Development and Performance Evaluation of a Pedal Operated Hydraulic Jack

Abstract

Aims: The paper developed an accessory that can be connected to the hydraulic jack to operate it by pedaling while standing upright at a convenient position. It is characterized by an adjustable rectangular frame that occupies less floor space, and wheels to facilitate easy positioning. Study Design: Thorough design analysis of the member components were done to determine their actual dimensions and specifications required. The device has been designed for light weight automobile, car. Although the maximum weight of a car is not more than 2.5 tonnes, but the device was designed for a 3 tonne hydraulic jack, ensuring reasonable factor of safety. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, between February 2014 and December 2014. Methodology: An adjustable rectangular frame was incorporated. This occupied less floor space, and wheels to facilitate easy positioning. A low stiffness, 1.61 N/mm, tension spring was used to be the actuator of the hydraulic fluid pumping and thus enhances soft and easy pedaling for the user. The material used for the fabrication of the mechanism component was mild steel which was selected based on the design analysis result, availability and low cost for cost effectiveness. Results: Performance evaluation of the fabrication, compared with that of hand operated hydraulic jack revealed similar characteristics for both jacks but greater efficiency for the designed pedal operated jack in terms of safety and ease of operation. The test results showed that this pedal operated hydraulic lifter for automobile workshops performed much more efficiently than the hand operated hydraulic lifter. Conclusion: This design has really curbed the problems encountered by hydraulic jack users. It makes work easy for female users who cannot easily and conveniently bend or stoop down to jack up their vehicles for a purpose and old men who are too feeble to stoop low under their vehicle to jack it up.