Gas lift for kitchen cabinets, purpose and main elements of the device

Gas lifts are shock-absorbing mechanisms designed for horizontal opening doors. The mechanism refers to brackets. The main essence of the gas lift is depreciation when opening and closing doors and holding them.

The mechanism helps you open and close cabinets effortlessly, and open the doors completely to see what is inside the cabinet.

The gas lift is completely sealed. Nitrogen is pumped during manufacture, so if it breaks during operation it cannot be repaired.

The list of advantages of an elevator can be compiled from the following properties:

self-regulation of smooth running;
reliable fixation when open;
frictional and automatic opening;
fastening to any furniture material;
The door opens even without a handle.

What is gas lift

Installing gas lifts on kitchen cabinets provides a modern improvement to the space in the kitchen. To avoid any problems with the installation and operation of products, it is important to choose them wisely for the existing box.

The gas furniture elevator is represented by a special lifting device, which is used to hold and open the doors of various cabinets. The main purpose of this product is the ease of opening the doors upward.

The operation of the mechanism is based on its simple design. When creating gas elevators, a special gas spring is used together with a hydraulic shock absorber. As soon as the door opens literally 10 degrees, it then automatically opens up to 90 degrees.

The design includes elements:

cylinder-shaped body;
special piston of optimal size;
sleeve;
valve;
bearings for easy sliding of doors;
stock;
sealing elements;
stuffing box;
finger

The design is hermetically sealed, so there is no possibility of dust, dirt or moisture getting into its various elements. A non-separable mechanism is necessarily created, so it cannot be disassembled and repaired if necessary.

Kinds

After all, thanks to the reliability of the mechanisms for kitchen cabinets, the furniture will last a long time, and storing kitchen utensils in cabinets will become orderly and ergonomic. The kitchen area will become neat and convenient for cooking.

Furniture hinges are important components for any kitchen furniture that has opening doors. Their range for different needs is quite diverse. Particularly popular in the manufacture of most modern kitchens are systems with comfortable and durable door closers.

A door closer is a compact device specially installed on cabinet doors to allow them to close slowly and smoothly. Gradual and soft closing prevents the formation of paint chips and cracks, which increases the life of the door and the kitchen cabinet as a whole.

Closers must hold kitchen cabinet doors closed. However, they do not guarantee the possibility of a sharp slam of the door if it is closed carelessly. If there is a glass shelf in the cabinet or there are fragile dishes, damage cannot be avoided.

Closers used on door hinges are not suitable for roll-out shelves, drawers and other elements. In such designs, special types of closers are used that have visually invisible special guides. Retractable closers are more expensive than hinged closers, but their price is justified by their reliability and ease of use.

To organize optimal storage in hard-to-reach corner kitchen cabinets, rotating mechanisms are installed, which, when the door is opened, pull out the shelves and bottoms of the storage systems, and when closed, return the entire structure back.

Lifting mechanisms are also useful devices in the production of kitchen furniture. Conventional kitchen drawers are opened by swinging the doors open or tilting them down parallel to the floor, which is not always convenient in limited kitchen space.

Modern kitchen sets today use convenient doors that open upward. Such cabinets require lifting mechanisms with closers that smoothly open to the desired height. Opening the doors and removing objects from the shelves of such cabinets becomes a more convenient process; it is not at all necessary to attach the handles; lifting is carried out by lightly pressing the surface of the door with your hand.

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Advantages and disadvantages

The main purpose of gas elevators is the correct, free, silent and easy opening of the top drawers of the set, in which the door opens upward. The positive parameters of installing such a device in the kitchen include:

the doors are always held at the top when they are opened;
there is no possibility for spontaneous opening of the door;
installing a gas lift is quite simple, so if you understand the instructions in detail, you can perform the procedure yourself;
long service life of the structure due to its high-quality design;
cabinets open without the need to exert significant effort, and there is no unpleasant sound or noise;
cabinets get rid of unattractive handles, which guarantees a stylish and modern interior;
Opening the door is incredibly simple, for which you need to press it with your hand with a little force.

If you order such fastenings from special companies, then the same materials that were used to make kitchen furniture can be used to create them.

The disadvantages of the products include their rather high cost, so they are often inaccessible to potential buyers. If they break for any reason, it will be impossible to make repairs due to the sealed housing, so you will only have to replace the structures.

Gas elevator design

The design of a furniture shock absorber is no different from automobile devices for lifting the rear door of the body. The bottom diagram shows all the components of the gas elevator design.

Nitrogen is used as a bypass medium. A slight force is required to extend the rod, and then it will completely come out of the outer cavity under the pressure of compressed gas. Lightly pressing your hand on the door will push the rod back inside.

On the lower part of the body there is a loop with 2 longitudinal holes. The rod is equipped with a disk with three mounting holes. The hinge must be attached to the rack of the cabinet body, and the disk must be fixed on the back side of the front panel.

Types of shock absorbers

Purpose and device

Properly installed designs can be used for different kitchen furniture. They apply:

It is optimal to install them on kitchen furniture that is used quite often, so it is required that the doors open silently and also remain intact for a long time;
often used for installation in the living room, bedroom, children's room or other rooms where it is advisable to install spacious drawers equipped with doors with gas lift;
office furniture is often used with such elements, and it is not only considered multifunctional, but also looks stylish;
gas lifts are optimal for installation during the installation of bar facades;
often used to create poufs or various boxes.

The range of applications of gas lifts is considered wide, so they are truly popular structures. They can have different sizes and even colors.

Load calculation depending on the dimensions of the furniture

Before installing this structure, you should pay attention to proper calculations. They depend on the weight of the facade. In this case, the following basic conditions are taken into account:

on the body of the selected gas lift for furniture you can find information about its marking;
N indicates that the unit of measurement is Newton, represented by pressure force;
in front of this letter is a number representing the force available in the body;
In order to correctly carry out the installation, it is necessary to have information about the weight of the facade equipped with a handle.

Incorrect calculations lead to the fact that the design is used in difficult conditions, therefore the service life is reduced by approximately half.

Gas lift load calculation

Selection of shock absorbers for furniture

Manufacturers offer options with several markings. On the body you can see such designations as gtv 50n, gtv 60n, gtv 80n and gtv 100n and others. The marking indicates the force with which the device acts on the load.

The table will help you determine the gas lift required for the cabinet facade:

Door height, mm	Door weight, kg
Door height, mm	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
300	50n	50n	50n	60n	60n	80n	80n	80n	100n
400	50n	60n	80n	100n	100n	120n	120n	140n	140n

The design forces of the shock absorbers are determined from the condition of installing two gas lifts.

Expert opinion

Alexander Didenko

Furniture assembler at Mabaks

Do not attempt to install 1 lift. This will subsequently lead to a skew of the door, loosening of the mounting sockets and subsequent failure of the elevator.

Installation Rules

A properly installed gas lift will be pleasant and safe to use, and will also last a long time. If you plan to deal with this issue yourself, then be sure to study the instructions first. How to install the structure? To do this, follow the following steps:

gas lifts are purchased, and two of these elements are required for one façade;
installation is carried out together with hinges, and they can be overhead or internal, as well as semi-overhead;
two shock absorbers are being prepared for one façade;
if the gas lifts used are marked more than 100N, then reliable and reinforced fastening of the cabinet to the wall of the room is required;
gas lift installation is carried out only after attaching all the fittings;
it is not allowed to carry out work if the cabinet is already attached to the wall;
installation is carried out in horizontal independent furniture;
if it is necessary to increase the opening angle, then the special hole intended for the main fastening is shifted;
First, a loop is installed in the desired area;
The gas lift itself is installed in accordance with the location of the furniture hinge.

To take into account all the features of this process, it is recommended that you first carefully study the installation video instructions.

Gas lift collection

Fastening parts

Adjustment

After high-quality and correct installation, it is necessary to adjust the correct opening of the facade using a gas lift. It is taken into account that the distance from the top of the wall cabinet to the ceiling of the room must be greater than the dimensions of the door, since it will open upward, so it is not allowed to touch the ceiling.

After installing the structure, the gas lift begins to be adjusted so that the opening and closing of the doors is carried out quite slowly and silently. To do this, the main fastening elements of this product are tightened.

Thus, gas lifts are considered an interesting solution for kitchen cabinets. They have many advantages and are easy to install. Their use significantly increases the service life of the furniture, and it will be really pleasant to use. Constant opening and closing of doors will not cause destruction or damage to the facades or the drawers themselves. The disadvantage is the high cost of gas lifts, but this is due to their high quality, protection of expensive furniture, stylish appearance and long service life.

How to install a gas lift on a kitchen cabinet with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

Installation of a gas structure consists of several successive stages : marking, installation and adjustment of the mechanism.

Before you begin, you should prepare the following tools :

pencil;
tape measure and ruler;
self-tapping screws (usually included with accessories);
screwdriver or screwdriver;
pliers;
hammer.

The gas lift for kitchen cabinets comes with detailed installation instructions . Study it carefully before installation work, as all the nuances are indicated there.

Marking for installation

Let's look at the features of marking using an example . Given: gas lift 247 mm long, façade elevation angle – 90°.

The marking process comes down to the following points (the diagram below illustrates the measurements):

Make markings on the side wall of the cabinet . Set aside 255 mm from the top end downwards with a distance of 10 mm from the edge. This will be the center of the fastening.
Repeat the markings on the second side wall in the same way .
Take measurements on the right side of the door . To do this, measure 90 mm from the top edge of the door downwards with a distance of 15 mm from the edge. This is the center of the hook-shaped fastening element, located with a hook on the inside of the facade.
Repeat the measurements and make marks on the left side of the door.

An important point when taking measurements : all marks must match, no displacements or inaccuracies.

Installation rules

The structure is installed on a removed cabinet . It is better to turn it over and place it on a hard surface so that the open door is located at the bottom. This will provide a complete overview of the markings made and a more convenient process for installing the mechanism.

Installation of a gas lift for a kitchen cabinet:

Place the mount on the side wall . The middle of the fastening should coincide with the mark.
Holding the fastener, screw in the screws . Monitor the position of the screwdriver or screwdriver (must be perpendicular to the surface) and fasteners so that they do not move or become at an angle.
Also screw the fastener onto the other side of the cabinet.
on the door and secure with two self-tapping screws.
Place the gas lift on the mount on the door . Align the oval protrusion on the mount with the hole on the gas lift and press down. A characteristic click will notify you of fixation.
Integrate the mechanism into the mount on the side wall. It should be attached according to the same principle: align the hole on the mechanism and the protrusion on the mount, press until it clicks.

After installation, turn the cabinet over and check the functioning of the mechanism , the tightness of the door, the absence of distortions and gaps.

Leveling and Adjustment

After installation, the structure must be adjusted . For example, it is difficult for a short person to reach the door to close it, while a tall person will look under the door to find and get the things he needs.

The designers took care of this point. Thus, the facade has three open positions relative to the side walls of the cabinet: 80°, 90°, 100° (lifting angle).

To align the mechanism, change the fastener markings on the door as follows::

facade in an open position at an angle of 80° - when marking, mark 100 mm from the top edge down to the center of the fastening element;
door at an angle of 90° - set 90 mm down to the center of the fastener;
sash at an angle of 100° - mark 80 mm according to the same pattern.

The permissible error when adjusting the gas lift is no more than 5-10°.

There are several ways to more accurately adjust the sash:

Adjusting the gas lift itself . The mechanism has an internal thread on the cylinder. If you turn it smoothly, it is possible to lower or raise the façade.
Adjustment using hinged hinges . The adjusting screws located on them allow you to seat the door more accurately and avoid gaps and unevenness.

Such methods are resorted to if several similar facades are located in a row.