How Does A Floor Jack Work? Explained In Simple Terms (2023)
Have you ever wondered how a floor jack lifts so much weight. How does a car jack work? In this article I will explain the principles behind floor jacks and how they work.
What is a floor jack?
A floor jack works on the principle of Pascal’s law which states, “pressure applied to a fluid in a closed container is transmitted equally and undiminished to all parts of the container.” In simple terms the liquid never compresses, it just moves. This principal allows hydraulics to move tremendous weight.
A floor jack is a simply a hydraulic cylinder housed in a specifically designed body capable of withstanding heavy loads. A lifting arm raises a pad with hydraulic pressure. The lifting arm is connected to a hydraulic cylinder that contains hydraulic fluid, usually oil. The hydraulic cylinder is connected to a pump mechanism, which is operated by the pumping handle.
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When you pump the handle, it pushes a piston into the hydraulic cylinder. This forces oil through a series of valves and into the lifting arm cylinder. As the oil enters the lifting arm, it pushes against a piston located in the arm, causing the arm to rise and lift the object off the ground with hydraulic force.
The more you pump the handle, the higher the lifting arm will go. Once you have lifted the object to the desired height, you can release the pressure by turning a release valve located on the hydraulic cylinder, this allows the oil to flow back into the reservoir releasing the massive pressure holding the car up.
Floor jacks are designed to lift heavy loads, but it is important to ensure that you are using the jack properly and within its rated weight capacity to avoid accidents or damage.
How Does a Floor Jack Work?
A floor jack uses hydraulic pressure to multiply the force you apply to the handle. The basic principle of hydraulics is Pascal’s Law, which states that a change in pressure at any point in an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally throughout the fluid. This is also the way the brakes stop your car, hydraulic pressure flows into the brake calipers and applies the brake pad faces to the rotor, this turns the rotational energy into heat to stop the car.
The hydraulic floor jack principle was patented in 1838 by William Joseph Curtis.
Wrapping up
I hope this article gave you a better understanding of how a floor jack works. The simple design and beautiful function make these a must have for any garage.
