EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW
SEPTEMBER 2017 | Lift Supplement | 7
wheel forklift trucks, vans, articulated
buses, construction trucks, utility vehicles
and other heavy duty vehicles.
Low- or Mid-Rise
Frame-Engaging Lifts
Low and mid-rise frame or body engaging
lift s usually engage the vehicle’s frame or
its perimeter. Th e lift operates in either a
a scissors-style, which moves in a straight
vertical direction, or a traditional parallelogram
style, which moves fore or aft as
it lift s and lowers, says ALI.
Th ese lift s may be powered by an electric
hydraulic power unit. Or, in the case
of some low-rise service lift s, they can be
powered by compressed air.
Keep in mind there is limited access to
the underside of a raised vehicle on this
lift type, advises ALI.
Scissors Lifts
Th e scissors lift may be equipped as a
drive-on style with runways, or as a lift
that is frame- or body-engaging.
Th e scissors lift has a lift ing mechanism
similar to a traditional parallelogram lift ,
however, it lift s and lowers a vehicle in a
straight vertical path, rather than fore or
aft of its original position.
Th e benefi ts of this lift are numerous,
according to Stertil-Koni’s Dellamore,
and can include wheels-free lift ing, an ultra
shallow pit design, an ideal lift design
for retrofi tting into existing workshops,
a free-standing console for quick service
access and continuous recess for maximum
fl exibility.
Specifi cally in the case of heavy duty
vehicles, a scissors lift is suitable for servicing
articulated buses, fi re and rescue
vehicles, multiple-axle trucks, school and
transit buses, to name a few.
Parallelogram Lifts
Most parallelogram lift s are drive-on lift s
with two runways. Traditional parallelogram
lift ing mechanisms move the vehicle
a short distance fore or aft when lift ing
or lowering.
Th ere are some hybrid versions of this
lift type that move straight up and down.
Th is lift type is powered by an electro-hydraulic
power unit. Synchronization of the
two parallel runways is usually accomplished
by hydraulic or electronic means.
Sometimes a torsion bar connected to opposing
parallelogram legs is employed to
assist in synchronization.
Some drive-on parallelogram lift s can be
confi gured to perform wheels-free services.
In-Ground Lifts
Lift s with lift ing assemblies installed
below the garage fl oor are known as inground
lift s.
Most modern manufacturers of inground
lift s have developed systems to
contain all of the hydraulic components
within an enclosure. Th is reduces the
risk of soil contamination from hydraulic
leaks, says ALI.
Th ese lift s employ one or more hydraulic
pistons or scissors mechanisms,
depending on the type of vehicle and how
much weight is to be lift ed. Light duty lift s
use one or two pistons. Heavy duty inground
lift s feature two to three pistons
or scissors mechanisms.
Diff erent in-ground lift s are manufactured
to suit almost any type of repair or
maintenance service on virtually any vehicle.
In addition, in-ground lift s provide
wheels-free access to the vehicle and are
ideal for shops with low ceilings.
Also, from a safety perspective, inground
lift fl oor covers are fl ush, preventing
tripping hazards and tools from
dropping into the pit.
Wheel-Engaging
Mobile Columns
Commonly referred to as a mobile column
lift , wheel-engaging mobile columns
are used in sets of two, four, six or more
units. Each of the individual columns is
mobile, contains an electric power unit
and is operated by a hydraulic cylinder or
screw drive, says ALI. Th e columns communicate
wirelessly, or through cables, to
enable synchronized operation to lift and
lower a vehicle.
Th is popular lift type requires a hard,
level surface and can be moved as needed
to lift the vehicle.
Mobile columns can be positioned and
operated by one technician. While they
can be used for light duty vehicles, mobile
column lift s are more readily seen in heavy
duty facilities.
Th is type of lift ing equipment is used
for a variety of vehicles, including articulated
buses; Class 8 trucks; forklift s; agricultural
equipment; military, industrial
and utility vehicles; and more.
Information in this article was organized
with the help of ALI (www.autolift .org) and
Steril-Koni (stertil-koni.com).