Almost everyone once in their life had to change a wheel. Although the spare tire is recognized as the most necessary item in the car, the second most important tool for work is the best floor jack. Without there is no way to raise the car above the ground.
Jacks are used for leveling and positioning heavy equipment, for lifting cars and for supporting structures. They typically use a screw or cylinder-based actuators and are driven by hydraulic, mechanical, electrical or manual methods. The lifting element is called a block or a saddle.
The pad design is specially designed to fit the lifting point, while the saddle is made to work with various surfaces. Replacing a wheel on a car with a jack is the most common job for which they are intended.
However, they are not only designed to lift cars, so there are other areas of application:
· Lifting and leveling steel beams on their supports or vertical columns.
· Alignment and positioning of heavy equipment in a machine shop or in production.
· Lifting heavy parts made of metal or other materials.
Jacks and supports for them are intended not only for wheel replacement.
These tools are very safe and reliable as long as they are properly used and installed under suitable vehicles and structures.
Specifications
Important options are:
· Carrying capacity.
· Stroke or step of ascent.
· Minimum height.
· The maximum height.
· Type of jack.
· Type of work: manual, pneumatic, hydraulic, electric.
· Latches and fuses.
The principle of operation of jacks and stands
Jacks
Not only the integrity of the structure to be lifted, but also the life of the worker can depend on the right choice of tool.
When working with a jack, you always need to be careful and cautious. If the lifting structure or vehicle weighs 3 tons, use a tool designed for at least 3.5 tons. Never use a jack with a carrying capacity lower than the weight of the lifting structure.
Supports
The jack legs are essentially struts or tripods shaped and constructed to support the weight of the raised structure. They should be placed under the axle or frame of the structure in order to provide additional support.
These tools are mainly used to repair or maintain a car; they are rarely used to replace wheels.
How to use a jack
The jack is a fairly important tool for both motorists and builders. There are many types of this device, but first you need to figure out how to use it.
What is needed for this :
· Jack
· Pedestal or wooden jack stand
· Level
· Insurer
So, to successfully use the tool, you must follow these steps.
1. Make sure the lift area is level. First you need to take into account the landscape of the zone, it is necessary that it be without slopes, depressions and pits. Otherwise, the jack may slip out and the structure will collapse.
2. Put the jack in position. Place the tool so that it rests firmly on the ground and abuts the structure so that it does not break when lifting.
3. Lift the desired structure (or car). Lift carefully if you have a jack with a lever, do not press it too often.
4. Substitute supports (or wooden supports). After raising to the desired level, substitute supports to ease the load on the tool and to be sure that the structure will not break.
5. Done, you have successfully mastered the lift with a jack.
