There are also certain requirements for stands. First of all, attention is paid to their strength, commensurate with the loads.
6. Before starting work, you need to make sure that the fixation and stability of the object, props and the lifting mechanism itself are reliable. Experienced motorists slightly swing the vehicle for this.
7. After the completion of all operations, the cargo is released. At this point, it is important to remember that jerks are unacceptable - the descent, like the ascent, should be carried out as evenly as possible.

Unfortunately, many people believe that almost any jack can be used not only for lifting, but also for long-term holding of loads. Each of the existing types of the described mechanisms has its own operating characteristics.

For information on how to correctly choose a jack, see the next video.