Gas lift for a chair - device and principle of operation

Icer
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Icer November 10, 2018Specialization: master in the construction of plasterboard structures, finishing work and laying floor coverings. Installation of door and window units, finishing of facades, installation of electrical, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.

Gas lift is often an important design for any office or computer chair, on which the comfort of using the furniture largely depends. In the review I will tell you about the device of the gas cartridge and its main features. I will also describe the process of replacing a failed part with a new one, so that you can do the work yourself, using the article as instructions.

The gas lift is fixed in the crosspiece and connects the support part to the seat

Structure and design features of office chairs

All existing office chairs can be divided into the following groups.

For managers. They are distinguished by their large dimensions and solid appearance, most often upholstered in natural or artificial leather. They have the greatest number of functional capabilities, for example, a synchronizing mechanism that ensures repetition of the movements of the seated back and seat, mechanisms that regulate the depth of the seat, back resistance, negative tilt, etc.

Executive chairs are comfortable and sized.
For the staff. They must be comfortable and reliable, so when choosing them, the main attention is paid to the shape of the seat and backrest and the gas lift mechanism, and not to appearance. They are lightweight, which allows for a high level of mobility, and have modest functionality, which includes mechanisms that regulate the height of the armrests and seat, as well as the angle of the backrest. This group includes computer chairs and operator structures with armrests.
Note! Such chairs most often have fabric upholstery, which can be made in different colors.
For visitors. Such chairs must first of all be comfortable, beautiful and stable, and therefore they are devoid of any functionality. They often have four stationary legs, without a cross on wheels or a rotation mechanism.

A modern chair is a functional and comfortable piece of furniture.

Almost all models are equipped with armrests. Cheap designs are made almost entirely of plastic, while more expensive ones are made of stainless or anodized steel.

Despite the existing differences, all chairs consist of the following basic elements:

a five-beam cross, which is the basis of the entire structure and is made of plastic or metal;
rollers, plastic or metal, having an internal hinge and metal fastening;
pneumatic cartridge, or gas lift, which is the leg of the chair and provides elasticity;
a swing mechanism that helps fix the chair in one position and tilt;
piastra, which looks like a metal platform equipped with a lever, and is necessary for adjusting the height of the seat;
permanent contact connecting the seat and backrest and responsible for changes in the position of the latter.

Multifunctionality is the main criterion when choosing a chair.

Note! Expensive chair models are equipped with a mechanism with an offset axis, which ensures the smoothest swinging process.

Office chairs have the following features designed to make working at your desk more comfortable:

height adjustment, allowing you to choose the optimal seat height for each person;
changing the tilt of the backrest, ensuring constant contact of the back with it, even when the sitting position changes;
rotation around an axis and mobility created by rollers.

An office chair is a rather complex device and any of its structural elements can fail.

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How to choose a computer chair: device, characteristics

The realities of modern life force us to spend a lot of time at the computer. In order for the work to be comfortable, you need to sit on a special chair. The structure of an office chair differs from the structure of a chair intended for relaxation. It is designed in such a way as to avoid the negative health effects of sitting in one position for a long time.

When sitting on an ordinary chair, the neck quickly begins to become stiff, pain in the lower back and back appears, headaches begin, and fatigue quickly sets in. All this can be avoided if you choose the right computer chair for work.

Doctors have experimentally proven that a comfortable office chair increases productivity and significantly reduces complaints about well-being.

Device

We are all different - different height, weight, build, as well as different health conditions. Therefore, the most important characteristic of an office chair is its ability to be adjusted to each person individually. For this purpose, good office chairs have a number of adjustments that help “adjust” them to your parameters and make work as comfortable as possible.

Seat

First of all, pay attention to the form. Ideally, it should not have sharp corners. The material is also important, it must “breathe”, be easily permeable to steam and moisture, so that it does not “sweat” from prolonged sitting.

The seats have several adjustment options.

First of all, it is possible to change its height to adjust the chair to your height.
Another important adjustment is depth.
It is necessary to be able to move the seat forward or push it back, ensuring that it ends 10 cm from the knee bend.
Some chairs provide the ability to adjust the seat tilt, which can also be important for certain body shapes.
Additional functions are also possible, depending on the model. There is usually a slight thickening along the edge of both the seat and the back. This is a very functional addition, it helps maintain normal blood circulation, helps to evenly distribute the load on the back and keeps it from sliding down the seat.

Gas lift

The modern design of an office chair is quite complex. The height is adjusted using a gas lift - a steel cylinder filled with inert gas. This device allows you to accurately set the desired height, and in addition absorbs vertical loads.

If the gas lift breaks down, the chair can easily break, so it is extremely important that it is reliable. A system of categories is used to assess quality, with the fourth being the most reliable. The chair you choose must comply with all technical standards and requirements in order to eliminate the possibility of injury.

Back and vertebral column

One of the most important characteristics of an office chair is the ability to adjust the backrest. This is necessary in order to provide constant support to the spine, regardless of what position you are most accustomed to working in. Usually the angle of inclination of the backrest relative to the seat is slightly more than straight, but it must be selected individually.

Also, many models have the ability to adjust the depth of the back of the office chair; thanks to this function, you can move the backrest forward or away from the seat so that it continuously supports the spine.

In the lumbar area, the spinal column forms a natural deflection. If you lean your back on a completely straight back, this deflection will straighten out, and the nerves coming out of the spine will be pinched, which will lead to negative consequences for health.

Therefore, most modern models of office chairs use special bolsters, similar to a small pillow, located in the lower part of the backrest. This roller should be able to move up and down so that it can be positioned exactly against the small of your back.

Headrest

If you want to choose a computer chair in which your neck will not become stiff and you will not experience headaches, pay attention to the design of the headrest. This useful device relieves tension from the neck and shoulder muscles, but for it to do this effectively, it must be adjustable in both height and angle.

Mechanisms

Some chairs are equipped with additional mechanisms, which at first glance may seem unnecessary, but in fact greatly increase the comfort of long-term sitting at a desk.

Rocking

In addition to the backrest tilt mechanism, which allows you to tilt it back at some moments, lean back and relax, some models have a rocking mechanism. It helps to stretch your back a little and relieve tension.

Rocking is possible by shifting the axis of the backrest forward relative to the center of the chair, so you can rock slightly without lifting your legs from the floor or raising your knees.

The mechanism is designed for a seated weight of 50 kg, but not more than 120. In some recent models, a synchronizing mechanism is additionally installed, which allows you to change the position of both the backrest and the seat depending on the posture and taking into account the weight of the seated person. If you recline the backrest, the seat itself moves forward a little.

Cross

In the complex structure of an office chair, the most important part is the crosspiece. This is where the greatest load falls. Therefore, the material from which it is made must be of high quality and durable. Be sure to pay attention to this when purchasing.

Wheels

This structural element also bears significant loads, so the wheels must be durable.
But there is one more requirement: the material from which they are made should not leave marks on the floor, and at the same time it should glide well so as not to impede movement. Nylon, polyurethane and polypropylene are ideal for making wheels. Rollers with a self-braking system receive an international GS certificate. In some models, stops are installed to prevent spontaneous rolling away.

Armrests

Another important characteristic of an office chair is the presence of armrests.
They take on the weight of your arms and allow you to lean lightly on your elbows, which relieves the load on the cervical spine and the entire spine as a whole. You must understand that only those armrests that suit your height can cope with this task, and for this they must have height and distance adjustments. For the support to be effective, the arms resting on the armrests should be approximately level with the working surface of the table.

Settings

Choosing the right computer chair is half the battle. The second, no less important half is to configure it. Before purchasing, carefully study not only the product certificates, but also the capabilities of the specific model chosen and its adjustment. Be sure to sit in it and try to adjust it for yourself.

What is

The gas lift used in office chairs is a device that is similar to the lifting mechanism of a dump truck, but smaller. Its other name is gas spring. Externally, it is a metal pipe with two parts of different sizes. The gas lift mechanism is fixed in the upper part to the base of the seat, in the lower part it is attached to the cross. The lifting height depends on the size of the pneumatic cartridge, the length of which varies from 13 to 16 cm. Gas lift functions:

Seat position adjustment. When you press the lever, the structure rises if you stand up a little to reduce resistance, or lowers under your body weight.
Reducing sudden load on the spine area. When lowered into the chair, the mechanism works as a shock-absorbing device. The seat is springy, significantly reducing the load on the spine.
Possibility of rotation 360 degrees. Due to the features of the system, you can easily reach objects that are at arm's length, located on both sides.

The hydraulic cylinder is configured for actions that are necessary when working simply at a desk or at a computer.

Installation

The main advantage of such fittings is its reliability, durability and aesthetics. These qualities explain why gas lifts for kitchens have become so popular lately. How to install it is well known to any furniture assembler. To do this you will need: a ruler, a screwdriver, a screwdriver and a drill. The gas lift lifting mechanism for the kitchen is attached using a spring bracket, which allows you to simply snap the mechanism or plates onto it, fastening to it using screws.

The upper end of the gas lift is fixed on the side wall of the inside of the cabinet at a distance of 29 mm from the bottom edge of the top shelf and 37 mm from the edge of the side wall. The length of the gas lift is determined by the dimensions of the furniture as follows: when the door is opened downwards, with the upper part reinforced as described above, the lower part is attached to the door at the following distance from its inner end:

with an internal cabinet height of 190 mm - 50 mm;
at a height of 264 mm - 84 mm;
at a height of 365 mm - 128 mm.
Thus, in the first case, the length of the entire bracket when open is 164, in the second - 244, in the third - 355 mm.

What it is

The gas lift, which is an integral part of office chairs, is a device that in its appearance resembles a truck body lifting system, but is slightly smaller in size. Another name for this device is a gas spring.

Externally, the gas lift for the chair is a metal pipe with a couple of parts of different sizes.

The mechanism of this gas spring is attached from above to the base of the seat, and from below it is attached to the crosspiece. The lifting height will depend on the size of the pneumatic chuck. Usually its length varies in the range of 13-16 centimeters.

It should be noted that the gas lift has 3 functions.

Dampening the shock load on the spine. The point is that when a person sits down in a chair, the mechanism works like a shock absorber, springing the seat and significantly reducing the load on the spine. Thanks to these properties, the chairs become significantly more comfortable and easier to use. That is, you can quickly sit down and get up without fear of back problems.
Adjusting the seat position. Using a pneumatic chuck, you can raise or lower the chair in a few seconds without making any serious effort. Simply press the lever from below, and the structure will either fall under the weight of its mass, or rise if you stand up from it, which will reduce resistance.
Possibility of circular rotation of the chair. This allows you to freely access everything that is located at a distance of up to 50 centimeters and turn where you want, if necessary. The special mechanism is designed in such a way that you can spin around its axis without any problems.

In fact, a gas lift is a special hydraulic cylinder designed specifically for office chairs.

Gas lifts in Chita

Gas lift for chair

– a pneumatic cylinder that serves as the main control mechanism on computer and office chairs. The part is a component of the support leg; it is attached at one end to the piastre or swing mechanism, and at the other to the crosspiece. Functions of the pneumatic chuck:

reduces the load on the rider's back. The shock absorber springs the seat, reducing the weight load on the spine. The owner can suddenly stand up and sit down without thinking about discomfort in the lower back;
height adjustment. The operator can lower or raise the seat without effort - just press the lever;
mobility - the chair can rotate in a circle, as the pneumatic chuck rotates around its axis.

The most common breakdowns of office chairs

Damage to the cross

The main damage to this element is a breakdown at the junction of the beams. It is important to consider the material it is made of. The base is a hollow structure, inside of which you can place a polypropylene pipe of suitable cross-section and dimensions. The pipe is rigidly fixed to the damaged beam and base.

Note! You cannot splice plastic elements using a soldering iron or glue due to the high load on the paws.

The best option is to replace the plastic structure with a base made of glass-filled polyamide.

Disassembling an office chair is not difficult.

Dismantling the cross is carried out as follows:

Removing rollers. Usually they are not rigidly secured.
Dismantling the piastres. The fastening to the seat is carried out “on a cone”. It is necessary to disconnect the piastrum from the pneumatic cartridge by tapping at the attachment point.
Removing the retaining clip. It is located in the recess of the upper segment of the gas lift.
Knocking out the gas lift. If the damage is serious enough, this will not work. In this case, the working cylinder is removed along with the bearing and seal.

The convenience and ease of setting up office furniture directly affects the work efficiency of those who use this furniture.

Destruction of the swing mechanism

If it breaks, the chair stops holding the “horizon”. Dismantling this element is quite simple:

Unscrew the four mounting screws.
Knock the air cartridge out of the mount.

During movement, a proportional unloading of the entire spine occurs along its length.

The preferred solution to the problem is to completely replace the part. You can use a welding machine to repair an old mechanism.

Note! Russian and Chinese standard mechanisms differ in size.

Gas lift failure

If the integrity of the pneumatic cartridge elements is damaged, the rod does not extend when pressed. In this case, a complete replacement of the entire mechanism is necessary. It cannot be disassembled due to gas pressure.

Also, quite often the cause of breakdown is the bending of the adjustment lever, which just needs to be bent and returned to its original state.

Gas lift breakdowns occur for several reasons.

The design of a computer chair is quite complex, and at the same time extremely thoughtful. This ensures maximum comfort during use and allows you to work for a long time in a sitting position.

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Construction materials

The chair frame is produced in two versions: solid and collapsible. The first option is more durable and allows functional use even after dismantling the armrests. In the case of using a non-monolithic frame, all parts are connected using an additional structure or the same armrests.

The cross usually has five, rarely four branches and gives stability to the office chair. Plastic, although not inferior in strength to other materials, is used for the crosspiece of the most budget chairs. A metal crosspiece, sometimes chrome-plated, is considered the best option for mid-level workers, but it adds weight to the chair and increases the cost. A metal base with wood overlays painted to match the color of the armrests gives it a presentable look.

The soft part of the chair can be:

covered with practical wear-resistant fabric;
made of genuine leather or its substitute;
made of a special and fairly durable fabric mesh.

In order to ensure a comfortable stay for employees at the workplace, the best office chairs are padded with polyurethane foam.

Selection rules

There are a huge number of modifications of office chairs, so the gas lift for them is selected individually. It is recommended to consider three factors:

The class determines the thickness of the cylinder wall and the ability to support a certain mass of a person for a specified period of operation. On average, chairs are designed for a load of 80 to 200 kg.
Gas spring sizes vary. An important parameter is the diameter of the glass body, which in most cases is 50 mm. The length depends on the height adjustment range of the office chair.
The manufacturer plays an important role. The service life largely depends on the quality of the manufactured product.

How to buy a quality product?

One of the selection parameters is the working length. It should allow the chair to be lowered or raised to the required amount. In some cases, the lifting height is purposefully limited. The simplest designs work on the principle of increasing resistance when raising/lowering, making movement smoother. Modern models have already introduced automatic systems. Work on the production of gas lifts is carried out on modern equipment using exclusively high-quality materials. Although some manufacturers seriously save on components.

Is it worth saving and purchasing a cheap gas lift? What troubles could this entail? Smooth movement and silent operation of the rod is ensured by high-quality processing of the cylinder surfaces. This operation is very expensive. If the technological process becomes cheaper when operating a gas lift, there is a possibility that it will jam, and its operation itself will be accompanied by noise. The use of low-quality valves with a short service life leads to their weakening. They will lose their initial effort pretty quickly. The use of poor steel for the manufacture of the stem and body causes excessive wear on these elements. As a result, the shock absorber will begin to jam, and squeaks will be heard during its operation. The cheaper the seal, the faster it will begin to leak gas, completely rendering the device inoperable. Another common problem when using low-quality gas lift is the breakdown of the air regulator. This can be solved by replacing the entire mechanism with a more expensive one, specifically designed for office chairs. Quite often, a gas lift is a supporting or load-bearing element in an office chair that can bear heavy loads. If the mechanism fails, the user of the chair may be seriously injured.

Scope of gas lifts

Gas elevators have proven themselves in the automotive industry - initially they were installed on hoods and trunks, and also mounted in car doors. Lifts are needed to take on the weight of structures and protect them from damage.

Today, gas lifts, in addition to the automotive industry, are widely used in other areas:

Furniture industry - first of all, we are talking about kitchen furniture. Gas lifts are ideal for cabinets that open upward. They prevent doors from closing spontaneously and allow you to save space in the kitchen. Also, furniture gas lifts are installed in office chairs, folding sofas, wardrobe beds;.
Construction - used in the production of doors, window frames and glass display cases;
Medical equipment - used in the manufacture of beds for the care of palliative patients, in the production of simulators for rehabilitation procedures and other equipment;
Printing - gas shock absorbers are installed on the covers of copiers, scanners, MFPs and other devices;
Weapons sphere - used for the manufacture of pneumatic weapons;
Aerospace construction and others;

Below we will talk about the features of furniture gas lifts.

Features of the design and its functioning

First, you will learn what the node in question is, and then I will talk about the principle of its operation. Everything is quite simple, and you can easily understand the topic by reading this short section.

Gas lift device

To help you understand what the mechanism is, consider the diagram below. It shows all the main components that are found in all products of this type.

This is what a pneumatic chuck looks like in cross section

If it seems to you that everything is very complicated and you cannot cope with the repair work, then do not rush to close the article and take the chair to a specialist. The fact is that when carrying out repairs, you do not have to disassemble the product; firstly, this is not necessary, and secondly, it is unsafe - the gas inside the system is under pressure and any violation of the integrity is fraught with danger to life and health.

The main design elements are:

Button. By pressing it, a valve opens and closes, which releases gas from one chamber to another, thereby raising or lowering the chair. This element is pressed using a special lever, which is most often located under the seat.
Gas valve . Keeps the system in the desired position and opens when it is necessary to change the seat height.
Various bushings and seals . Necessary for tightly connecting all elements and sealing cavities in which gas is located.
Internal, external cavity and bypass channel . Due to the movement of gas through these structural elements, the height is adjusted.
Lifting rod . It extends or, conversely, lowers into the body, depending on whether the height of the chair increases or decreases.

The rod is durable, since it bears the entire weight of the sitting person

Support bearing . It is located at the bottom and is responsible for the free rotation of the chair in both directions. This connection is simple and lasts a long time.

Principle of operation

The operating principle of a gas lift for office chairs is simple. A rod with a piston moves along a cylinder located in a body made of metal. There are two containers in the pipe, and between them there is a valve. It can be in a closed or open position, when gas moves from one cavity to another along the passage channel. When the seat is positioned at the bottom, the piston is located at the top. When the lever is pressed, gas moves from one container to another. In this case, the piston moves down and the structure rises.

To fix the seat at the required height, the lever is lowered, the valve closes, and the lifting of the chair stops. To lower, the lever is pressed, and the structure begins to lower under the weight of a person. The gas piston allows the chair to be adjusted in height and rotated around its own axis. A special spring significantly reduces the load on the spine during a sharp landing, thereby preventing many diseases.

Features of repair work

You can repair a chair yourself if you know all the nuances of the work process and have all the necessary equipment at hand.

Causes of breakdowns

First of all, I will tell you about the causes of problems so that you can prevent breakdowns whenever possible:

Manufacturing defects . It doesn’t happen very often, but nevertheless such situations arise from time to time, especially in the budget segment. If the warranty period has not expired, they will fix the breakdown, but if more time has passed, you will have to carry out the repairs yourself.
Overloading of the structure . If the chair is designed for one weight, and a person with a larger weight sits on it, then the wear of the elements occurs much more, plus the likelihood of breaking the gas cartridge increases significantly. Another common situation is when two people often sit on a chair.

The documentation always contains information about the weight the structure is designed for. Most often this is 100 kg, there are reinforced systems for 120 and 150 kg, they are more expensive, but also more reliable.

Incorrect operation . If someone sits down on the chair or suddenly lowers itself onto the seat, the gas lift is overloaded and the valve can simply be squeezed out, which leads to breakdown.

Types and sizes

There are different types of gas lifts, which is why in order to select the right option you should know the different models of mechanisms and what is special about them. Usually they are all made from the highest quality steel. Typically, gas lifts are divided into classes depending on thickness. There are 4 of them in total.

A feature of the models that belong to the first is that the thickness of the steel here is only 1.2 millimeters. These are the cheapest devices;
In the second group, the steel thickness will be slightly larger - 1.5 millimeters;
The third group will already have a steel thickness of 2 millimeters. Such gas lifts can withstand loads of up to 120 kilograms.
The last group consists of the most durable devices, where the steel thickness is 2.5 millimeters. Such a reinforced gas lift can withstand 30 kilograms more than models from the third group.

In addition, the devices in question may differ in case diameter. They can be of 2 types.

38 millimeters. This option is not used very often. It is usually used in executive chairs where the crosspiece is too high
50 millimeters. Used in 90% of chairs.

Another important parameter will be the length of the mechanism in question. The range of height settings will depend on it.

There are the following groups of gas lifts according to this criterion.

From 20.5 to 28 centimeters. This version will be used in relatively affordable office products designed for sitting at desks with standard characteristics. Such a gas lift will be short due to the fact that its adjustment range is extremely small.
From 245 to 310 millimeters. Such gas lifts are used in places where the structure must rise higher. Although the length of the device is longer, the adjustment range here will be even smaller than that of the above-mentioned analogue.
From 290 to 415 millimeters. These are the longest mechanisms that have wide possibilities in terms of height adjustment, which makes it possible to greatly change the position.

These groups of gas lifts are considered the main ones, although other models can be found on the market. For example, 180 mm. But they are used quite infrequently, which is why they are more of an exception to the rule.

Tips for choosing

Gas lifts for office chairs, like all devices, can fail over time, but you can repair them yourself. Breakdowns are usually caused by:

Manufacturing defects. The phenomenon is rare, but sometimes occurs, especially in budget products. If the warranty period has expired, the repairs are carried out independently.
Gas lift overload. There are situations when a structure designed for one weight is used by a heavier person or two people sit on it. Then the parts of the mechanism wear out much faster and more severely.
Incorrect operation. Damage occurs if you sit down suddenly or take a running start. The device is overloaded, which can lead to the valve being squeezed out.

The documents included in the package contain information about the maximum permissible user weight. Basically, this is 100 kg, but more expensive and reliable devices are produced, which are designed for 120 and 150 kg.

If the gas lift for an office chair breaks down, it is not enough to repair it; it is important to choose the right new design. The correct choice is very important, since discrepancies in parameters will again lead to rapid wear. The following points should be taken into account:

Product dimensions. The structures are manufactured with different dimensions, so the gas lift is selected in accordance with them.
Cup holder diameter. It comes in two types, so choosing the right option is easy.
Gas lift height. It is necessary to measure the length of the product, taking into account the fact that part of it is located inside the cross.
Maximum load. The product class should be selected depending on the weight expected during operation. Moreover, the fact that other people can use the chair is also taken into account. If a piece of furniture is at home, then most likely all family members will sit on it.

Gas lift plays a very important role in office and computer furniture. The chair is designed in such a way that the spine does not get tired when sitting for a long time. The mechanism makes it easier to work in the office and makes staying at your home computer more comfortable.

Product dimensions

Maximum load

Installation technology

Review of outdoor cabinets for gas cylinders, selection rules

How to install a gas lift system on a cabinet? Before installation you must:

determine the method of fastening the fittings;
prepare tools to do the job;
familiarize yourself with the diagram for attaching the lift to the cabinet door.

Mounting methods

The gas lift can be installed on a furniture cabinet:

using fixing pads secured with self-tapping screws. This option is easy to install, but can only be used for products made of wood, chipboard, MDF and analogues;
using screws with a locking function. The primary area of use is metal and plastic surfaces.

Types of fasteners

As a rule, self-installation of a furniture lift is carried out on plates, since the installation of screws must be carried out at the furniture manufacturing stage.

Tools and materials

To perform installation work you will need to prepare the following kit:

tape measure, square, marker (pencil) for applying preliminary markings;
drill for preparing holes for fastenings;
screwdriver and screwdriver for fixing the lift.

A gas lift is exclusively an additional device that facilitates the process of using a cabinet or other piece of furniture. The main fittings of a cabinet door are furniture hinges.

Even after installing the gas lift, the main load is taken by the hinges

Gas lift installation

Direct installation is carried out after installing all the cabinet door fittings according to the following scheme:

determination of mounting locations for furniture lifts. The location of fasteners is determined in accordance with the planned opening angle of the cabinet door. As a rule, installation dimensions for all situations are indicated in the attached instructions;

Determining lift mounting locations

in the marked places holes are drilled, the diameter matching the size of the fastening bolts;
fasteners are fixed;
The gas lift is fixed on the fasteners. Fixation is considered complete only after a click. In some situations, fixation requires some effort.

Gas lift mounting

You can watch the video for more information about the process of installing the lift yourself.

It is recommended to carry out work on installing a gas elevator before the final installation (hanging) of the cabinet. This will allow you to apply markings more accurately and avoid distortions. It should be remembered that in order to ensure the correct operation of the fittings, it is recommended to install two lifts on cabinets, beds and sofas.

How to choose

Considering that there are different categories of gas lifts, and this is a part that fails from time to time, it would not be superfluous to consider the question of how to choose the right gas lift. To begin with, it should be said that the cause of breakdowns of gas lifts, due to which they have to be replaced, are the following points.

Manufacturing defects. This problem is rather an exception, but still occurs, especially in the most accessible versions.
Gas lift overload. It happens that a design that is intended for one mass is used by people whose weight exceeds this indicator, which is why the wear of the components occurs at an accelerated pace.
Incorrect use. It happens that a furniture or any other gas lift may fail due to the fact that a person suddenly sits down in a chair or even does it with a running start. Using the chair this way can result in the valve simply being squeezed out.

In such cases, replacement of the gas lift is required. But to implement it, you need to choose it correctly. This is extremely important, because discrepancies in certain characteristics can lead to accelerated wear of the new device and its subsequent breakdown. To prevent this from happening, you should make a choice based on such moments.

Cup holder diameter. It can be of 2 types, so using this criterion it will be easy to determine the desired option.
Gas lift height. In this case, it is necessary to measure the length, taking into account that the part will be located inside the cross.
Product dimensions. Note that gas lifts are made with different dimensions, so the size must be taken into account when choosing.
Maximum load. It is necessary to select the class of the mechanism depending on the mass that it will have to withstand during use. Moreover, it should be taken into account that the chair can also be used by other people.

How to properly remove a gas lift from an office chair step by step

As experience in using office chairs shows, the gas lift most often fails. Even with proper operation, this will happen in three to four years. That is, sooner or later it will have to be dismantled and repaired or replaced.

How to remove a gas lift from a plastic base

The dismantling procedure is as follows:

The mechanism is disconnected from the connection. To do this, you will need to unscrew several bolts installed in the seat.
After removing the seat, begin removing the gas lift. For this operation, you will need to apply several blows with a hammer to the body of the device from the side of the cross. There are no other fastenings provided. It is advisable to use a drift made of bronze or wood for these purposes.

How to remove a gas lift from a metal base

The gas lift from the metal base is removed in the same way. The only thing that needs to be done is to be careful, since some manufacturers use silumin to produce crosspieces; it is an aluminum-based alloy and is extremely fragile; a slight blow is enough and the crosspiece can crack.

How to change

As was said, if a gas lift breaks down, it is almost impossible to repair it, which means it needs to be replaced. To do this, you first need to prepare certain tools and understand the algorithm of actions. You will need to have the following things on hand:

a new gas lift, which will be installed instead of the old one;
crosshead screwdriver;
hammer;
ring punch;
WD-40 liquid;
vice.

So, before replacing the gas lift with a new one, you need to remove the old one.

To do this, we treat the joints of the chair parts with WD-40 liquid . We leave the structure in this state for about 12 hours so that the mixture gets onto the joints. Now you need to start disassembling the chair and disconnect the seat. To do this you need a Phillips screwdriver. With its help, we loosen the bolts that secure the seat to the piastre. After this, we turn the chair over and remove the seat along with the decorative cover, which is located on the lift.

Now you need to disconnect the lift from the cross and piastres. This can be done by knocking out the gas lift with a hammer with a rubber tip. To speed up this process, you can use a drift. Before starting work, remove the special locking ring from the crosspiece. This is a pin, which is located on the back side of the cross where the pneumatic cartridge is attached.

Now you should remove the pneumatic cartridge from the piastrum. This work should be done as carefully as possible so as not to deform the connections. Tapping with a hammer should be done in different places so that the gas lift can be carefully removed.

You just need to install a new gas cartridge.

First, we insert it into the cross until it clicks, applying some force, and put on the protective casing, after which we connect everything to the piastr. All that remains is to reassemble the chair in the reverse order.

The video below talks about how to choose the right gas lift for a chair.

Procedure

Precise adherence to the procedure is the basis for proper installation. By following these steps step by step, you will be able to avoid common mistakes that can lead to damage to the product and shorten its service life.

Preparation and assembly of MDF parts

A large number of bed parts are made of MDF. When starting installation, all elements are freed from the packaging film and inspected for damage. If at least one element has defects, replacement is required. A damaged bed frame will not be secure. The parts are laid out at the installation site so that the side with holes for fasteners is on top.

Installation of box and base

The main parts of the bed are the box and the base. First, the perimeter of the structure is assembled, which consists of three walls and a head back. To do this you need:

connect the walls and the head back to each other using fixing elements;
a base is placed on the constructed frame, which is usually made using wood and a metal frame;
To securely fix all components, tighten the screws with a screwdriver.

In some types of beds, longitudinal strength elements may be provided. In particular, solid longitudinal ties, brackets and corners, fixed to the structure with screws, are common

Installing Corner Ties

The purpose of corner ties is to impart reliability to the assembled structure. The screed consists of several elements:

a corner in the form of a metal plate bent in the central part at a right angle;
bolts for fixing the plate to the frame;
threaded bushings.

To connect the two walls of the bed with a corner tie, the plate is placed on the inside at their junction. Then the bushings are inserted and the bolts are tightened first on one wall, and then the connections are aligned and the fasteners are fixed on the adjacent wall. If desired, it is possible to replace the standard model of corner tie with a modern version, for example, confirmat or minifix, which are distinguished by more compact dimensions.

How to install the lifting mechanism

Secure the furniture frame to the lifting mechanism. It is recommended to use screws for this. Before final fixation of the fasteners, it is necessary to level the gaps between the base and the frame.
Determine the appropriate level of force to operate the mechanism. As a rule, this information is indicated in the attached documentation.
Install the structure into the lifting mechanism with the cylinder facing up, using nuts with a locking ring and fluoroplastic washers.
Tighten the fixing nuts to the limit, then loosen the fastening slightly, leaving minimal play. After this, you should check the functioning of the lifting mechanism by lowering and raising the structure several times.

Installation of the traverse

The traverse is a special element that performs the function of a screed. Using a traverse, the lower part of the bed frame is fixed. The element is placed along the structure parallel to the longitudinal tension parts. The use of a traverse helps strengthen the structure, ensures stability and durability, and also makes it possible to securely fasten small side elements that most often fail.

Design and principle of operation

If we talk about the structure of the part in question, then it should be said that the main parts of this design are such elements.

Button. By pressing it, the valve closes and opens, which releases gas from one chamber to another, which allows you to adjust the height of the entire structure. Pressing occurs using a lever located under the seat of the chair. Although sometimes it may be located in a different place.

Lift rod. This part extends or lowers into the body, depending on the increase or decrease in the height of the chair. By the way, this part is especially durable, because the mass of a sitting person puts the greatest pressure on him.

Various types of seals and bushings. They are needed for high-quality connection of various parts and sealing cavities where gas is usually located.

Gas valve. This part holds the entire mechanism in a certain position and opens if the seat height level needs to be changed.

External and internal cavities, as well as a bypass channel. Thanks to the movement of gas through these parts of the mechanism, height regulation occurs.

Support type bearing. It is located below and is responsible for the free rotation of the chair in different directions. The strength of this type of connection is its simplicity, which ensures its durability.

If we talk about the principle of gas lift operation, then it cannot be called complicated. To begin with, the mechanism consists of a pair of reservoirs and a valve that can open and close. It is his work that causes the gas to move through the bypass channel between the containers. If the chair is in the lower position, the piston will be in the maximum raised position. When you press the lever, the valve opens, the gas begins to move into another tank and thereby presses the piston, which moves down and raises the chair.

Once the chair is at the desired level, you simply release the lever to lock it. The valve will close immediately and the chair will be in the desired position. If you need to lower the chair, you just need to press the lever, after which it will lower under the weight of the person. That is, to raise the chair, you need to stand up from it. As you can see, the operating principle of a gas lift is extremely simple.

Gas lift for a chair: dimensions, rules for selection and replacement 05/30/2021 18:49

Today, almost every office has a special, so-called office chair, on which employees sit at their desks. It is much more comfortable than a regular chair, because it allows for height adjustment, allowing you to choose the best level for the person sitting. In addition, in this chair you can recline the back if necessary. One of the most common breakdowns of such chairs is the loss of the ability to adjust the seat height. And the reason for this is the malfunction of such a part as the gas lift. Let's try to figure out what kind of detail this is and what it comes in.

Varieties

Gas lifts for chairs are divided into types depending on the size of the structure and the strength of the steel. Before choosing a suitable modification for a computer or office chair, you should study all the nuances. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the device class, which indicates the thickness of the steel and the permissible load:

The first is budget fittings, the metal thickness is only 1.2 mm, such a gas lift is suitable for children's models.
The second one also belongs to the inexpensive segment, the steel thickness is 1.5 mm and will not withstand heavy loads.
The third is a type of gas lift with a metal thickness of 2 mm, maximum load 120 kg.
The fourth is a reinforced case with a metal thickness of 2.5 mm, permissible weight 150 kg.

Characteristics of fashionable glider chairs, advantages of their use

In addition to classes, gas lifts differ in body diameter. Existing sizes:

50 mm - used in almost all models.
38 mm is a rare diameter; such gas lifts are mainly installed on executive chairs with a high cross.

Another important parameter is the length of the gas lift. This indicator determines the maximum seat height:

20.5–28 cm. The device is designed for chairs that are used in offices with standard desks or computer desks. This gas elevator has a relatively small range of height settings.
24.5–31 cm. Used when you need to raise the chair more than the standard height.
29–41.5 cm. The longest gas lift with wide height adjustment options.

When a gas lift breaks, the user is faced with the question of how to choose a new mechanism and what to pay attention to. Even a minimal discrepancy in characteristics can lead to rapid wear of a new part, so when purchasing you need to consider the following points:

Gas lift size - mechanisms can have different dimensions. You need to make sure that the part will fit correctly into the base of the chair.
Cup holder size - there are only two diameter sizes, so choosing the right one will not be difficult.
Height - it is necessary to measure the length of the old part, taking into account that part of the gas lift is inside the cross.

The procedure for making a rocking chair from different materials with your own hands

You also need to pay attention to the load. The class of the mechanism is selected depending on the body weight of the owner of the chair. If the furniture is used at home, most likely, the entire household will sit on the chair. For office furniture, it is better to choose a gas lift with a maximum load.