Lifting mechanism for the bed: types, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages

Tags:Living room and bedroom

A traditional problem in city apartments, especially small-sized, is the lack of usable space and storage space. To solve this problem, ergonomic models of universal furniture are being developed. One of the most effective devices is a lift bed. Their use frees up a lot of free space and provides useful space for storage... This article will discuss the main types of lifting mechanisms for the bed, the advantages and disadvantages of various designs, as well as selection criteria and care rules.

As a rule, bedding is stored in a box under the bed.

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1 Appointment
2 Types of lifting mechanisms for the bed
3 Basic performance characteristics
4 Criterias of choice
5 Safe operation rules
6 How to install the lifting mechanism yourself
7 Is it possible to disassemble the lift and when it should be done
8 Summing up
9 Video: wardrobe bed transformation mechanism

Appointment

The use of the bed lifter allows some of the room area... This is achieved in several ways:

the bed itself is transferred to an upright position and retracted into a niche in the wall;
only the sleeping place rises to form a useful volume with quick access to the storage space for a wide variety of things.

As for the first option, it is the optimal solution for one-room apartments and studio apartments. One of its varieties is the transformation of a bed into another piece of furniture. Typically it is sofa... This transformation is very useful from an ergonomic point of view. By purchasing one piece of furniture, you get two at once that perform different functions. However, as practice shows, in terms of comfort, a sofa bed is much inferior to full-fledged mattresseswhich are used in classic beds.

By opening the orthopedic base at a large angle, you can get free access to the farthest corners of the box

The second option is advisable to use in two-room apartments. In this case, a smaller room is allocated for bedroom, even if there is no space for installing a cabinet and other furniture.A useful space for storing various things and bed linen will be provided by a box under a lifting mattress.

It is advisable to divide the useful space inside the bed into several compartments. If this was not done during production, it is recommended to use special boxes

Using a bed with a lifting device provides additional benefits:

reliable and careful storage of things. Since the box lid is under significant pressure from the weight of the mattress, it fits snugly and does not allow dust to pass inside;
easier cleaning. The bed adheres to the floor with the entire base area, dirt does not penetrate under it;
ease of use. Modern lifting mechanisms are equipped with various devices that make it easy to lift the top cover, despite the significant weight of the structure and the mattress.

Side lifting mechanism for baby wardrobe-bed

Related article:

Transformer bed for a small apartment: advantages and disadvantages, varieties of transformation mechanisms, review of models, average cost, criteria for the right choice - in our publication.

Types of lifting mechanisms for the bed

In the modern furniture market, three main types of lifters are most widely represented, which are used by almost all companies in beds of various designs in a wide range of standard sizes. These devices have significant differences in operational characteristics: the complexity of the design, its maintainability, the durability of the product, the efforts applied for lifting, and so on. Of course, the price of various types of lifts is also significantly different.

Manual

The simplest and most affordable. Received the greatest distribution in the early nineties. Since then, its popularity has been steadily declining. At the moment, it is only used in budget bed models. Considering that as a material for furniture of this class is used Chipboard, from frequent use, the hinges can deform and fail. It should be noted that the lift itself is strong and quite reliable, it breaks down quite rarely.

The principle of operation of a manual lift is the use of physical force, since its design does not contain compensating units and mechanisms. Such a device is not recommended to be installed on children's beds, due to the high risk of injury.

Modern hand lifts are designed in such a way that a compensation spring or gas lift can be installed on them later.

Spring loaded

Coiled springs are used as a load compensator in such mechanisms. Their use significantly reduces physical effort, but does not fully compensate for it. The device is affordable and very effective, so it is often used both on budget beds and on more expensive furniture models. With frequent use, the springs will stretch over time and need to be replaced. The average service life, depending on the intensity of operation, is 3-5 years.

The number of springs used in the mechanism depends on the weight of the movable part of the bed

On gas shock absorbers

The lifting mechanism on gas shock absorbers (gas elevators) is the most expensive. However, the high cost is fully offset by the convenience and safety of operation. A properly selected gas lift fully compensates for the load from the moving part of the bed. This allows even children and people with disabilities to use the lifting mechanism without any stress. If you choose the right shock absorbers, do not overload them during operation, then the duration of its operation can be 10 years or more.

Lifting mechanism on gas shock absorbers

Important! Nitrogen is used as a working substance in a gas shock absorber, pumped into a sealed cylinder under high pressure. Also includes an oil damper, piston and seals. Independent repair of the gas lift without special equipment is impossible. Moreover, failure of the integrity of the cylinder can result in a sharp blowout of oil and parts of the seals, which can lead to injury.

The structure of the gas cylinder of lifting mechanisms

Basic performance characteristics

When choosing a lifting mechanism, one should take into account the dimensions, weight and design of the berth. As a rule, the length of the bed for adults is 2-2.2 m, for children and adolescents 1.2-1.9 m. The width is determined by the number of sleeping places:

double - 1.2-1.8 m;
single beds - 0.9-1 m;
children - 0.6-0.8 m.

The height of the bed depends on the thickness of the mattress and individual preferences. In many models, it can be adjusted with the height of the lamellas.

The weight of the movable part of the bed is determined primarily by the type of mattress. Depending on its filling (independent spring blocks, coconut coir, sisal, foam rubber, silicone, synthetic winterizer, polyurethane foam, etc.), the weight may differ several times.

All of the above parameters affect the selection of lifting mechanisms and the power of their power elements: springs and gas lifts.

Lifting mechanisms are classified according to the method of movement.

If the entire bed is lifted vertically, then this is a wardrobe bed. It has two design solutions that differ in the requirements for the power drive:

When lifting at the foot, much more effort is required, therefore only mechanisms on powerful gas shock absorbers are used.
When lifting from the side, a spring block can be used.

Alternatively, there are beds on which only the berth is raised. The mechanism can also be made in two versions:

Like a book, at an angle to one side.
The berth is understood horizontally and shifts slightly to the side, stopping at a certain height parallel to the box.

Moving the entire bed to the wall niche behind the footboard

The bed is part of the furniture set and is removed into the technological niche for the side

Moving the bed at an angle - the most common type of lifting mechanism

Moving the bed parallel to the base

Criterias of choice

In order for the lifting mechanism of the bed to serve for a long time, the following factors must be taken into account when choosing it.

Power... When calculating the power of the springs or gas lift of the lifting mechanism, it is necessary to adhere to the rule: for 1 kg of the weight of the structure to be moved, it is necessary to spend 10 N. It is inappropriate to use more powerful springs or gas shock absorbers, since their operation will be rather difficult.
Safety... It is desirable that the device be equipped with additional locks that prevent spontaneous folding of the structure. This is especially important if the mechanism will be used by a child.
Durability... The most durable are manual mechanisms. This is due to their simplicity. In fact, there is nothing to break there; rather, the furniture itself will fail. Products made from quality materials can last for more than a dozen years.
Springs subject to wear... During operation, they can jump out of the fasteners, and over time they stretch and cannot create the force for which they are designed. Average service life does not exceed 5 years.
Gas lifts are more reliable... As a rule, manufacturers give a guarantee for 20,000 ups and downs, which is about 10 years of operation.
The cost... Products of well-known brands can cost an order of magnitude more expensive than conventional lifting mechanisms with the same functionality.Undoubtedly, with intensive use, the quality of the work performed and the materials used will make itself felt. But many domestic products are in no way inferior to European ones and, of course, are much stronger than Chinese ones.

You should also take into account:

the size of the bed and room;
who will use the berth;
the position of the bed relative to other furniture in the room. The method of lifting depends on this - at an angle or horizontal;
in which direction the bed or the bed as a whole will rise (move).

The fanciful design of branded products often hides the same constructive solutions as in ordinary furniture of the middle price category.

Safe operation rules

Devices that raise only the bed are less powerful than mechanisms designed to move the entire bed. It is with the latter that the largest number of injuries is associated. When operating such devices, you should adhere to the following rules:

when lowering the bed, it is recommended to be on the side of it;
in the raised position, the wardrobe bed must be additionally attached to the wall. This is especially true when using spring hoists;
gas shock absorbers are more reliable. Holding the wardrobe bed in the raised position, their piston is extended as much as possible. Spontaneous compression is completely excluded. Even if one gas lift fails, the bed will slowly lower, held by the second. Some manufacturers additionally equip gas shock absorbers with a stem lock.

How to install the lifting mechanism yourself

When buying new furniture, it is usually delivered disassembled. Assembly is often extra paid. However, despite its bulkiness, the bed is one of the simpler pieces of furniture. It is quite possible to assemble it yourself, having the simplest tools: a Phillips screwdriver and several open-end wrenches. To protect yourself from injury, to complete the assembly as quickly and efficiently as possible, it is recommended to adhere to the following sequence:

Assemble the base - the lower body and the bed frame.
If necessary, assemble the orthopedic base (as a rule, the construction with lamellas is sold ready-made).
The lift is fixed at the side of the base. It must be positioned strictly horizontally in relation to the box.
The lift is folded into an open working state, after which an orthopedic base is applied to it and positioned until the technological holes coincide.
An assistant is sorely needed here. One person holds the orthopedic base while the other attaches it to the lift.

The bolts regulating gas lifts should be flush on both sides of the bed

Is it possible to disassemble the lift and when it should be done

During long-term operation, situations may arise that require repair of the lift, its dismantling to replace worn parts or the device as a whole. The following factors indicate a malfunction of the lifting mechanism:

spontaneous lowering of the movable part of the bed;
the mechanism is wedged and the orthopedic base cannot be raised or lowered;
during operation, extraneous sounds arise: grinding, squeaking, metallic clang.

Spontaneous lowering is typical for both gas lifts and spring devices. The main repair method is to replace the power elements. Manual mechanisms, as a rule, failing, require complete replacement. At the same time, it is recommended to change both elements, since uneven wear can lead to furniture breakdown.

Replacing a worn out lift on gas shock absorbers

Lifts on gas shock absorbers:

Spring lifters:

Vertical and horizontal wardrobes:

Summing up

A bed with a lifting mechanism, from an ergonomic point of view, is a profitable purchase. However, when buying, special attention should be paid to the workmanship and power of the lift, since it is this element that will be operated with maximum load.