Hydraulic Jack

Hydraulic jacks are used in industry to lift heavy objects. Their most well known application is raising and supporting an automobile to facilitate the replacement of a flat tire. They may also be found at work in a variety of specialized applications, including lifting airplanes, race cars, semi-trucks, and forklifts.^[1]

[edit] History

The hydraulic jack was patented by Richard Dudgeon in 1851. Prior to its invention, the hydraulic jack’s job was performed by the cumbersome screw jack. Screw jacks require more time and effort to be raised up than a hydraulic jack does.^[2]

[edit] How it Works

For a detailed description on how hydraulic systems work, see hydraulics.

[edit] References

1. ↑ Otto Service. Hydraulic Jacks Home Page [May 28, 2009].
2. ↑ About.com. The History of Hardware Tools [May 28, 2009].