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Industrial hoists are lifting and pulling devices that use some form of line to move or lift a load. Industrial hoists are primarily used for vertical lifting. There are a number of standard specifications to keep in mind when selecting a hoist for the application at hand. Specifications include load capacity, lift length, maximum lift speed, and whether a pulley block is needed.
Industrial hoists can be divided into two main categories, powered and manual, based upon their power source and method of actuation. Powered hoists include all manner of motor-driven types, including those with electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or fossil fuel (gas and oil) motors. The manual category includes hand cranked, levered or ratcheted hoists that are man-powered or otherwise hand manipulated. Industrial hoists are designed with a number of mounting configurations to cover a wide range of applications. The most common configurations include trolley mount, lug mount, and suspension hook. Additional custom configurations for industrial hoists are also available through manufactures.
Trolley mounts for industrial hoists are mounted on tracks or I-beams; can be positioned anywhere along rail or beam. Lug mount hoists are designed with holes for bolt-on mounting to threaded lugs, or having lugs meant for mating with bolt-holes. Lug mounts are sometimes compatible with trolley configurations. Suspension hook mounts require a top hook for mounting onto a mating hook on the crane boom or ceiling. When installing a hoist system, be sure that the supporting structures and load-attaching devices provide an adequate safety factor to handle the rated load plus the weight of the equipment. When in doubt, consult a qualified structural engineer.
Industrial hoists use a number of materials for their primary lifting lines including wire ropes and cables, fiber ropes, webs and straps, and chains. The type of line varies with the application and the style of hoist, but it should be noted that metal chains and cables are generally more durable than fiber or rope. In some cases, fiber and rope do add extra weight to the hoist system and this should be taken into account when calculating the industrial hoists’ maximum load capacity.
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