Wire rope is a common material utilized by various industries. It comprises a major component of various industrial and marine equipment. This has not always been the case. Even into the 19th an early 20th century, manufacturers made hoisting devices of rope. There was no wire rope or even a wire rope hoist.
What Is Wire Rope?
Wire rope is formed by twisting together strands of industrial steel wire. The strength comes from the several strands of wire comprising the several strands. The twisting process serves to strengthen the product. Wire rope came into being as a replacement for traditional hemp rope and steel chains. The former easily frayed; the latter flawed resulting in mechanical failure.
The original wire rope dates back to the work of William Albert, a Harz mining official, who developed and introduced the material into silver mines in the Harz Mountains of Germany. Between 1834 and 1854, these Albert Ropes acted as hoists and lifts in cranes and elevators. In Great Britain, two others had begun to produce on a similar product. Andrew Smith and Robert Newall devised the means to produce a similar product. Eventually, after a patent fight, Newell’s wire rope was employed on the Blackwell Railroad. While Smith lost the patent case, his company
In the United States, manufacturers, inventors and railways were part of an equation that saw the introduction of wire rope into the country. By the early 20th century, wire rope and the wire rope hoist were commonplace in a variety of environments, particular on railroads. Today, they are a normal component of many different applications.
Applications of Wire Rope Hoists
Wire rope hoists find applications in a variety of environments. You can see them at work in warehouses and factories, as well as on construction sites. They have a place in the military as well as the oil and gas industries and in shipping facilities. They are used in industrial rigging and lifting as
- Boom lines
- Crane ropes
- Drill line
- Hoist ropes
- Pulley lines
- Moving lines
Depending upon the model, the hoist may lift up to over 80 tons. Operation may be manual or automatic. The wire rope hoists in such industries come in several configurations including single, twin or multiple hooks. The mountings they use can be ceiling, floor, lug or trolley.
Wire Rope Hoist
The wire rope hoist has emerged from its original limited use to embrace wider application. They are durable, reliable and versatile. Its properties make a wire rope hoist, the popular workhorse in many of today’s rigging, lugging and lifting chores.