Hoist

Among the heavy load machines, the hoist or rigging is one of the most used for suspended lifting and vertical displacement of the material (s) to be moved with less effort than if we had to move the load by hand.

Hoists do mechanical work because they allow a force to act on a body to move it a certain distance .

The term hoist has its origin in the Greek word “polys” which means “much” or “abundant” and grass that refers to the act of “pulling” or “pulling” .

What is the hoist for?

The hoists or tackle are used in industries, workshops or in construction areas to load and unload materials of great weight that must be placed in transport trucks, ships or in fixed spaces.

The hoist allows you to do this without difficulty, quickly and efficiently.

Its ability to lift loads may vary depending on the number of branches used. For this reason, it is pertinent to verify the weight of the loads to be lifted and determine the most appropriate lifting equipment to lift and move the load.

In some rescue cases, hoists are used to lift casualties who have fallen into crevices or deep spaces .

Hoist types

There are many types of hoists or tackle on the loading machinery market. It is important to know which are the types of hoists and their characteristics in order to know which one is best suited to the task that you want to accomplish with this type of machine.

The hoists or rigging can be typified according to :

• Its number of branches: These can be simple, when one of the pulleys has only one throat; or when there are two or more throats they are known as double.
• The way in which the force multiplies: They can be factorial (the force is proportional to the number of pulleys), potential (corresponds to 2 raised to the number of pulleys) or difference (it depends on the difference in radii between the two pulleys that conform).
• The material of the branches: They can be rope, cable or chain.
• Depending on the power applied: They can be manual, lever or electric.

Below are different types of hoists or rigging.

Electric hoist

This type is designed following the same operating principles of the manual hoist. In this case, an electric control replaces the chain drive .

The electrical control of this hoist allows the lifting and lowering of objects quickly or slowly.

Manual hoist

The chain hoist is manually operated and its compact and lightweight design allows a load capacity of up to 2T. This tool is ideal for the vertical lifting of the load to be moved.

The manuals are made up of a pulley system that allows lifting the heavy load with less effort vertically. In this type of hoist, the power to lift the objects comes from the person who uses this device. So generally , installation is very simple.

Crane

It allows the horizontal and vertical movement of large weights with precision and safety . It is used in many industries for the deposit, storage or transfer of materials.

The hoist crane has a double structure in which two rail cars act, allowing the production of the sliding and reeling process.

This type is operated from a remote cabin .

Car

Trolley hoists can be manual or electric. These, in addition to the vertical lifting, allow the horizontal displacement of the load .

Hoist Use Precautions

• Check the maximum use load of the hoist and do not exceed it.
• Make sure the chains and wire ropes have adequate lubrication.
• Replace any worn chain or wire rope immediately. Tag any defective chain or cable and keep it out of service.
• There are hoists that can be operated in different directions but still, it is preferable to pull as straight as possible. Side pull increases wear and tear and can even be dangerous.
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.
• Make sure that no one is around the load before lifting it.
• Avoid tilting the load as it may become unstable.
• Avoid lifting the load more than is really necessary.
• Do not leave suspended loads unattended.