An electric chain hoist uses an electric motor to drive a series of gears that pull a chain up or down. Chain drops can be added to lift heavy objects with minimal effort. It is not recommended for horizontal traction and can be used to transport heavy objects across a building.
An electric chain hoist is a device used to lift heavy objects. Consisting of an electric motor driving a series of gears, the chain is placed between the gears of the electric chain hoist. When the motor is activated and the gears are turned, the chain is pulled up or down, depending on the direction of the motor. In some electric chain hoist designs, a pair of pulley-like devices known as chain drops are attached to the hoist motor to make it possible to lift very heavy objects with minimal effort by the hoist motor.
The difference between a typical hoist and an electric chain hoist is that a cable can be wrapped around a reel, but a chain cannot. The electric chain hoist requires a length of chain equal to the hooked section of chain to be brought out the back of the hoist. This excess chain allows the hooked end to be lowered to the ground while keeping the chain links engaged in the drive teeth of the hoist. As the lifted hook and object rise, the excess chain drops to the ground. In this design, some hoists actually have a hook attached to each end of the chain, allowing the hoist to be used regardless of which end of the chain is available.
By adding a chain to your electric hoist, you eliminate the slack chain end and greatly increase the hoist’s lifting capacity. A chain drop is very similar to a hoist used in the design of a wire rope hoist, with the exception that the chain is in place of the wire rope. Unlike a hoist, the electric chain hoist equipped with a chain drop is not recommended for horizontal traction. The weight of the chain pulling against horizontal chain drops can cause a serious tangle problem which could be detrimental to the effectiveness of the electric chain hoist.
Commonly attached to a set of casters or steel wheels that ride on a trolley or I-beam system, the hoist can be used to lift and transport heavy objects across a building and even to outside loading docks, as long as the hoist is in able to receive electricity. Often, a rewound power line or sliding power link is used to allow the electric chain hoist to move around a building. The chain hoist is available in several sizes, each rated for a particular lifting capacity.
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