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Devices are classified by type of work. Let's list the main ones.
- Mechanical. In principle of action - the applied physical force moving the screw.
- Hydraulic. The basis of work is to pump a chemical fluid (mainly hydraulic oil, but some models use brake fluid) into the cavity. There are one-valve and two-valve models.
- Pneumatic. The main action is to pump air into the working cavity of the lifting mechanism. A compressor is often needed additionally.
- Electrohydraulic. It works on the principle of hydraulic equipment, but the force is not carried out mechanically, but with the help of an electric current.
- Pneumohydraulic. Hydraulics, which is influenced by air from compressor equipment.
Structurally, jacks are divided into the following types.
- Rhombic. Otherwise, such a device is called a trapezoid or trapezoidal jack. It has a diamond shape, any sidewall of the structure is movably connected to each other. When the lever is rotated, the side corners converge, and the upper and lower, on the contrary, diverge.
- Pills. They look like small cylinders, which is why they were given such a name. Refers to hydraulic devices.
- Rack and pinion. The principle of operation is that the lift moves along a toothed rack.
- Wedge. These jacks are triangular in shape and are driven mechanically or hydraulically.
- Bottle (or telescopic). Basically, the hydraulic drive raises the slave cylinder. They are divided into single-plunger and double-plunger lifts, but there are also three-plunger lifts.
- Lever. The design is presented in the form of a rack, the movement of which occurs due to the swinging drive of the lever.
- Screw. The lifting device moves due to the helical rotation of the lift mechanism.
- Movable (otherwise they are called frogs or scissors). In the traditional version, this type of jack is a lifting arm, fixed on a base with a thrust heel. Powered primarily by hydraulics. By the length of the base, they are distinguished into short-wheelbase, medium-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions.
- Selson's jack. Looks like a pillow in a reinforced rubber shell, which rises when air is supplied.
Criterias of choice
The choice of a jack for equipment is a very important question and you need to approach it responsibly. The main selection criteria are the following parameters.
- Carrying capacity. When choosing, you need to be guided by the actual weight of the vehicle and the lifting weight of the jack. The carrying capacity of the latter must exceed the passport data on the mass of the vehicle. Many people mistakenly take the weight of the equipped car, not taking into account, for example, the fullness of the luggage compartment, but the situations are different, so it is better to take into account other possible factors.
- Lifting height. A standard 30-50 cm is enough for repairing the brake system, changing wheels or servicing the car.
- Pickup height. The vehicle's ground clearance determines the choice of the jack, but you should not consider devices with minimum pickup values at a sufficiently high ground clearance.
- Drive option. The most reliable is mechanical, but it requires significant physical effort. If financial possibilities permit, then it is better to take an electro-hydraulic jack.
- Manufacturer. The jack is not a device on which to save money, but it is not worth buying a very expensive one either. Consider when buying such factors as the material from which the equipment is made, the compliance of the declared characteristics with the test parameters.
A video review of the Ombra OHT225 rolling jack is presented below.