International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology E-ISSN 2277 – 4106, P-ISSN 2347 – 5161

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Research Article

Design and Construction of Hydraulic Scissor Lift

Sandeep G. Thorat†*, Abhijeet R. Chiddarwar‡ and Suva Prasana Prustyϯ
†Department of Mechanical Engineering, Savitribai Phule Pune University, MIT College of Engineering, Pune

Accepted 12 March 2017, Available online 16 March 2017, Special Issue-7 (March 2017)

Abstract

The following paper describes the design and construction of the hydraulic scissor lift. A hydraulic scissor lift is a
mechanical device used for lifting of the loads to a height or level. The main objective of the use of scissor lift is to
reach to a desired height or level. A scissor lift provides most economic, dependable and versatile methods of lifting
loads as it has few moving parts which may only require lubrication. Scissor lift is used in various combination as
hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical. It is used because of its ergonomics as compared to other heavy lifting devices
available in the market. As per the problem discussed in the paper the design presented in the same is targeted to
solve the problem faced by the industry.

Keywords: Hydraulic Scissor Lift, Hydraulic Cylinder, Scissor Arm, Top Platform. Base Support Frame

1. Introduction 2. Pneumatic Lifts

1Ascissor lift is a vertical lifting device that consists of a The pneumatic lifts are operated using air pressure
platform. The mechanism incorporated to achieve this and they are very efficient because the power supply is
function is the use of linked, folding supports in a criss- carried out by compressing the atmospheric air. Most
cross pattern, known as a pantograph. pressure is of the units don’t require electricity and thus can be
applied to the outside of the lowest set of supports in used at any place where the air is available.
order to create the vertical motion, due to this pressure
the criss-cross pattern elongates to propel the work 3. Mechanical Lifts
platform vertically upwards, the platform can be
assisted with an extending 'bridge', this bridge helps in The mechanical lifts are extended through a rack and
closer access in the work area thus eliminating
pinion system or power screw, both of which can
inherent limits of only vertical motion.
convert rotational motion. All the electric lifts are
The scissor lifts can be classified according to
mechanical. The benefit of mechanical lift is that the
energy used as hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical.
teeth of its gear system prevent from slippage
each of these mechanisms has its pros and cons, which
essentially.
are studied and modified according to its application in
various industries. Scissor lift design is preferred over
2. Problem Statement
other heavy lifting devices available in the market
because of its ergonomics. The frame is very sturdy & This paper aims to provide the solution to the problem
strong enough with an increase in structural integrity. found in stacking the raw materials(cylindrical steel
Types of scissor lifts are as follows bars) as per the specification, that is 0.5 to 1.5 ton/bar,
diameter ranging from 25mm to 125 mm and length
varying from 4 m to 6 m in Balaji Enterprises, MIDC,
1. Hydraulic Lifts
Pune. The industry uses following five major raw
material bars as SS316L, SS316, SS17-4PH, SS410,
The hydraulic scissors lift is operate using the fluid Duplex stainless-F51.The floor space area provided by
pressure that raises the platform via power through
the industry is 10m x 3.048m.According to the problem
the use of pressurized hydraulic oil. Slight speed
statement given by the company, we decided to design
variation is possible owing to temperature fluctuations
that can alter the viscosity of the hydraulic oil. the Structural rack and Scissor lift used as the
combination for solving the material handling problem
*Corresponding author: Sandeep G. Thorat faced by the industry.
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Sandeep G. Thorat et al Design and Construction of Hydraulic Scissor Lift

3. Design of the scissor lift properties as strength, toughness, ductility and

hardness. An appropriate material is a mild steel.
Floor space area provided 7m x 1.524m The third components are top platform and base
support frame. The top platform takes the load caused
Technical characteristics of the lift are: by a weight of lifting the material. The main needed
property here is strength and the selected material is
1. Loading capacity,kg-3000
mild steel. The base support frame is subjected to the
2. Height of rise,mm-2133.6 weight of the load scissors mechanism itself -cylinder
and Scissor arms, hence, hardness and stiffness are
3. Rise time,sec-40 required. Mild steel is appropriate.

4. Lowering time,sec-40 5. Design Theory and Calculation

5. Initial height,mm-0(ground level) In this section, all design concepts developed are
discussed and based on evaluation criteria and process
6. Total Mass, kg-1046.30 developed, and a final here modified to further
enhance the functionality of the design.
7. Power supply,volt-440 Considerations made during the design and fabrication
of a single acting cylinder is as follows:
The main components of the lift are: 1. Functionality of the design
2. Manufacturability
1. Hydraulic Cylinder
3. Economic availability. i.e. General cost of material
2. Top-platform and fabrication techniques employed

3. Scissor Arm 5.1 Hydraulic cylinder

4. Base support frame The hydraulic cylinder is mounted in inclined position.

The total load acting on the cylinder consists of:
5. Support hinges  Mass to be put on the lift: 500 kg
6. Rollers Taking FOS = 1.5 for mass in pallet
3000 x 1.5 = 4500 kg
4. Material selection
 Mass of top frame= 460 kg
Selection of the material is most important factor for  Mass of each scissor arm=63.57 kg
designing the system which depends on a component  Total mass of four Scissor arms=254.308 kg
and tasks that the component performs. Different parts  Mass of links of cylinder mounting=8 kg
of the mechanism take different load and stress  Mass of cylinder=18kg
because they carry out different functions. Individual  Total Mass =5266.308 kg
approach is necessary to select a material for every  Total load = 5266.308x 9.81 =51662.48N
part. The detailed study impacts on total efficiency and
benefits from it help to decide best properties which 5.2 Scissors lift
can give different materials. Thus, main parts of the
design are allocated and features of each and every For a scissor lift Force required to lift the load is
part are explained separately. dependent on,
The main interest is made by the Scissor arms of Angle of link with horizontal
the lift, the greatest part of the loading is shared Mounting of cylinder on the links
between them and they are a basic element of the The length of the link.
assembly. This part is subjected to a normal force Formula used
which can cause buckling and shear force cause Where W = Load to be lifted
bending. Thus there can be bending deformation or S= a2 + L2 -2aL*cos α
breaking of the part. Properties such as strength, S = Distance between end points of the cylinder.
hardness, and stiffness are needed. the appropriate L= length of Scissor arm= 4.2 m
material for the purpose is mild steel. α = angle of cylinder with horizontal.
The second basic element is the design of the Now the maximum force will act on the cylinder
hydraulic cylinder. According to the system the When the cylinder is in shut down position i.e. when
cylinder is subjected to direct compressive force which the scissor links are closed.For calculations, we will
leads to the bending and buckling load in the rod and consider α=300
also due to the internal pressure of the fluid, there are Thus substituting α=300 ,
circumferential and longitudinal stresses all around the We get F=51662.48 N Selecting 70 mm bore diameter
wall thickness, thereby the cylinder must have of the cylinder
93| MITCOE, & DIAT, Pune, AMET-2017, IJCET INPRESSO Special Issue-7 (March 2017)
Sandeep G. Thorat et al Design and Construction of Hydraulic Scissor Lift

Area of the bore of the cylinder M = Maximum Bending moment on the link considered
=(3.14*702)/2=3848mm2 as a beam.
Pressure=(Force/Area)=(51662.48/3848*106)=134.2 Y = distance of the neutral axis from the farthest fiber
bar[4] = h/2.
σb = allowable bending stress= =400/4 =100 MPa
5.3 Design of Scissor Arm
I=moment of inertia of beam =(BH3-
For the link design, it has been considered that the bh )/12=2363858.66mm
3 4
entire load is acting on half of the length Where, b =inner width of the beam
The length of the entire arm = 4200mm. h = inner depth of the beam
Length of the link considered as the beam for the B=outer width of beam
calculation purpose=2100mm. H= outer depth of beam
the load pattern on the top platform is considered to be Now the maximum bending moment is at the point of
U.D.L zero shear force.
hence, the load pattern on the scissor arm is uniformly
varying load (U.D.L) due to its inclination with And Maximum bending moment is given by
√
horizontal. Bmax=(10.65)x(21002)/(9√3)
The calculation is done for the scissor arm in shut =3012902.38N.mm
height position, i.e. when the angle made by the arms Substituting in(M/I)=(σb/Y) Assume Y=b/2 and h=2b,
with horizontal is 300. b=35.61mm
The length of the pin from the intermediate pin to the Selecting the standard value as b=50mm and
bottom roller is considered as a beam. The force acting h=100mm.[4]
on the beam are
6. Modeling
1. The reaction offered by the base to the roller, RA
6.1 Top Platform
resolved into 2 components.
2. The reaction offered by the intermediate pin, HB, VB.

The force due to (Payload + Platform weight) resolved

into two component, along with the length of the arms
and perpendicular to the length of the scissor arm.
Now Let,
Hy0 =Mass applied on the lift=4500kg
B=Mass of the lit which the cylinder needs to Fig.1 Top Platform
lift=766.308kg
Hyi=Total weight =51662.48N 6.2 Scissor Arm
W= force per unit length of scissor arm =1/2*base*w
Hyi=51662.48N
Hyi/4=12915.62N
12915.62Cos(300)=11184.71N
11915.62Sin(300)=6457.5N
Now 11184.71=(1/2)*2100*W
W=10.65N/mm
Taking moment about point A,
VB * 2100 – [(11184.71*2100 *2/3)]
Fig.2 Scissor Arm
Therefore,
6.3 Base Frame
VB = 7456.47N
VB + RAcos(30) – 11184.71=0
Putting value of VB from equation (1) in equation (2),
we get,
7456.47+RAcos (30) – 11184.71 = 0
Therefore RA = 4305.00N
Therefore, RAcos(30) =3728.239N,RAsin(30) = 2152.5N
∑
RAsin(300)+6457.5=HB
Therefore, HB = 8610N

Where, Fig.3 Base Frame

94| MITCOE, & DIAT, Pune, AMET-2017, IJCET INPRESSO Special Issue-7 (March 2017)
Sandeep G. Thorat et al Design and Construction of Hydraulic Scissor Lift

6.4 Support Hinge 6.8 Roller

Fig.4 Support Hinge

6.5 Scissor Arm Hinge

Fig.5 Roller

6.9 Final Assembly

Fig.5 Scissor Arm Hinge

6.6 Centre Pin

Fig.5 Scissor Lift Final Assembly

Conclusion

Hydraulic scissor lift is designed for high load

resistance. Scissor lift are easy to use and routine
maintenance is not required. Mild steel is selected for
the construction of scissor lift as it has greater
durability, strength, easy and cheap availability. For the
Fig.6 Centre Pin given dimensions the scissor lift can lift a load in the
range of 3000 to 4000 kg up to the height of 7feet.The
lift provides plenty of scope for modification for
6.7 Connector Pin
further improvements and operational efficiency.

References

M.Kiran Kumar, J.Chandrashekhar, Mahipal Manda, D.vijay

Kumar (2016), Design & Analysis of Hydraulic Scissor Lift.
IRJET Vol.3 page.1647.
Jaydeep M. Bhatt, Milan J. Pandya(2013), Design and Analysis
of an Aerial Scissor Lift, Journal of information, knowledge
and research in mechanical engineering,Vol.02 Page 452.
Georgy Olenin,(2016) Design of hydraulic scissor lifting
platform, Saimaa University Of Applied Sciences
Lappeenranta, Page no.13-14.
Gaffar G. Momin, Rohan Hatti, Karan Dalvi, Faisal Bargi, Rohit
Devare,(2015), Design, Manufacturing & Analysis of
Fig.5 Connector Pin Hydraulic Scissor Lift,IJERGS, Vol.3 Page 735-738.
95| MITCOE, & DIAT, Pune, AMET-2017, IJCET INPRESSO Special Issue-7 (March 2017)