Lever arms are a common type of control mechanism for machinery. Also known as lever handles, they consist of a gripping surface that you can turn — or pull, depending on the type — to control a machine. Their simple and easy-to-use design makes them a popular control mechanism for machinery. There are single-arm and multi-arm levers, however.
What Is a Single-Arm Lever?
A single-arm lever is characterized by a single arm. All levers have at least one arm. Arms are gripping surfaces. To use a lever, you’ll have to grip the arm, followed by either turning or pulling it. Turning or pulling the arm will engage the machine to which the lever is connected. Single-arm levers live up to their namesake by featuring a single arm.
What Is a Multi-Arm Lever?
A multi-arm lever, as you may have guessed, is characterized by multiple arms. Not all levers have a single arm. Some of them have two arms, whereas others have four arms. Levers with two or more arms are referred to as multi-arm levers.
Two-arm levers are a common alternative to single-arm levers. While they are available in different styles, most of them have two arms that are placed on opposite sides of the lever. In addition to two-arm levers, there are four-arm levers. Four-arm levers have an arm pointing out from each direction of the lever. There’s an arm on the top, bottom, left and right sides of a four-arm lever.
Choosing Between Single-Arm and Multi-Arm Levers
You might be wondering whether to choose a single-arm lever or a multi-arm lever. Single-arm levers are ideal for small spaces. With only a single arm, they don’t consume as much space as their multi-arm counterparts. If you’re looking for a control mechanism to use in close quarters with limited space, you may want to choose a single-arm lever for this reason.
Multi-arm levers, conversely, allow for greater torque. You can turn multi-arm levers more easily than single-arm levers. Rather than gripping a single arm, you can grip two arms. The end result is greater torque that makes it easy to turn the respective lever.
Four-arm levers also give you the freedom to grip and turn different arms. You can choose to grip and turn a single arm. Alternatively, you can grip and turn any two arms on it. If two of the arms are easier to access, you may want to grip and turn them.