What are steel wire ropes used for

Several types of wire ropes are available for lifting and rigging. The most widespread of these is the Steel wire rope. They have replaced wrought iron as the main material used in the construction of these ropes. The iron chains had more chances of having a mechanical failure. The thicker strands used in the manufacturing of steel wire ropes are more resistant to abrasion and fatigue.

The material used in the manufacturing of a steel wire rope is non-alloy carbon steel. The carbon content of this material increases the strength and helps the rope in supporting large weights. The wires are also lubricated during the manufacturing to ensure that the friction between them is minimal, leading to less corrosion.

Composition:

A steel wire rope primarily comprises of many individual steel wires woven together to form a composite strand. A central core is present, around which the wires are helically wound. The size of the wires used is determined based on the requirements. Larger wires are more resistant to corrosion while the smaller ones have more flexibility. A suitable ratio is established depending on the purpose that the wire rope serves.

The wire rope can be constructed using any of the following styles:

·        Single layer- This consists of a single wire in the center and six surrounding wires. Each of them having the Equal and same diameter.

·        Filler Wire- This has two layers of the same sized wire. The number of wires in the inner layer is half as much as in the outer. Small fillers are used in the spaces between the inner layer.

·        Seale- Seale has two layers with an equal number of wires. The diameter of each wire in one layer is uniform.

·        Warrington- This has alternating large and small wires.

·        Combination- A combination of any two methods is used to create the best suitable type depending on the requirements of the user.

Applications:

The most common purpose of wire ropes is lifting and transmitting mechanical power. The main areas of usage of a crane steel wire rope include:

·        Bailing

·        Hoisting

·        Anchoring

·        Railing or fencing

·        Mining

·        Forestry

·       Marine industry

·        Industrial manufacturing

·       Construction

·       Agriculture

·        Electronics

·        Transportation

·         Security

The various types of steel wire ropes that are used are crane ropes, fishing ropes, elevator ropes, structural systems, mining ropes and titan ropes. All of these have high tensile strength and are resistant to corrosion, providing them with a long life. Understanding the specifications of a wire rope is essential to find the most suitable type depending on one’s requirements.

How to use a wire rope lubricant

Wire Ropes find their usage in many industries ranging from electronics to manufacturing. Just like any other machinery, they too are exposed to the potential damage caused by normal wear and tear. To minimize this abrasion, wire rope lubricants are put to use. They essentially perform the function of reducing corrosion and also reduce the internal friction between the strands.  The use of wire rope lubricant in the process of manufacture of Elevator Wire Ropes or any other is critical to the performance and life of the wire ropes. Even after the wire rope has been installed, there is a need for re-lubrication as the original lube may have been lost due to the bending and other stresses on the cable.

Types of lubricants and their applications:

Various industries like mining, agriculture, fishing, power plants, engineering etc. employ wire ropes for lifting or rigging purposes. Different types of wire rope lubricant are available depending on the type of rope.

·         Engineering ropes- These require a lube which has enhanced anti rust properties.

·         Mining ropes- Mining ropes use lubricants which can work well in wet and dusty conditions

·         Fishing ropes- These ropes essentially require strong adhesion and good anti rust property.

·         Crane and elevator ropes- These require a strong lube that can function in a wide range of temperature. They also need to have anti rust properties.

·         Excavator and drill line ropes- they require a long operational life and good lubricity.

Classification of wire rope lubricant-

These lubricants can be broadly classified into two categories depending on their mode of action.

·         Penetrating wire rope lubricants- they have a petroleum solvent whose function is to take the lubricant into the core of the rope. This solvent then evaporates, leaving behind only a thick layer of lubricant on each strand. This lubrication is more important as most of the ropes are damages within due to large friction between the strands.

·         Coating lubricants- these only penetrate inside a little. The main function of coating lubricants is to protect the wire rope from external damage. They form a protective seal to keep the moisture outside, thereby reducing corrosion. They help save the cable from the harmful external environment, including extreme weather or temperature conditions.

A combination of these two types is used to ensure that the cable is prevented from internal as well as external wear and tear. This provides an extended life to the cables. The various materials used in the formation of such lubricants are petrol, asphalt, petroleum oils, grease and vegetable oil.

The process of lubrication is done as a part of the manufacturing of wire ropes. This can be done by spraying, brushing, dripping or through pressure boot. Using excessive lubricant can be a safety hazard. Having the right knowledge about a wire rope lubricant is therefore important to ensure that the wire ropes work efficiently.

Choosing chain slings for lifting? We got you covered!

 

Durability and versatility are the qualities that chain slings are known for. Due to the ability of the chain slings to survive and deal with the harsh conditions, they are used in the industries that involve rough and heavy-duty applications.

These slings are used for overhead lifting generally with a crane, hoist or any other type of lifting device. Chain slings for lifting are made from various materials. Some of the approved materials for manufacturing chain slings are

• Chain - Link & Roller
• Metal Mesh
• Synthetic - Ropes, Webbing & Fibers
• Wire Rope

Before choosing a sling for your operations, always make sure to know about certain points given below, doing so will make your process of choosing the sling that is the right fit for you easier.

• Weight of the object to be lifted
• Center of Gravity
• Number of attachment points for a balanced lift
• The geometry of lift includes sling angles
• Reach
• Clearance – any height restrictions
• Upper & Lower Fitting requirements
• Ambient Conditions

Talking about the expert advice by ASME, NACM & OSHA

Alloy Steel Chain Slings are recommended for overhead lifting by ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), NACM (National Association of Chain Manufacturers), and OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration). Mostly used grades of alloy steel chain slings throughout the industry are grade 80, 100 & 120. The reason for this is, the elements used in these grades of chain slings give strength, abrasion resistance, durability and toughness like no other.

Advantages of chain slings for lifting

• Long service life
• Resists abrasion, crushing 
• Chemicals and UV radiation resistant
• No adverse effects by oily or dirty environment
• Easily adjustable
• Easily inspected
• Can be repaired completely

If your industry undergoes rough and heavy-duty applications then Chain slings are the best choice. Last but not the least; you should always do regular inspections to be safe.

 

Safety tips for chain slings

 

Everyone looks for strength and durability while performing lifting operations. Chain slings for lifting are meant to provide the same and are used in the applications where extra strength and durability are required.

Chain slings for lifting are more durable and temperature resistant as compared to the other slings available.

Below given are some Do’s and Don’ts of the chain slings

Do’s

• Properly check the slings as well as the equipment. They should be free of damage. Use the slings and the most suitable slinging method for the load.
•  Protect the slings from sharp edges and corners.
• Fasten the sling securely to the load & appliance and make sure that the hooks are facing outwards.
• Ensure the load is balanced and will not tilt or fall.
• Keep fingers, toes etc clear while landing loads.
• Ensure that the load is free to be lifted.
• Make a trial lift before properly going for it.

Don’ts

• Don’t use damaged, defective or worn out slings.
• Don’t twist, knot or tie slings.
• Hammer slings into position.
• Don’t ever overload slings by putting extra weight than mentioned.
• Don’t drag slings over floors and not even attempt to pull trapped slings from under loads.

Safety instructions

• Store and handle chain slings correctly. 
• Inspect chain slings and accessories before use and before placing into storage.
• Follow safe slinging practices.
• Apply the correct mode factor for the slinging arrangement.
• Always use within posted working load limit.
• Distribute loads evenly. An unequal load on one leg can create a dangerous situation and damage the sling.
• Rapid or sudden stops and lifts should be avoided.
• Do not allow a chain length to be twisted or tied into a knot
• Protect sharp edges and corners accordingly with padding or protectors to keep chain from coming in contact.
• Clean chains prior to inspection; oil and dirt can hide chain damage.

 

Advantages of having a chain pulley block

 

Chain pulley block consists of two wheels to which the chain is connected which in turn moves with the wheels and due to this the load or item attached to it via hook is lifted.

Having a chain pulley block is very beneficial for the industries.

While choosing a chain pulley block you have to be very careful. With the help of the chain pulley block, lifting and lowering of exceptionally heavy loads through chains is performed.

1. Select the Right Capacity (Knowledge of the Capacity is Power)
2. Selecting the Suitable Mounting (Hook Mounted or Trolley Mounted)
3. Load Chain made up of Alloy Steel.
4. Chain length should be selected correctly. 
5. Spare parts that can be altered. 
6. Check the warranty

There are a lot of reasons for having a chain pulley block. Without further ado, let’s have a look at some

·        High Performance

Using a chain pulley block gives a brilliant performance. Manufacturers of chain pulley block in India know about it and hence provide their customers with the guarantee on the product.

·        Very little maintenance

One of the major benefits of it is that it comes with zero or very little maintenance. The maintenance gets reduced to zero if you purchase it from a well know and leading BSS Chain Pulley Block manufacturer. Hence there is no extra expenditure on its maintenance if chosen wisely.

·        Light weight and easy to carry

Owing to their lightweight, these BSS Chain Pulley Blocks can be operated very easily. The other advantage due to its lightweight is, it is very easy to carry and can be moved from one place to another without any difficulty.

·        Compact size

The BSS Chain Pulley Block is very beautiful and has a compact size. Being compact, it is chosen by many and also adds up to a lot of benefits.

If you choose a leading chain pulley block supplier, all of the above given benefits can be achieved making your work relaxed and less hectic.

Know about wire rope slings

 

Lifting equipment is used to ease the task of humans working in various industries and construction companies. One of such equipment is wire rope slings.

With the introduction of such equipment, work has become lot more easy.

So, what are wire rope slings? It is nevertheless normal one may pose this question. Wire rope slings are utility arranged gatherings of wire ropes, utilized for Lifting, hoisting and rigging with cranes. These are regularly molded from steel wire ropes, highlighting end terminations.

Wire rope slings can be manufactured as Single Part, Multipart and Endless Slings. They are utilized for Rigging, hoisting, and lifting activities. These kinds of tasks are performed in a wide range of industries all over the world. All wire rope slings are produced using wire ropes formed from Galvanized or un-galvanized twisting wire strands.

There are some commonly used configurations of wire ropes that are used in the making of wire rope slings because they are widely used and also due to their easy availability and reliability factors. Use of wire rope slings has tremendously increased over these areas.

Wire rope slings should be used only and only if they are certified by the experts.

Types of wire rope slings

Single Part Wire Rope Slings

Single part wire rope slings as the name suggests are fabricated from a single wire rope. Single part wire rope slings are further divided into Hand Spliced, manually spliced and mechanically spliced wire rope slings.

Endless Wire Rope Slings

 Endless wire rope slings play a crucial role in rigging and lifting activities.

Multipart Wire Rope Slings

Multipart wire rope slings are made up by combining multiple wire ropes

Tips to use wire rope slings

·        Attach the sling by checking the hooks properly.

·        Make a trial lift before properly lifting the load.

·        Inspect and tighten the fittings regularly

·        Always keep the wire rope slings well lubricated and inspect them as much as possible

·        Make a practice to store the slings at a cool and dry place to protect them from corrosion.

·        If the slings are severely damaged, do not use them.

 

 

Tips to choose wire rope slings

• Choose a sling that is long and strong enough to handle the entire load as per the requirement.
• Strictly follow the manufacturer recommendations
• If wire rope slings come in contact with acids or chemicals, consult the manufacturer or supplier

 

How to choose suitable chain pulley block?

 

Chain pulley block is used in various lifting industries for lifting very heavy objects.

There might be many chain pulley block suppliers promising you the best chain pulley block but never go on the words. Always keep the below mentioned factors in mind and properly check on your own and only then choose the suitable chain pulley block according to the requirements.

Below given are some of the steps you must consider before buying your chain pulley block

Steps for choosing a right chain pulley block

1)     Selecting the right capacity

Generally, the block capacity ranges from 0.5 tons to 50 tons for successfully pulling and lifting heavy loads. First of all, know the capacity requirement of your company. Selection of the capacity should be based upon the weight of the heaviest material you want to lift with the chain block.

2)     Selecting a suitable mount

As done in the first step, you also need to decide which type of mount you are going to use as per the requirements. There are two types of mounts: Hook mount and the other one is trolley mount.

Hook mount is used if the blocks will remain static in a single location for an elongated period.

Trolley mount are used if you want to shift the load on girders. 

3)     Alloy steel load chain

The load chain of the chain pulley block should be made up of Grade 80 – alloy steel. The use of this material makes it strong enough to withstand all the odds.

4)     Chain length

Chain length should be selected properly. Make sure that the load chain length is equal to the lifting height and hand chain is almost two feet less than the lift length. 

5)     Check the warranty

Warranty in itself is a guarantee provided by the chain pulley block suppliers that defines the quality of the product. Check the warranty terms and period of the product. You should never purchase a product without a specified warranty or guarantee period.

Therefore, whenever purchasing a chain block, get one that comes with a warranty. This will ensure that you get the best quality product in industrial quality standards.