A lifting hook is used in hoist and pulley systems to secure loads for movement. It varies in size, shape, and function and is made of heavy metal. It has a latch to prevent slipping and can be attached directly to a wire or rope. The hook rotates to prevent coiling and has a gate to prevent slipping. It can also be designed for use with a chain using cotter pins.
A lifting hook is a device used as part of a hoist, pulley system, or other lifting system to secure loads for movement. The hook itself can vary in size, shape, and function, and most are made of a heavy metal such as steel. The lifting hook is likely to have some sort of latch that snaps into place to close the mouth of the hook; this prevents the rope or cable, secured by the hook, from slipping from the lip and becoming unstable or falling out completely.
Smaller lift and hoist systems are usually equipped with a smaller hook. The lifting hook may be attached directly to a wire or rope, although in some cases the hook is fitted with some sort of frame or frame that allows it to move freely and independently of the wire itself. This independent movement will prevent the cable from coiling and potentially binding or breaking as the lifted load moves. Instead, the hook will rotate, allowing the load to rotate without twisting the cable itself. A swivel hoist hook is usually fitted to larger systems, although very small and lightweight hoists may also be fitted with such a swivel.
The shape of the hook generally resembles a J, and the lip usually protrudes slightly outward to protect the point from snagging on a rope or other material being lifted. A gate will close off the open end of the J, much like the gate on a carabiner used for rock climbing. The gate is usually spring loaded to prevent accidental opening during use, but is not itself a load-bearing device. It is simply meant to prevent the rope or cord from slipping off the hook during use.
Sometimes a lifting hook is designed for use with a chain. In this case, the hook is often attached to the chain using a set of cotter pins. This system features a threadless bolt that slides through an opening on the hook; the chain can be passed around this bolt, and then the bolt is slid through another opening on the hook. Once in place, a cotter pin is slid through an opening in the bolt to ensure it does not slip back through the hook hole. These assemblies are easy to use and generally quite reliable, although the cotter pin and pin will often need to be large depending on the size of the hook itself and the weight capacity it is rated for.
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