A wire rope hoist uses a cable and pulley system to lift heavy objects, with a motor and hand control unit. It is rated for weight capacity and may have a trolley system. Additional pulleys can increase weight capacity, but may strain the engine. The cable is attached to a fixed point and can be controlled by the operator using a hand control. Proper training is necessary for safe use.
A wire rope hoist is a device used to lift and move heavy objects using a wire rope, or cable, connected to a moving pulley. A hook is attached to the end of the cable and is used to grip an object to be lifted. The pulley is connected to a motor, which is operated via a hand control unit. The wire rope hoist moves an object by turning the pulley, which wraps around the cable. Many types of hoists will feature a trolley system that allows the pulley and motor to move along a track, thus making moving heavy objects even easier.
Common in factory or warehouse settings, the wire rope hoist is designed to lift exceptionally heavy objects that a fiber rope would not be able to handle. Each machine is rated for a certain weight capacity, which means that only certain types of items will be able to be moved safely by the wire rope hoist. The thickness of the wire, the size of the motor and the materials used for the carriage system will determine the capability of the machine.
Sometimes additional pulleys are placed along the length of the wire to further distribute the load of the object being lifted. This will reduce the amount of stress placed directly on the motor of the wire rope hoist and usually increase the weight capacity of the machine. Adding pulleys can increase the amount of friction on the system, meaning the engine may start to strain if too many pulleys are added. The main sheave is usually primarily responsible for lifting duties and is often much larger than the other sheaves in the system.
The other end of the cable, without the hook, is usually attached to a fixed point, then looped through the pulley several times to allow for flexibility of movement. This fixed point is usually on the trolley housing, although stationary units will not have a trolley and the cable can then be fixed to the ground, a beam or any other fixed point. The machine operator can advance or retract the cable as needed using a hand control; the wire rope hoist user will generally walk alongside the moving object to check its progress and adjust the wire as needed, although standing too close to the load can be dangerous. The operator must be trained in the proper use of the hoist before attempting to move a load.
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