Varieties of gas lifts for furniture, rules for selection and installation

Gas lifts can be found in any modern kitchen where cabinet furniture is installed. They are used in cabinets, the facades of which open upwards and fix the doors in the open position. Furniture gas lift is a lift with a piston and a cylinder containing inert gas. Gas prevents sharp compression and unclenching of the spring in the lift, creating a cushioning effect. Simple and efficient design has found wide application in various industries.

Scope of gas lifts

Gas lifts have proven themselves in the automotive industry - they were originally installed on hoods and luggage racks, and also mounted on car doors. Lifts are needed to take on the weight of structures and protect them from damage.

Today, gas lifts, in addition to the automotive industry, are widely used in other areas:

• The furniture industry - first of all, we are talking about furniture for the kitchen. Gas lifts are ideal for cabinets that open upstairs. They prevent the doors from closing spontaneously and save space in the kitchen. Also, furniture gas lifts are installed in office chairs, folding sofas, wardrobe-beds ;.
• Construction - used in the manufacture of doors, window frames and glass display cases;
• Medical equipment - used in the manufacture of beds for the care of palliative patients, in the manufacture of simulators for recovery procedures and other equipment;
• Polygraphy - gas shock absorbers are installed on the covers of photocopiers, scanners, multifunction devices and other devices;
• Weapons - used for the manufacture of airguns;
• Aerospace construction and more;

Below we will talk about the features of furniture gas lifts.

Varieties

Depending on the application, the design of gas shock absorbers will vary. In the direction of action distinguish:

• Direct acting gas lifts - compress the stem. This means that in the base assembly the stem is fully extended. Such devices are most common in furniture manufacturing;
• Reverse Gas Lifts - push the stem recessed in the base assembly.

Also, gas lifts differ in pressure in the cylinder. By this principle, high and low pressure springs are distinguished. High-pressure elevators consist of two main elements: a rod and a cylinder, which is filled with an inert gas. The design of such a device cannot be disassembled. The principle of operation is based on the fact that the gas pushes the rod out of the cylinder. Immersion of the rod in the cylinder reduces the volume of the gas storage and increases the pressure in the spring. The low-pressure lift is made of two hollow cylinders with compressed gas. Compression of gas increases its volume and increases the pressure inside the spring.

Low pressure gas lifts are characterized by an almost unlimited resource of use and the possibility of their independent adjustment and maintenance.

Another type of gas shock absorber is lockable springs. The unit may be located on the discharge pipe or on the stem. Such devices are used, for example, in office chairs to adjust the height. The piston rod has a locking function with a button that opens the piston valve. After pressing the button, the rod can be pressed or pulled out. Releasing the button will lock the stem at the set position.

There are three types of blocking gas lifts:

1. Standard locking - elastic, occurs at a certain point in the stroke of the piston. In this case, there is a risk of arbitrary bias;
2. Ambivalent blocking - when pressed in, it will be elastic, and when pulled, it will be stiff;
3. Combined lock - provides rigid fixation in both directions, preventing the arbitrary movement of the spring.

Selection rules

When choosing a furniture gas lift, you need to rely on two criteria: the compression force of the spring and the dimensions of the door to which the device will be attached.

As for the compression force, a load of 10 Newton is required to withstand a load of 1 kilogram. Thus, by measuring the weight of the door, you can calculate the required value. Most gas lift manufacturers produce devices with a fixed load of 60 to 140 Newton. Knowing the weight of the door, you can easily find the right lift.

In addition to weight, the size of the door affects the choice. The length of the device will depend on it. The longer you need a gas spring, the thicker its body should be.

Also, gas lifts allow the use of step-by-step and automatic design of cabinet doors. A step-by-step design is the most common mechanism with a handle on the door. The automatic design involves opening the doors at the touch of a button and automatically closing them after a certain time. For this, the facades of cabinet furniture are equipped with an electric drive. Such devices are suitable for people who forget to close the cabinets or cannot reach the handle when the door is in the open position.

Installation methods

You can install the gas lift yourself or go to the master. If you plan to do it yourself, before you start you need to have:

• Roulette wheel;
• Pencil;
• Screwdriver;
• Self-tapping screws.

Installation instructions are always included with the gas lift. Check its availability when you select a device.

Installation of furniture gas lifts begins with the marking of the center of the side fasteners. It should be noted 25 mm from the upper and front ends from the facade. Next, a side mold is attached to which the gas lift piston will be mounted. The movable part of the device is mounted on a spring, after which the facade is mounted on hinges. The final stage is the fastening of the mating element of the gas lift using self-tapping screws, following the diagram. It is recommended to install two lifts on one facade. This will help to avoid excessive stress on the gas lift and the distortions caused by it.

The mounting scheme provides for several door positions - when opened, it can be fixed at different angles. You can choose the desired angle of fixation during installation.

How to regulate

The design of most popular furniture gas lifts provides for three positions of the facade in the open state: at an angle of 70 °, 90 ° and 110 ° relative to the side of the cabinet. So that all family members, regardless of growth, can reach the door of an open cabinet, an angle of 70 ° is best. In order for the facade to open at such an angle, you need to change the layout of the fasteners. The distance from the top edge to the center of the fastener should be 100 mm. For a 90 ° position, mark 90 mm from the edge to the center; for a 110 ° position, 80 mm. Thus, you can adjust the angle of inclination yourself. The error in choosing this method will not exceed 5 ° -10 °.

For more precise adjustment (if you want to achieve the same position of several facades in a row), turn the internal thread of the cylinder of each gas elevator until the doors occupy the same position in the open state.

Video

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