Hydraulic lift system and method for retrofitting

An automotive lift system, the system having a low pressure high volume hydraulic ram including a casing having an upper end and a closed lower end supported on a support pad, and a plunger having an upper end and a lower end, the first casing extending vertically downward from a floor surface, the plunger disposed axially within the casing and extendable partially from the upper end, the upper end of the plunger having a superstructure attached thereto, the lift system comprising:

• a high pressure low volume hydraulic ram positioned axially within and fixedly attached at the lower end of the casing and having an extendable length substantially equal an extendable length of the plunger, wherein a space is formed between an outer surface of the high pressure low volume hydraulic ram and an inner surface of the casing;
• a hydraulic fluid supply line adapted for supplying a hydraulic fluid at a high pressure to the high pressure low volume hydraulic ram, the supply line disposed within the space along the inner surface of the casing and exiting the casing near the upper end;
• and
• a compressor connected to the supply line for pressurizing the hydraulic fluid for activation of the high pressure low volume hydraulic ram to lift the superstructure, wherein
• wherein the ram is mounted to the closed lower end of the casing and extends vertically upwards therefrom.

A method for retrofitting a low pressure high volume lift system having a casing extending downward from a floor surface and from which a plunger is vertically extendable in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid into a compression region within the casing by selective operation of a low pressure hydraulic compressor in fluid communication with the compression region, wherein the method for retrofitting comprises:

• removing the plunger;
• removing any remaining hydraulic fluid from the casing;
• installing a high pressure ram within the casing such that the ram is fixedly attached to and extends vertically from the bottom of the casing, the ram having a ram plunger, a ram casing with a hydraulic supply line attached thereto;
• and
• attaching a high pressure hydraulic compressor to the hydraulic supply line for providing hydraulic pressure to the ram.

A method of retrofit of a pre-existing in-ground automotive lift system, comprising:

• (a) removing, hydraulic fluid, a plunger and guide means of the pre-existing system;
• (b) installing a self-contained or sealed high pressure, low volume hydraulic cylinder and associated hydraulic lines within the casing of the pre-existing system, wherein the lower end of the low volume system abuts the bottom of the casing of the preexisting system;
• (c) installing a power unit for the high pressure, low volume hydraulic cylinder;
• and
• (d) installing of a plunger associated with the high pressure low volume cylinder using the casing as an outer guide means for the plunger.