Gas lift for an office chair - what it looks like, what is it used for

Office chairs provide maximum convenience during prolonged sitting at the computer. Productivity and physical health of people largely depend on them. The gas lift for the office chair is responsible for the comfortable position of the body, due to which the structure lowers or rises, and also rotates. This detail must be of high quality, so that the furniture lasts a long time, and it is convenient for the owner to sit on it.

What is a

The gas lift used in office chairs is a device that is similar to a truck’s lift mechanism, but smaller. Its other name is a gas spring. Outwardly, 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 it is attached to the cross. The lifting height depends on the size of the pneumatic chuck, the length of which varies from 13 to 16 cm. Gas lift functions:

Seat adjustment When you press the lever, the structure rises if you stand a little to reduce resistance, or falls under body weight.
Reducing a sharp load on the spine. When lowering into a chair, the mechanism works as a shock-absorbing device. The seat is springy, significantly reducing the load on the spine.
The ability to rotate 360 degrees. Due to the features of the system, you can easily get objects that are at arm's length, located on both sides.

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

Construction device

The gas lift design for a computer or office chair includes the following elements:

Button. There is a part under the seat, serves to open and close the valve.
Gas valve. Opens when necessary to change the height of the seat, fixes the structure.
Bushings and gaskets. Serve for tight connection of parts, as well as provide sealing containers.
The cavities are external and internal. Designed for gas passage.
Passageway. Needed to perform height adjustment.
Lifting rod. When increasing or decreasing the height of the chair protrudes from the body or hides back.
Pillow block bearing. A simple device thanks to which the chair can rotate in the right direction.

It is not recommended to disassemble gas lifts on their own, violation of their integrity is dangerous for humans.

Principle of operation

The principle of gas lift for office chairs is simple. A rod with a piston moves along a cylinder located in a housing made of metal. There are two containers in the pipe, and a valve between them. It can be in a closed or open position when the gas moves from one cavity to another through a passage channel. When the seat is located in the lower part, the piston is located at the top. When the lever is pressed, the gas moves from one tank 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, the chair lift stops. To reduce the lever is pressed, and the design begins to fall under the weight of a person. The gas piston provides seat height adjustment, rotation around its own axis. A special spring significantly reduces the load on the spine during a sharp fit, thereby preventing many diseases.

Varieties

The gas lift for the chair is made in several versions, therefore, in order to choose the right option, you need to know the types of mechanisms and their features. Products are made of stainless steel. When choosing, attention should be paid to classes that depend on the thickness of the material:

Class 1. Steel thickness is 1.2 mm. Budget option.
Class 2. Inexpensive device, the performance of which is somewhat improved. Thickness - 1.5 mm.
Class 3. Withstands loads up to 120 kg. Thickness - 2.0 mm.
Class 4. Reinforced construction with a thickness of 2.5 mm steel, supporting the weight of 150 kg.

Another difference between gas lift models is the diameter of the body. The following sizes are available:

50 mm - the most common option, used in 90 percent of the seats;
38 mm - used in rare cases, mainly for executive chairs, which are distinguished by a high cross.

An equally important aspect is the length of the gas lift. The range of height settings depends on this parameter. Length Options:

205-280 mm. The option is used on inexpensive office products that are designed to sit at standard desks. Such a gas lift is short because it has a small adjustment range.
245-310 mm. It is used in places where you need to raise the structure higher. The device is longer, but the range of lift settings is less than the previous model.
290-415 mm. The longest mechanism with great height adjustment options, allowing you to significantly change position.

These types of gas lifts are the main ones, other models are also produced, but they are used very rarely.

Is it possible to do without gas lift

Some users, when purchasing an office chair, prefer models without a gas lift, considering the device useless. But no furniture for sitting without such a system will not be comfortable and convenient. This is especially true of jobs where people are for many hours. In addition, chairs are often used by several employees who have different heights and weights. The function of rotating the structure by 360 degrees greatly facilitates the work process - if you need to take something from the side or from the back, you do not have to get up, just turn around.

But not only in offices functional chairs are popular, at home also several family members can be at the computer, using one place for sitting. For this reason, the adjustment function is necessary everywhere to create comfort, convenience, reduce the load on the back. Especially need a gas lift for the chair, which is used by children, as they only formed posture.

Selection tips

Gas lifts for office chairs, like all devices, can fail over time, but you can repair them yourself. The cause of breakdowns usually become:

Manufacturing defects. The phenomenon is rare, but is sometimes found, especially in budget items. If the warranty period has ended, then the repair is made independently.
Gas lift overload. There are situations when a structure designed for the same weight is used by a heavier person or two are sitting on it. Then the details of the mechanism wear out much faster and stronger.
Incorrect operation. There is a breakdown if you sit down abruptly or on the run. The device is overloaded, which is fraught with extrusion of the valve.

In the documents included in the package, there is information about the maximum allowable weight of the user. Basically, it is 100 kg, but the devices are more expensive and reliable, which are designed for 120 and 150 kg.

In the event of a gas lift failure for the office chair, it is not enough to repair it; it is important to choose the right design. The correct choice is very important, since a discrepancy in the parameters again leads to rapid wear. The following points should be considered:

Product Dimensions. Designs are made with different dimensions, so the gas lift is selected in accordance with them.
Cup holder diameter. It comes in two forms, so choosing the right option is easy.
The height of the gas lift. 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 that is expected during operation. Moreover, the moment that other people can use the chair is taken into account. If the piece of furniture is at home, then most likely all family members will sit on it.

Gas lift in office and computer furniture plays a very important role. The chair is designed in such a way that with prolonged sitting the spine does not get tired in it. The mechanism facilitates work in the office, makes a comfortable stay at home computer.