Lifting mechanism for a bed: do-it-yourself calculation and installation

The convenience and comfort of modern furniture, be it a bed or a kitchen cabinet, is achieved with the latest devices that ensure ease of use. One of the widely used devices is a gas elevator. It differs from ordinary springs in its power: you can effortlessly open and close cabinet doors or raise and lower the surfaces of a bed or sofa.

The article explains how to lower a child's bed, what a gas lift is and how it works. Instructions are given for installing the mechanism yourself.

Characteristics of a gas lift for a bed, rules for self-installation

Gas elevators are widely used in various spheres of life, including devices of this type that are actively used in the furniture industry. Unlike conventional springs, taking into account the power, such a device has a wide range of possible forces. In addition, the gas lift for the bed allows you to quickly and easily find things located in the box under the bed, since lifting it will not cause any difficulties. Designs equipped with such a device will be indispensable for people living in small apartments, since during the day such a sleeping place can be easily hidden in a closet.

What is

A gas lift for a bed is a device that makes it easier to lift the upper part of the structure without extra effort. The operating principle of this small device is similar to that of a car shock absorber. The main components of the product are:

Cylinder with gas (nitrogen is almost always used). It must be taken into account that there is high pressure inside the cylinder, so it is not worth repairing or disassembling it yourself.
Piston with rod - this part helps transmit the force generated during operation of the product.
Oil muffler (can also be made of rubber). A gasket whose main task is to stop vibrations that occur during the operation of a gas lift.
Retainers. Plates made of durable steel, with which the gas lift is fixed to the bed frame.

Many companies equip their furniture with gas lifts not only to make it convenient for the owner to store and search for various things. Beds supplemented with a similar device ensure an anatomically correct position of the spine during rest. They also do not have joints and seams, which often cause discomfort. Other advantages of the product include:

Simplicity of design.
Since the lift is assembled from just a few elements and operates using pressure, it is affordable.
Easy installation.
Reliable and durable - each product is designed to last approximately 20,000 lifts.
No noise during operation.
The device is completely safe for health.

As for the weaknesses of beds equipped with a gas lift, there are only 2 of them. If you purchase a bed with springs in the upper block, it will take a lot of effort to lift the element. The second disadvantage is that gas lifts that can withstand heavy loads are expensive.

What is this?

So, let’s look at the very concept of “gas elevator”. A gas elevator is a mechanism that plays the role of a lift of elements attached to it. Visually, this design looks like this: it is somewhat reminiscent of a car shock absorber and consists of a cylinder, clamps and a travel arm.

The following positions stand out among the distinctive features of gas lift:

The gas lift device can be compressed by applying some force.
The operating temperature range of the lifting device varies from -30 to +80 degrees Celsius. Leaving the working area beyond this interval by 10 degrees entails a decrease in gas lift performance by 3%.
It is important to install the gas lift correctly, otherwise failure of the lifting mechanism is guaranteed.
The movement of the rod is limited to the maximum possible speed - 300 mm/s. The maximum cylindrical pressure reaches 160 bar.

Advantages of beds using this mechanism:

Practicality. Beds with a lifting mechanism are equipped with storage space.
Strength. Gas lifts provide longer lifespan for sleep furniture compared to other lifting devices.
Reduces the burden on humans.
Easy to use. It doesn't take much effort to put the mechanism into action. Even a child can handle the mechanism.
Quiet operation of the device.
Liquid nitrogen used in shock absorbers is completely safe for metal and rubber gaskets.
Reliability. It is unlikely that you will have to change the gas lift during the entire life of the bed. This mechanism is designed for more than 20 thousand lifting and lowering operations.

Varieties

Each manufacturer complements its products with different types of lifting mechanisms, which differ in design, cost and operating period. Also, each device differs in power. Taking into account how a gas elevator works, elevators are divided into the following groups:

Manual mechanism. This type of gas lift is the simplest and most affordable. Despite the fact that a device of this type will function for a long time and properly, today they are rarely used to equip beds. This is due to the fact that great physical effort is required to lift the upper element. In addition, such products can cause damage to the bed frame.
Spring type lift. A simple system that is very easy to use. It doesn't take much force to lift the bed frame. The disadvantage of this design is that its service life does not exceed 5 years, since after this time the springs stretch, causing the device to stop functioning.
A mechanism based on a gas shock absorber. The design operates smoothly, does not emit extraneous noise, and is reliable. If you correctly calculate the load and use the device carefully, it will last more than ten years.

Of all types of devices, the most durable is considered to be a product that contains gas shock absorbers. Compared to other types, such a lift is more expensive. But the high cost is justified by comfort and safety.

Gas elevators themselves are automatic - their operation does not require physical effort or human attention. Or friction ones - the pressure in such cylinders is much less, which allows the structure to be stopped in any position.

Manual mechanism

Spring

Gas lift

Installation Tips

In most cases, the installation of a gas lift on a bed is carried out at the production stage, at the enterprise itself. But if you wish, you can do the installation yourself. To carry out the work you will need a basic set of tools: a hammer, a saw, a drill with different drills, metal corners, several self-tapping screws. And, of course, you need to purchase a suitable gas lift in advance. For everything to work properly, it is recommended to install the product according to the following algorithm:

The first step is to assemble the bed frame. In this case, metal corners are used, which will securely fix all the elements and make the structure strong.
Next, you need to install the gas lift using special screws and bolts.
Afterwards, the folding frame is assembled and the gas lift is fixed to it. The product must be previously installed in the open position.
Finally, it remains to check how well the installed lifting mechanism works. To do this, you need to squeeze and unclench it several times. The design should operate smoothly and silently.

Options for mattress sizes for beds, selection criteria

Self-installation of a gas lift will not cause difficulties and will not take much time. However, if there is uncertainty that everything will be done correctly, it is better not to take risks and seek help from a professional who will do the work. As an alternative, you can immediately choose a bed that already has a powerful gas lift installed. In this case, preference should be given to well-known and trusted companies.

Specifications

If the bed is equipped with a gas lift, the surface of the product can be easily raised and returned to its original position. Everything will go smoothly and without unnecessary noise. The main characteristics of such lifts are:

The main substance that ensures the functionality of the structure is inert gas (most often the cylinders are filled with nitrogen).
The chamber, rod and support tips are made of steel.
The minimum thickness of the walls of the cylinder, which is filled with gas, must be 1 mm, otherwise it will be unsafe to use the structure.
Any gas elevator can be compressed by applying force.
For the device to function properly, the room temperature must vary between -30/+70 degrees.

It must be taken into account that the pressure in the cylinder is very high. That is why, if an element is deformed or another malfunction is discovered, it is strictly not recommended to disassemble it and try to repair it yourself. Below is a table showing the calculation of forces for vertical beds.

Source: mebel-sovet.ru

Use the secrets of installing a gas lift

Greetings, friends, to bokovina.ru! Today you will learn how easy it is to install a furniture gas lift on a kitchen cabinet. You will be happy to know that the process will literally take 5 minutes if you are confident in your actions.

If you read the article to the end, you will not only receive clear installation instructions. But also a few valuable secrets, without which the installation would not be so perfect. You will learn practical tips developed over many years. Use my experience!

Furniture gas lift

Gas lift is used mainly in upper cabinets of cabinet furniture. It raises the facades to the top, which makes opening easier for the housewife. It is enough to lightly pull the handle and the door will smoothly go up until the set locking moment.

More than once I noticed the use of gas lift on the lower modules, when opening the facade downwards. In such cases, it acts as a stopper. And I believe that it is not advisable to use gas lift as a fixative. For these purposes there is Klok.

Please note that when opening the door upwards, gas lifts must be installed on both sides. Otherwise you will get tired of adjusting the façade. When closed, it will pull the facade upward on its side. The placement of the doors in a row makes the problem worse.

Within walking distance of you, there is a service for calculating cabinet furniture.

Principle of operation

Gas lifts come in several types, but often those used in beds allow the structure to be opened upward.

There are only 2 main types:

Automatic. When the bed is raised, the gas expands, which puts pressure on the piston. The last element, in turn, pushes the bed up, minimizing human effort. For braking, a kind of oil gasket is used inside. This allows you to make the move at the very end of the trajectory much smoother.
Frictional. This design differs from the previous model in the absence of a damper. The gas pressure here is also slightly lower. This allows you to stop the structure in any convenient position. Beds are rarely equipped with such elements, since there is practically no need for this.

Operating principles and advantages of the bed lifting mechanism on gas shock absorbers

The lift with gas shock absorbers consists of:

stamped iron plates;
metal axis;
gas lift.

The iron plates are arranged around a metal axis of rotation and are attached to the bed and cabinet. At the moment of raising or lowering the berth, the plates rotate along the axis, and gas lifts evenly distribute the load, making the effort exerted by a person minimal. The design is ideal not only for an adult, but also for a children's bed.

The advantages of the device are:

ease of operation;
no noise when raising and lowering;
liquid nitrogen, which is used in the gas shock absorber to lift the bed, does not lead to corrosion of metal parts and damage to rubber gaskets;
lightness (a person does not need to apply force, as happens when using springs);
reliability (gas lifts almost never fail);
safety (all moving parts are hidden under the casing and the risk of injury is minimal);
a wide range, allowing you to choose a model that suits all the parameters of the furniture.

The mechanism for lifting the bed and gas springs of furniture fittings is designed for approximately 20 thousand folding and unfolding of the bed, and this is several decades.

But there are also disadvantages:

unaesthetic (gas lifts are partially visible at the headboard);
inability to immediately determine quality (the device quickly breaks down or the gas lift on the bed does not work at all if low-quality parts were used for its production).

The main disadvantage is the price. But it is compensated by the service life of the device: it will function without breakdowns throughout the entire period of operation of the furniture and will not require additional investments for repairs.

Gas lift for bed does not compress: what to do

The new generation bed differs from its predecessor in its improved design and versatility, thanks to which it has gained great recognition and demand among consumers.

The main feature of a folding bed is to save living space and create additional storage space for various household items. Currently, for ease of operation, the structure is equipped with a gas lift - a special lifting mechanism.

The longevity and reliability of beds with lifts depends on proper operation, the rules of which are sometimes violated, which leads to some malfunctions in the mechanism.

Reasons for this problem include:

Insufficient weight of the structure.
Poor quality assembly and installation.
Lack of parts.
Poor quality of spare parts.
Incorrectly adjusted gas pressure.

It should be noted that ignoring any deviation in the operation of the mechanism can lead to its complete failure, therefore, at the first sign of a breakdown, it is necessary to inspect and repair the structure.

Other reasons, which depend on many factors, are also involved in the malfunction. But what to do in such a situation? The gas lift on the bed does not compress: reasons The main difficulty that users have to face is that the gas lift does not compress.

You can deal with defects yourself, taking into account all the nuances. Attention! When folding the bed, do not allow the elements to “jerk”; this will cause the elements to suffer. How to repair it yourself If the gas lift stops working and you need to repair the mechanism, to do this you need to establish the true cause of the breakdown.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the weight of the structure, since with a small load the mechanism will not work. The spring is compressed in the structure only under full load conditions.
Elimination of errors made during the assembly process is carried out by dismantling the entire structure. Re-installation is carried out taking into account the correct selection (adjustment) of parts to each other.
The quality of the fittings influences the good functionality of the bed. Therefore, for gas lift installation, it is better to purchase spare parts from trusted manufacturers.

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Important! When installing and repairing, you should use the manufacturer's instructions. In order to make repairs yourself, certain skills and knowledge are required, the absence of which can lead to poor quality work.

To ensure that basic repairs do not spontaneously become major repairs, you need to contact experienced craftsmen to do the repairs.

When you need to contact specialists The help of specialists will be required to carry out more complex activities, which include adjusting the gas supply. This procedure will be needed if the raising and lowering of the bed occurs slowly and not completely. There is only one reason - excess or lack of gas pressure in the piston.

Replacing a gas cartridge yourself is extremely difficult; the work requires certain qualifications and a set of necessary tools.

How to install a gas lift on a bed?

The best option would be to entrust the work to an experienced furniture maker. The technician will install and adjust the smooth operation of the lift. But home craftsmen prefer to create furniture with their own hands, and furniture makers often refuse to install gas shock absorbers for a bed-cabinet.

If it is not possible to use the services of a professional, then you can study the question of how to assemble a gas lift for a bed and carry out the installation yourself.

To do this you will need:

a simple pencil;
roulette;
screwdriver (you can take a screwdriver);
self-tapping screws (as a rule, they are included in the furniture fittings kit).

The success of the work depends on the accurate implementation of the following steps:

On the inner wall of the closet, mark holes from the bottom to the height of the bed legs and 14-15 cm from the edge (the distance from the edge is calculated as follows: the thickness of the mattress plus 2 cm).
Attach the side platform (the base to which the gas elevator will be attached) to this mark and secure it with self-tapping screws.
Repeat exactly the same operation on the opposite wall of the cabinet. It is very important for the coordinated smooth operation of the lift that the platforms are located symmetrically.
An eye (the extendable part of the lift) is attached to the protruding part of the platform and secured using a built-in latch.
The hinges are installed on the side of the bed frame. This stage is the most important, because it determines how level the sleeping place will be located in the closet and how it will recline. If you have no experience with such an installation, then the best option would be to install the frame in the closet and ask an assistant to hold it while you mark the place for screwing the hinges.
After marking, the bed can be lowered to the floor and the hinges can be screwed in with self-tapping screws in the designated places.
Connect the bed hinges to the already installed fittings and check the operation by folding and unfolding the bed several times.

If everything works fine, then you can forget for a long time about how to hide your sleeping place during the day - a solution has already been found. If it doesn’t work, then it’s either a faulty hardware or an error was made during installation. Most often, the problem is a malfunction of the mechanism: an incorrectly installed lift still works, but does not provide a smooth ride, or when lifting the folding bed, force is required.

Some will choose a durable gas bed lift mechanism, while others will prefer cheaper, but less durable, locking lifts. But if you don’t want to change lifting fittings every few years, it is better to give preference to strong and durable gas lifts.

Source: ibeds.ru

Gas lifts for beds: features and load calculation

A bed is not just a place to sleep. This piece of furniture can be made more functional with an interesting headboard made in the form of cabinets or shelves for books. But this is not the limit of functionality. You can store rarely used items under the bed itself, hiding them from prying eyes. But in this case, free access to boxes and drawers is of particular importance, which can be achieved by equipping the bed with special lifting mechanisms - a pair of pistons operating on the principle of gas lift for the bed.

How to compress a bed shock absorber?

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.

Lifting mechanisms allow you to expand the functions of beds and thereby free up part of the living space of the house. Two methods are used for this.

The first makes it possible to move the bed into a vertical position and put it in the closet. Or you can transform it into another piece of furniture for a time when the bed is not in use, thereby freeing up scarce living space.

The second method adds the ability to the bed to store household items, linen and clothes. The box for it is placed under the rising bed. This solution can eliminate the need to purchase a linen closet, saving money and the bedroom space that would be required to install this piece of furniture.

What is a gas lift, and why do we need it?

This is a special mechanism used to lift and transform furniture elements connected to it. In its principle, this device is similar to a car shock absorber.

The design features of the gas lift lie in its configuration. It consists of:

a cylinder filled with gas, often nitrogen; It is important to note that the gaseous composition is present inside the cylinder under high pressure, therefore it is not recommended to disassemble such a device with your own hands;
a piston with a drain, which serves to transmit the applied force to the external environment;
oil damper, ensuring smooth running due to the shock-absorbing effect.

The purpose of a gas lift for a bed is not limited to just the ability to store things under the bed. Structures equipped with this kind of mechanisms are able to properly support the spine during rest, eliminating joints and uneven surfaces that negatively affect the musculoskeletal system.

How to properly remove a gas shock absorber?

Removal of the gas lift from the mounting points is carried out with the utmost care so as not to damage the cylinder. Before unscrewing and removing the gas lift, it is fixed in the open position.

Due to the high pressure inside the cylinder, the gas elevator must not be compressed, bent, heated, opened or drilled.

The removed gas lift must be protected from exposure to dyes, dust, chemicals, mechanical shocks, and scratches . Such impacts will lead to deformation of the rod seals, which will reduce the performance and service life of the gas shock absorber.

If the presence of negative factors in the design cannot be avoided, possible damage is minimized with an additional protective tube - a cover for the rod.

Variety of elevators

Today there are more than enough types of lifting mechanisms, and almost all of them are suitable for installation in a bed structure. They differ only in cost, design features, and service life. The peculiarity of each type of lift lies in the possible force used for a particular design.

Based on the principle of operation, lifts are divided into three types.

Calculation of gas lift load for a lifting bed

Before you buy a gas lift, you should take into account how much weight it will lift, and based on this, calculate the expected load. This is the main indicator that you will need when choosing a design.

It seems that this is as simple as shelling pears, but there are some nuances here too. Firstly, you will need to take into account the exact weight of the structure, and secondly, you need to know some details:

the density of the material used to make the bed, which is indicated by the manufacturer, as well as the weight of the structure;
density of the material and weight of the mattress.

Before you begin installing the gas lift, pay attention to the markings of the device. The numbers on it indicate the load, determined in newtons. Here are a few rules that will help you understand how to calculate gas lift for a bed:

Approximately 10N supports about 1 kg of structure weight.
Each of the mechanisms is marked by the manufacturer in increments of 200 units (600N, 800N, 1000N, etc.).
To distribute the load evenly, gas lifts are mounted in pairs (1 or 2 on each side).

Gas

The bed gas lift is based on a simple mechanism that operates smoothly, silently and reliably. If the load is correctly calculated and a shock-absorbing device is selected, such a product can be used for up to 10 years. The bed cabinet includes additional equipment with a pneumatic gas lift with two stops.

Experts recommend choosing the latter option, which is characterized by ease of use and smooth operation. The cost of such a gas lift for a bed is higher compared to analogues, but the use of the device is fully compensated not only by convenience, but also by safety.

Based on the operating principle, elevators are divided into two groups:

Automatic, not requiring human effort and close control to raise/lower the bed.
Frictional, with less pressure, but providing for stopping the raised part of the bed in any desired position.

Please note that the former are more popular, therefore they lead in sales on the market.

Load calculation example

Your bed weighs 80 kg together. This means that for lifting you will need two furniture gas lifts for a bed marked from 800N. Theoretically, a system of this volume can lift a weight of up to 160 kg, but in practice this does not happen due to the fact that the forces are distributed at an angle.

Do not forget that over time the forces of the devices weaken, so it is permissible to take the model one step larger than the weight of your structure. Just do not buy a gas lift that is too powerful, otherwise it will be difficult to raise and lower the bed frame due to insufficient weight and too high gas pressure in the cylinder.

As you can see, even when choosing a gas lift for a folding bed you should be extremely careful. Taking into account all the described rules and recommendations, you will be able to choose a product that matches the characteristics of your bed. And the long service life of the structure depends on the right choice.

Source: fb.ru

Repair of gas lift for kitchen furniture

The gas lift is a sealed structure. Gas is pumped into the cylinder of the mechanism during manufacture. This

The device cannot be repaired, so you should not open it yourself. The entire system is under pressure. If the seal is lost, the gas lift will not cope with its functions. To avoid unpleasant phenomena, it is better to invite a specialist for repairs. A sealed system may even explode.

However, there are minor defects during operation: gas lift fastenings may become loose during operation. The doors begin to creak when opened. To eliminate the defect you need to tighten them. Another option for getting rid of an unpleasant squeak: lubricating the parts. In conclusion, it should be noted that the gas lift must be treated very carefully, since the mechanism cannot be repaired, and if it breaks down, you will have to throw out the expensive device and install a new one.

A bed is not only a frame, but also additional storage space . Often this feature is provided by internal drawers, which are covered with a supporting surface on which the mattress is located. Accessing these elements is quite difficult, as you need to lift a lot of weight. You can simplify this procedure by using a gas lift for the bed. These devices are designed to transmit gas pressure to the housing frame.