Ascension VIRTUOSO 5460F User manual
PRODUCT MANUAL
ASCENSION VIRTUOSO
WHEELCHAIR LIFT
5460F MODEL SERIES
Patented – see www.ascension-lift.com/patents
By Philip Brobeck at 4:25 pm, Jan 10, 2020
ASCENSION VIRTUOSO
WHEELCHAIR LIFT
5460F MODEL SERIES
PRODUCT MANUAL
Copyright © 2020 Ascension, a division of AGM, Tucson, Arizona
This document, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for
any purpose, without the written permission of Ascension.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1
About this Manual ........................................................................................................ 1
Additional Information .................................................................................................. 1
Getting Help ................................................................................................................. 2
Contacting Ascension .................................................................................................. 2
SECTION 1 General .................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Product Information ......................................................................................... 3
1.2 Terminology .................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Description of System ..................................................................................... 6
SECTION 2 Operation ................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Standard Operation ......................................................................................... 7
2.2 Manual Operation ............................................................................................ 8
SECTION 3 Routine Maintenance ............................................................................... 9
SECTION 4 Mechanical Disassembly and Repair ..................................................... 10
4.1 Important Preliminary Information ................................................................. 10
4.2 Electrically Isolating the Lift ........................................................................... 10
4.3 Opening the Machinery Cabinets from the Top ............................................. 11
4.4 Retracting, Removing, and Reinstalling the Safety Skirt ............................... 12
4.5 Platform Gate Closers ................................................................................... 18
4.6 Upper Stop Mechanism ................................................................................. 19
4.7 Lower Platform Gate Switch .......................................................................... 20
4.8 Upper Platform Gate Switch .......................................................................... 22
4.9 Locking Rod Switch ....................................................................................... 23
4.10 Operating Station .......................................................................................... 24
4.11 Alarm ............................................................................................................. 25
4.12 Skirt Sensor System ...................................................................................... 26
4.13 Hydraulic Valves ........................................................................................... 29
4.14 Windows........................................................................................................ 31
4.15 Skirt Guard .................................................................................................... 32
SECTION 5 Electrical Testing .................................................................................... 37
5.1 Control Panel ................................................................................................ 40
5.2 Testing the Switches ..................................................................................... 40
5.3 Testing the Relay Module.............................................................................. 42
5.4 Testing the Power Supply ............................................................................. 43
5.5 Testing the Power Relay ............................................................................... 44
SECTION 6 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 45
Product Manual Introduction
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INTRODUCTION
About this Manual
This manual is divided into six sections.
Section 1 contains reference information about the lift, including specifications and
definitions of terms that are used throughout the rest of the manual.
Section 2 covers standard operation of the lift.
Section 3 describes routine maintenance to be performed on the lift.
Section 4 covers mechanical repair. This includes component replacement, as well as
detailed procedures to disassemble, test, and reassemble major components.
Section 5 covers electrical testing.
Section 6 is a troubleshooting guide. It provides information for locating and correcting
any problems with the lift.
Additional Information
Refer to the Installation Guide for instructions on installing the lift. Refer to the detailed
electrical schematic that was included with the lift to perform additional electrical
troubleshooting beyond what is covered in this manual.
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Getting Help
If you have a question or problem with the lift, please try to find the solution in this
manual. In particular, be sure to review the troubleshooting guide in Section 4. If you
are not able to resolve the problem, please contact Ascension as indicated below,
making sure that you have the serial number of your lift ready. The serial number can
be found on the data plate located inside the lift car on the upper left rail. Also, it is
recommended that you contact Ascension while in the immediate vicinity of your lift, as
this will reduce the time required to properly diagnose the problem.
Contacting Ascension
Ascension's business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday
through Friday.
Telephone: 800-459-0400 Mailing Address: Ascension
Fax: 520-881-4983 Customer Service
Website: ascension-lift.com Tucson, AZ 85717-0020
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SECTION 1 General
1.1 Product Information
Operational
VERTICAL TRAVEL DISTANCE: 12" to 60"
OCCUPANCY: 1 person
MAXIMUM PASSENGER LOAD: 750 pounds
AVERAGE SPEED: 7 feet per minute
WORKING PRESSURE: 900 psi maximum
Physical
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 36" wide x 43" high x 54" long
MATERIALS: Platform, base frame, lifting device: Mild steel
Windows: High impact strength clear thermoplastic
FINISH: Platform and base: Oven baked powdercoat
ELECTRICAL: 120 VAC, 60 Hz, Single Phase, 13 Amps
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1.2 Terminology
To effectively use this manual, you need to be familiar with the following terms. Refer to
the figure on the following page for identification of components. Not all components
are shown in the figure.
Access Panel The hinged panels (four total) that provide access to the machinery
cabinets.
Back End The upper landing end of the lift.
Base The steel frame that rests on the floor and supports the operating mechanism.
Front End The end of the lift where the lower platform gate is located.
Lift Car The compartment in which the passenger rides. Commonly called the
"platform" in the lift industry.
Lower Platform Gate The gate that serves the lower landing (ground level).
Machinery Cabinet The enclosures in which the lifting mechanism is located. There is
one cabinet on each side of the lift. The contents of the machinery cabinets are
accessible through the access panels.
Operating Stations The controls for raising and lowering the lift car. The operating
station inside the lift car has an emergency stop switch. The operating station outside
the lift car may be remotely mounted.
Safety Skirt The accordion-style cover which completely encloses the underside of the
lift car.
Upper Landing The stage, platform, or riser that the lift serves.
Upper Platform Gate The gate that serves the upper landing, or stage. The lift may
also have an upper landing gate mounted to the upper landing sill that opens in tandem
with the upper platform gate.
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1.3 Description of System
Two hydraulic cylinders raise and lower the platform. When the "up" circuit is
energized, an electric motor operates a hydraulic pump which provides pressurized
hydraulic fluid to the cylinders, causing the cylinder rods to extend and raise the
platform. When the "down" circuit is energized, a hydraulic valve is shifted so that the
fluid flows in the opposite direction through the hydraulic circuit and the platform is
lowered.
A gate at each end of the lift permits passengers to enter and leave the platform. The
lower platform gate will open only when the platform is at the lower landing. The upper
platform gate can be fully opened only when the platform is at the upper landing. Both
gates are self-closing.
The motion of the platform is controlled by any of the three operating switches located
either in the lift car or remotely mounted. These are constant-pressure type switches,
so that when a switch is released the platform stops. It takes approximately 45 seconds
for the platform to move through its full range of 60 inches. These switches are
interlocked so that while one switch is activated, pressing another switch in the opposite
direction will not cause the lift to stop; the original action will continue.
The electrical control panel is located inside the left-hand machinery cabinet. This
panel includes the power supply, control system relay, and main power relay.
The unit is equipped with a hand pump that can be used to raise or lower the platform in
an emergency, when power is not available. The hand pump is located in the right-
hand machinery cabinet.
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SECTION 2 Operation
2.1 Standard Operation
Move the platform with any one of the three operating switches. The operating
switches must be held with constant pressure until the platform stops at the upper or
lower landing. Releasing a switch will immediately stop the platform.
Both gates must be closed for the lift to operate.
The lower platform gate can be opened only when the platform is at the lower
landing. The gate interlock is automatic.
The upper platform gate can be opened only when the platform is at the upper
landing. The edge of the upper landing prevents the gate from opening otherwise.
Push the emergency stop button located inside the platform to stop the platform and
prevent all operation. Reset the button to restore operation.
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2.2 Manual Operation
The hand pump located in the right-hand machinery cabinet can be used to operate the
platform and unlock the lower landing gate in an emergency. The hand pump may be
operated from either the inner or the outer access panel.
Instructions for use:
1. Locate the 12-inch long hand pump handle stored just inside the outer access
panel on the right-hand machinery cabinet and remove it from its bracket.
2. Swivel the pump linkage outward and then insert the hand pump handle into it.
Figure 1
3. To move the lift car upward, pump the handle.
4. To move the lift car downward, pump the handle while depressing the black valve
button located beside the hand pump.
5. To unlock the lower landing gate at the lower landing level, turn the ball valve
(shut-off valve for main cylinders) handle 90 degrees and repeat step 4. Return
valve to initial position to resume normal operation.
WARNING!
Only use the handle provided with the pump. If this handle does not
provide enough leverage to move the platform, stop pumping and contact
a repair technician.
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SECTION 3 Routine Maintenance
The owning facility is responsible for the proper maintenance of the lift. The following
checks must be performed every six months:
1. Verify the operation of the lift per Section 2.
2. Verify that the platform will not operate with either gate open.
3. Verify that the emergency stop switch halts the movement of the platform.
4. Verify that the lower platform gate interlock engages before the platform has moved
more than 2" from the lower landing.
5. Verify that pushing inward on the safety skirt on the long sides of the lift halts the
downward movement of the platform.
6. Verify that all of the screws securing the safety skirt to the platform frame are
present and tight.
7. Inspect the safety skirt for any visible damage.
8. Verify that the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir (inside the right, outside access panel)
is between the minimum and maximum levels when the platform is at the lower
landing. If you need to add hydraulic fluid to the lift, use an ISO 32 grade hydraulic
oil such as Texaco Rando HD32 or 76 Unax AW32 filtered to 10 microns for lifts
installed indoors. For outdoor lifts use a low-temperature oil such as Amsoil AWF
oil. In order to add fluid to the reservoir, pull the top of the flexible sight tube out of
the access panel opening, remove the bronze vent plug, and pour the hydraulic fluid
slowly into the sight tube.
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SECTION 4 Mechanical Disassembly and Repair
4.1 Important Preliminary Information
The repairs in this section are to be performed by a skilled technician who has
experience in working on electro-mechanical systems. Furthermore, the technician
should be well-versed in standard industrial safety practices and procedures. In the
United States of America, electrical safety procedures are established in OSHA's
Lockout/Tagout – Hazardous Energy Sources Standard (29 CFR 1920.147).
Familiarity with the setup and operation of the lift is required to effectively perform the
repairs listed in this section.
4.2 Electrically Isolating the Lift
To electrically isolate the lift, turn off the electrical disconnect feeding the lift.
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4.3 Opening the Machinery Cabinets from the Top
For some of the repairs described in this manual, it is necessary to gain access to a
machinery cabinet from the top. The top of either machinery cabinet can be removed
by performing the following steps:
1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen or remove the five (5) flat head screws located
just underneath the cabinet top on the inside of the lift car. These screws thread into
coupling nuts attached to the other side of the machinery cabinet, and function to
compress the cabinet lid between the sides.
2. Open the interior access panel and push up on the cabinet lid to free the inside
edge. Once the inside edge “pops” out, the lid can be removed by sliding it outward
and upward.
3. For the purposes of servicing, the long coupling nuts may be unthreaded and
removed. Removal of the jam nuts and outside screws is not recommended, as
these cannot be reassembled without removing the lift’s window from outside the lift.
4. To reinstall the machinery cabinet top, perform the above steps in reverse order.
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4.4 Retracting, Removing, and Reinstalling the Safety Skirt
The safety skirt consists of two parts: the lift car skirt, which guards the lift car on three
sides; and the gate skirt, which guards the area under the lower platform gate. For
some of the repairs described in this manual, it is necessary to gain access to
components normally hidden behind the skirt. In most cases, only a small portion of the
skirt may need to be retracted; however, sometimes it may be necessary to remove the
whole skirt.
To remove the gate skirt, perform all of the following steps. If the skirt only needs to be
retracted, performing only Step 3 will provide access to many of the components behind
the skirt. Refer to the figure below for the location of the fasteners referenced in each
step.
1. Use a 5/16" wrench to remove the three (3) hex head screws that secure the skirt
to the skirt base. These screws are located on the top side of the skirt base.
2. Using any operating station, raise the lift car until the car floor is approximately
24" [610 mm] off the ground.
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3. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three (3) screws that secure the skirt to
the lower platform gate.
4. Use a 5/32" hex key to remove the two (2) button head cap screws and washers
that secure the skirt guide tubes to the skirt base. Hold the skirt guide tubes
stationary with pliers if necessary while removing the screws.
5. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four (4) screws (two (2) on each side)
that secure the skirt guide tube brackets to the lower platform gate and pull the
brackets downward, out of the gate. The skirt can now be removed from the
gate.
To reinstall the gate skirt, perform the above steps in reverse order.
To remove the lift car skirt, perform all of the following steps. If the skirt only needs to
be retracted, performing only Steps 3 & 4 will provide access to most of the components
behind the skirt.
1. If the whole skirt is to be removed, raise or lower the lift car so that the lift car floor is
approximately 15" [380 mm] off the ground.
2. From inside the lift car, remove the lower portion of the upper platform gate (secured
to the gate with five (5) pan head screws) and the bridge plate (secured to the skirt
guard with four (4) flat head screws).
3. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 32 pan head screws that secure the sides
of the skirt to the lift car at the top and to the lift base at the bottom.
4. Use a 5/16" combination wrench to remove the four (4) hex head screws that secure
the top of the skirt to the lift car, one (1) at each corner. Remove the small skirt
support brackets that are freed when these screws are removed.
5. Remove the pan head screw that secures the back of the skirt to the base.
6. In the back, retract the skirt around the ball bearing slides as shown in the figure at
the top of the following page. You will need to hold each skirt panel approximately
horizontal to move it past the restraining tab.
7. Remove the (2) 5/16”-18 screws from the lift frame just above the ball bearing slides.
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8. Push the ball bearing slide releases toward the right side of the lift and then pull
downward on the skirt guard to separate it from the lift car.
9. At the front of the skirt, use pliers or a similar tool to turn the skirt guide tubes
counterclockwise until they release from the studs in the base. You will need to lift
the corners of the skirt to gain access to the skirt guide tubes.
10. Retract the skirt guide tubes through the slots in the skirt. The skirt is now free of
the lift. Use extreme care to support the skirt in its natural position as much as
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