How it works - The hydraulic system - Chapter 10

摘要

Following a previous article, we focus now on the hydraulic system, which is at the heart of most today's modern lifts. This system type is an alternative to the traditional traction lift, that is the roped car/counterweight lift system driven by a sheave turned by an electric motor. The main operating principle is quite simple: the car is connected to a cylinder containing a piston where pressurised mineral oil is input and discharged, whose output can be controlled by means of a valve. During the upward movement a pump pushes the oil into the cylinder, causing the extension of the piston and thus making the car go up, while the downward movement is under gravity, discharging the oil from the cylinder to the tank.