Using lifting mechanisms: theory and practice

For apartments, especially small ones, the real problem is the lack of free space. Therefore, their owners are looking for any ways to save usable space. A lifting mechanism for the bed can be of great help in this, the use of which will free up part of the living space. Let's consider the characteristics of different designs of lifting mechanisms and beds.

Purpose

Using a lifting mechanism for a bed allows you to free up part of the room area. This is achieved in several ways:

• the bed itself is moved to a vertical position and retracted into a niche in the wall;
• Only the sleeping place rises to form a useful volume with quick access to storage for a wide variety of things.

As for the first option, it is the optimal solution for one-room apartments and studio apartments. One of its varieties is the transformation of a bed into another piece of furniture. As a rule, this is a sofa. This transformation is very useful from an ergonomic point of view. By purchasing one piece of furniture, you get two at once, performing different functions. However, as practice shows, in terms of comfort, a sofa bed is much inferior to full-fledged mattresses that are used in classic beds.

By opening the orthopedic base at a large angle, you can get free access to the farthest corners of the box

The second option is advisable to use in two-room apartments. In this case, a smaller room is allocated for the bedroom, even if there is no space for installing a wardrobe and other furniture. A useful area for storing various things and bed linen will be provided by a box under a rising mattress.

It is advisable to divide the useful space inside the bed into several compartments. If this was not done during production, it is recommended to use special boxes

Using a bed with a lifting device provides additional benefits:

• reliable and careful storage of things. Since the box lid is under significant pressure from the weight of the mattress, it fits tightly and does not let dust inside;
• easier cleaning. The bed is adjacent to the floor with its entire base area, dirt does not penetrate under it;
• ease of use. Modern lifting mechanisms are equipped with various devices that make it easy to lift the top cover, despite the significant weight of the structure and mattress.

Side lifting mechanism for children's wardrobe-bed

Related article:

Transformable bed for a small apartment : advantages and disadvantages, types of transformation mechanisms, review of models, average cost, criteria for the right choice - in our publication.

Types of lifting mechanisms for beds

In the modern furniture market, three main types of lifts are most widely represented, which are used by almost all companies in beds of various designs in a wide range of standard sizes. These devices have significant differences in operational characteristics: the complexity of the design, its maintainability, the durability of the product, the effort required for lifting, and so on. Of course, the price of different types of lifts also differs significantly.

Manual

The simplest and most affordable. It became most widespread in the early nineties. Since then, his popularity has been steadily declining. At the moment it is used only in budget bed models. Considering that chipboard is used as a material for furniture of this class, frequent use can cause the hinges to become deformed and fail. It should be noted that the lift itself is durable and quite reliable, and breaks quite rarely.

The operating principle of a manual lift is to use physical force, since its design does not contain compensating components and mechanisms. This device is not recommended for installation on children's beds due to the high risk of injury.

Modern manual lifts are designed in such a way that they can later be equipped with a compensating spring or a gas lift

Spring

Twisted springs are used as a load compensator in such mechanisms. Their use significantly reduces physical effort, but does not compensate for it completely. The device is affordable and very effective, so it is often used both on budget beds and on more expensive furniture models. With frequent use, over time, the springs stretch and need to be replaced. The average service life, depending on the intensity of use, is 3-5 years.

The number of springs used in the mechanism depends on the weight of the moving part of the bed

On gas shock absorbers

The lifting mechanism on gas shock absorbers (gas elevators) is the most expensive. However, the high cost is fully compensated by the convenience and safety of operation. A properly selected gas lift completely compensates for the load from the moving part of the bed. This allows even children and people with disabilities to use the lifting mechanism without any strain. If you choose the right shock absorbers and do not overload them during operation, then the duration of its operation can be 10 years or more.

Lifting mechanism on gas shock absorbers

Important! The gas shock absorber uses nitrogen as a working substance, pumped into a sealed cylinder under high pressure. There is also an oil damper, piston and gaskets. Self-repair of a gas lift without special equipment is impossible. Moreover, failure of the cylinder can result in sudden release of oil and gasket parts, which can result in personal injury.

The structure of the gas cylinder of lifting mechanisms

How to choose a lifting mechanism

When choosing a bed with a lifting mechanism, it is necessary to take into account the features of different models. Depending on the location of the lifting mechanisms, the base can rise in a horizontal or vertical plane, as well as either from the side of the bed or from the end. The choice depends on the characteristics of the future location of the bed and convenience in a particular case. It is advisable that the mechanism be equipped with amplifiers and locks that prevent the base from arbitrarily lowering, which in some situations can cause serious injury. If the mechanism is purchased separately from the bed, then it is important to check its compliance with the given base weight, as well as to correctly assemble the mechanism. A simpler solution is to buy a ready-made bed with an installed lifting mechanism. The catalog on our website contains models of beds with different types of lifting devices.

Main performance characteristics

When choosing a lifting mechanism, you should take into account the dimensions, weight and design of the berth. As a rule, the length of a bed for adults is 2-2.2 m, for children and teenagers 1.2-1.9 m. The width is determined by the number of beds:

• double - 1.2-1.8 m;
• single - 0.9-1 m;
• children's - 0.6-0.8 m.

The height of the bed depends on the thickness of the mattress and individual preferences. For many models, it can be adjusted by the height of the lamellas.

The weight of the moving part of the bed is determined primarily by the type of mattress. Depending on its filling (independent spring blocks, coconut coir, sisal, foam rubber, silicone, padding polyurethane, polyurethane foam, etc.), the weight may differ several times.

All of the above parameters affect the selection of lifting mechanisms and the power of their power elements: springs and gas lifts.

Lifting mechanisms are classified according to the method of movement.

If the entire bed is raised vertically, then it is a wardrobe bed. It has two design solutions that differ in the requirements for the power drive:

1. When lifting by the foot, much more effort is required, so only mechanisms with powerful gas shock absorbers are used.
2. When lifting from the side, it is permissible to use a spring block.

As an alternative, there are beds in which only the berth can be raised. The mechanism can also be made in two versions:

1. According to the principle of a book, at an angle to one of the sides.
2. The sleeping place is understood horizontally and moves slightly to the side, stopping at a certain height parallel to the box.

Moving the entire bed into a wall niche at the foot

The bed is part of the furniture set and is stored in a technological niche on the side

Moving the bed at an angle is the most common type of lifting mechanism

Moving the bed parallel to the base

Ramps

The most popular type of lifting device, which is installed both indoors and outdoors. Ramps have different shapes and designs - folding, mobile, stationary, etc. These types of lifting mechanisms for disabled people are used everywhere, and therefore are made of especially durable materials that are not subject to corrosion and aggressive influences.

Today, there are special requirements for the installation of ramps that make these lifts safe and easy to use. If it is not possible to install a ramp, it is recommended to use other types of devices.

Criterias of choice

In order for the bed lifting mechanism to last a long time, the following factors must be taken into account when choosing it.

• Power . When calculating the power of springs or gas lift of a lifting mechanism, you must adhere to the rule: for 1 kg of weight of the structure being moved, you need to spend 10 N. It is not advisable to use more powerful springs or gas shock absorbers, since their operation will be quite difficult.
• Safety . It is desirable that the device be equipped with additional locks that prevent the structure from spontaneously folding. This is especially important if the mechanism will be used by a child.
• Durability . The most durable are manual mechanisms. This is due to their simplicity. In fact, there is nothing to break there; rather, the furniture itself will fail. Products made from quality materials can last for decades.
• Springs are subject to wear . During operation, they can jump out of the fasteners, and over time they stretch and cannot create the force for which they are designed. The average service life does not exceed 5 years.
• Gas lifts are more reliable . As a rule, manufacturers provide a guarantee for 20,000 lifts and lowerings, which is about 10 years of operation.
• Price . Products from well-known brands can cost an order of magnitude more than conventional lifting mechanisms with the same functionality. Undoubtedly, with intensive use, the quality of the work performed and the materials used will make itself felt. But many domestic products are in no way inferior to European ones and, of course, are much stronger than Chinese ones.

You should also take into account:

• bed and room sizes;
• who will use the sleeping area;
• the position of the bed relative to other furniture located in the room. The method of lifting depends on this - at an angle or horizontal;
• in which direction the sleeping place or the bed as a whole will rise (move).

The elaborate design of branded products often hides the same design solutions as in ordinary furniture in the mid-price category.

Gas lift

Gas lift can rightfully be designated as a bestseller among the mechanisms in this category. It is so popular that it is already a classic, and is perhaps most often used to raise kitchen fronts.

The desired mechanism has many advantages, for which it is given “people’s love.” Here they are:

• obvious ease of installation to facades;
• very affordable cost;
• comfortable operation throughout the entire service life of the device.

Gas lift is one of the most convenient lifting mechanisms for equipping kitchen facades

How to install a gas lift: instructions

Gas lift fasteners are made directly to the following parts of the kitchen cabinet:

• to the side;
• to the facade.

You can easily handle the installation of a gas lift yourself, but if you are not confident in your abilities, trust the professionals

To be more precise, the round part of the part with the bushing goes exactly to the side of the cabinet, and the oblong fastener goes to the facade. A nitrogen cylinder is already snapped onto them, which, by the way, professional furniture makers recommend mounting directly in the upper part.

So, let's start looking at the steps.

Step 1. So, take the front of your cabinet and lay it with the inside facing up, that is, facing you. Now you need to start making markings.

Marking drawing for gas lift installation

To do this, on the side where the loops are located, you need to mark 9 centimeters, and at the same time step back 2.2 centimeters from the edge of the furniture segment. Place a dot at this point. It will later become the center of fastening of the hook-type part. During installation, you need to turn this part directly with a hook into the inside of the facade. It is important to take the size of the parts for the side of the cabinet at least 2.2 centimeters, the thickness will be about 1.6 centimeters, to which the gap is also added.

Markings on the facade

Step 2. Screw the fastener to the facade.

Fastening the fasteners

Step 3. Now it's time to mark the side of our kitchen cabinet. It also needs to be laid on some surface, turned so that its front part is facing up, that is, towards you.

Markings on the side wall

Take a ruler or construction tape and measure from the end at the top downwards about 27 centimeters. From the end located in the front part, measure 1 centimeter into the cabinet.

Step 4. This area is the central part of the fastening; we attach the round gas lift fastener there with self-tapping screws.

Installing the fastener

Prices for popular models of screwdrivers

Screwdrivers

Step 5. Next, secure the gas lift. At the end of the work, do not forget to install a damper, overhead or mortise type, as desired. Its main task will be to soften the landing of the facade when it has to hit the end of the cabinet during closing. If you don't install it, you will not only be forced to constantly listen to popping noises, but also your furniture will quickly become unusable.

Installing a gas lift

Video - Marking and installation of gas lifts

How to adjust gas lift

A façade equipped with a gas lift can have three positions:

• 90°;
• 70°;
• 110°.

If you are short, it can be quite difficult to reach the necessary kitchen cabinet, namely its door, in order to close it from the top position.

To correct this situation, it is necessary to change the arrangement of existing fastening systems on the cabinet door.

Gas lift device

Table 1. How to adjust the façade markings for installing a gas lift

Make the necessary markings and change the position of the fittings. At the same time, do not forget that an error of approximately 5-10 degrees is permissible, and this must also be taken into account. If you still want to perfect the opening width you need, try adjusting the position of the part by eye.

However, you can adjust the angle of the door in the open position much more accurately if you tighten the gas lift cylinder directly. The fact is that inside this part there is a kind of thread. If, for example, you have facades with installed cylinders in a row, sometimes it is very important to adjust them as uniformly as possible. This is where carving comes into play. We rotate the cylinder along it, and at the same time the facade itself either lowers or rises, which is very convenient. This way you can achieve maximum accuracy.

How to correctly select the gas lift load

The lifting force in the case of this part varies within the following parameters: from 50-60N to 180-220N. Provided that it is correctly selected, and the part is also subsequently equipped with various closers or dampers, then using a gas lift, you can achieve smooth movement of the facade when opening and silent closing, in which there will not be even a hint of the annoying knock of the door.

The standard height of traditional kitchen cabinets is 72 centimeters. If you divide this value into two halves, you get 36 centimeters. This is exactly the standard height of the facade, which does not open to the side, but tilts upward.

Next, in the table in the photo, we will consider what gas lift load is typical for facades with a specific standard width. This parameter changes the weight of the door, and, as a result, you need to select a completely different type of gas lift for it.

Gas lift selection diagram

For those facades that are large and heavy, it would be better to install the parts symmetrically on both sides to avoid gradual warping of the door, which would otherwise inevitably occur.

Wide facades must be equipped with two gas lifts, located symmetrically, otherwise the door will gradually warp

Please note: if you are forced to use a strong gas lift, that is, a part whose power will be approximately 80 units, you need to strengthen the upper horizon (the part to which furniture hinges are attached) with something, since when the cabinet is closed, the part will receive too intense load.

Rules for safe operation

Devices that lift only the bed are less powerful than mechanisms designed to move the entire bed. It is the latter that are associated with the largest number of injuries. When using such devices, you should adhere to the following rules:

• when lowering the bed, it is recommended to be on the side of it;
• in the raised position, the wardrobe-bed must additionally be attached to the wall. This is especially true when using spring lifts;
• gas shock absorbers are more reliable. By holding the wardrobe bed in the raised position, their piston is extended as much as possible. Spontaneous compression is completely excluded. Even if one gas lift fails, the bed will slowly lower, held by the second. Some manufacturers additionally equip gas shock absorbers with a rod clamp.

How to install the lifting mechanism yourself

When purchasing new furniture, it is usually delivered disassembled. Assembly often costs extra. However, despite its bulkiness, the bed is one of the simplest pieces of furniture. It is quite possible to assemble it yourself with the simplest tools: a Phillips screwdriver and several open-end wrenches. To protect yourself from injury and complete assembly as quickly and efficiently as possible, it is recommended to adhere to the following sequence:

1. Assemble the base - the lower body and the bed frame.
2. If necessary, assemble an orthopedic base (as a rule, a structure with lamellas is sold ready-made).
3. The lift is fixed to the side panel of the base. It must be positioned strictly horizontally in relation to the box.
4. The lift is unfolded into an open working state, after which an orthopedic base is placed on it and positioned until the technological holes coincide.
5. An assistant is essential here. One person holds the orthopedic base, and the second attaches it to the lift.

The bolts adjusting the gas lifts should be level on both sides of the bed

Inclined type lifting devices

One of the most common and widely used lifting mechanisms are inclined lifts. They are a complex structure with side mounting and a moving platform on which a wheelchair is installed. The design is equipped with an electric drive, which makes using the mechanism simple, convenient and efficient.

Such devices are most often installed on flights of stairs, in places where installing another lifting device is impossible. Strong fastening to the ladder, as well as special protective barriers ensure complete safety of the device.

Is it possible to disassemble the lift and when should it be done?

During long-term operation, situations may arise that require repair of the lift, its dismantling to replace worn parts or the device as a whole. The following factors indicate a malfunction of the lifting mechanism:

• spontaneous lowering of the moving part of the bed;
• the mechanism jams and the orthopedic base cannot be raised or lowered;
• During operation, extraneous sounds arise: grinding, creaking, metallic clanging.

Spontaneous lowering is typical for both gas lifts and spring devices. The main method of repair is to replace power elements. Manual mechanisms, as a rule, fail and require complete replacement. At the same time, it is recommended to change both elements, since uneven wear can lead to damage to the furniture.

Replacing a worn-out lift on gas shock absorbers

Lifts with gas shock absorbers:

Spring lifts:

Vertical and horizontal wardrobe beds: