using linear actuator to change movement from horizontal to vertical

[scynox]

hello everyone,

sorry for long title but I do not know a proper way of asking this. I have a problem at hand: I wanted to use a small linear actuator to lift something. I am building a truck and want to lift the second rear axle like real trucks do. I put a linear actuator in a horizontal position and hoped to lift the axle in a mechanism as you can see in LXF below (red axle is the one I am trying to raise).

https://www.bricksafe.com/files/scynox/temp/truck_axle_lift_problem.lxf

I had to see the movement in real and built it but I saw that it will not work. as linear actuator is extended, the spring is put into a weird angle and eventually it starts bending. I only need to raise axle one or one+half stud so I did not care about a little illegal movement.

Is there a better way of using a horizontal placed linear actuator to "raise" sth in vertical direction?

Is there a general solution for such a problem?

thanks

 

[Didumos69]

You should move the rotation point of the lever two studs higher. Now the movement of the actuator translates into practically as much horizontal movement as vertical movement of the upper end of the shocks. By moving the rotation point of the lever higher, the rotation of the lever will translate mostly into vertical movement of the shock ends. If this results in too little movement of the shocks, you might also consider moving the point where the actuator attaches to the lever one or two studs upwards.

In general you have to make sure the rotation point of the right angled lever 1.) levels horizontally with the point that needs to move vertically (in this case the upper end of the shock) and 2.) levels vertically with the point that moves horizontally (in this case the rear end of the actuator).

Edited March 6, 2018 by Didumos69
Added explanation.

[scynox]

thanks a lot Didumos69, I tested it and works like a charm. the axle is raised only 1 stud if I use a 3x5 liftarm and that is fine by me.

cheers