Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum manipulating device with a suction device, which can be connected via a lifting hose with a device generating a vacuum and which, for creating a suction on an object to be lifted or transported, can be placed on the latter. The suction device includes a control valve device with an opening which can be unblocked and blocked for controlling the vacuum prevailing in the interior of the suction device. The control valve device has a control element, which unblocks or blocks the opening and can be pivoted or rotated in the one or the other direction which, in the non-actuated state, takes up a settable neutral position with a degree of opening corresponding to the setting. In order to be able to set a defined poise, the device in accordance with the present invention is embodied such, that the control element is prestressed against a force-guided movable component in such a way that in the non-actuated state it rests against the latter with a detent area.

Abstract: Improvement in wheelchair lifts generally of the dual hydraulic parallelogram type employing a lever arm assembly which assists in the rotation of the platform from the stowed position to the horizontal deployed position, by providing a gas spring disposed in the lever arm assembly connected at an outboard end to the lifting mechanism link and at an inboard end to at least one of the A arm, the B arm or the common pivot pin of the lever arm assembly. The outward force of the gas spring causes the sliding shoe of the lever arm assembly to maintain contact with the outer face of the lower link of the lifting parallelogram so that upon deployment of the lift during the gravity down phase from stowed position to horizontal transfer position, the inboard end of the platform is pulled up so that it rotates smoothly and is not subjected to free fall.