Overhead hoists are defined in the ANSI/ASME standards as a machinery unit that is used for vertical lifting service involving material handling of freely suspended (unguided) loads. Overhead hoists are a basic and versatile piece of equipment used in manufacturing, warehousing, construction and numerous other applications to aid workers in the handling and moving of loads.

Overhead hoists are available in various types of configurations and constructions. Overhead hoist types are usually referred to using terms that define a specific configuration and construction. Three areas that further define the hoist type are:

• Lifting Medium: Lifting medium defines the type of component used to transmit and cause vertical motion of the hoist load hook or hoist load block. Lifting mediums include wire rope or chain..

• Operation: Operation defines the type of power used to operate the hoisting motion. Operation types include manual power, electric power or pneumatic (air) power.

• Suspension: Suspension defines the type of mounting or method used to mount or suspend the hoist. Common suspension types include hook mounted, lug mounted and trolley mounted. Other types of suspension may be designed to meet specific application requirements.

When the above various types of configurations or constructions are considered, some of the names used to refer to overhead hoists include: hook mounted manually operated hand chain hoists; electric chain hoists; pneumatic (air) chain hoists; electric wire rope hoists; pneumatic (air) wire rope hoists; trolley mounted wire rope hoists; etc. Manually lever operated hoists are considered an overhead hoist and are not covered in this section.

Welded Link Load Chain

Welded link load chain consists of a series of interwoven formed and welded links. The links fit pockets of the hoist load sprocket that transmits motion to the load chain. The load sprocket may also be called load wheel, load sheave, pocket wheel or lift wheel. Welded link load chain sizes are stated as the diameter of the wire used to form the link, i.e. 1/4″, 5/16″, etc. Welded link load chain is designed and manufactured to specific dimension and material strength requirements for a specific hoist. Welded link load chain is not interchangeable between different manufacturers’ hoists; and is not interchangeable with welded link lifting chain used for other purposes, such as chain slings and load securement. Only welded link load chain with specifications as originally stated by the hoist manufacturer should be used on any welded link load chain hoist.

Roller Load Chain

Roller load chain consists of a series of alternately assembled roller links and pin links where the pins articulate inside bushings and the rollers are free to turn on the bushings. Pins and bushings are press fit in their respective link plates. The links fit teeth of the hoist load sprocket that transmits motion to the load chain. The load sprocket may also be called load wheel, load sheave, pocket wheel, chain wheel or lift wheel. Roller load chain sizes are stated as the pitch or spacing between pins, i.e. 5/8″, 3/4″, etc. Roller load chain for use on hoists is designed and manufactured to specific material strength requirements for hoist applications. Roller load chain for hoist applications has different manufacturing specifications than roller chain for power transmission applications. Therefore, hoist roller load chain is not interchangeable with power transmission roller chain. Only roller load chain with specifications as originally stated by the hoist manufacturer should be used on any roller load chain hoist.

Wire Rope

Wire rope consists of a core, strands and wire that comprise a strand. The wire rope fits and wraps onto grooves on the circumference of the hoist drum that transmits motion to the wire rope. Wire rope sizes are stated as the diameter of a circle that would enclose the wire rope strands, i.e. 5/16″, 3/8″, etc. Each wire rope size is available in various rope constructions and materials. The construction and material strength requirements of the wire rope are selected by the hoist manufacturer in accordance with the design specification requirements of the hoist. Therefore, only wire rope with specifications as originally stated by the hoist manufacturer should be used on any wire rope hoist.

Hand Chain Manual Power

The hoisting motion of hand chain manually operated hoists is achieved by the operator grasping and pulling a continuous hand chain sustended from the hoist. Hand chain consists of a series of interwoven formed welded or unwelded links according to the design specifications of the hand chain. The hand chain links fit pockets of the hoist hand chain wheel or sprocket. As the operator pulls the hand chain, the hand chain wheel turns and transmits power through the hoist gearing to the hoist load chain sprocket. Pulling the hand chain in one direction will cause the hoist load hook to travel in one direction (Lift or Lower); and pulling the hand chain in the opposite direction will cause the hoist load to travel in the opposite direction (Lift or Lower).

Hand chain manually operated hoists are available with only welded link load chain or roller load chain as the lifting medium. Higher capacity hand chain manually operated chain hoists may have multiple hand chains suspended from the hoist. Hoists that have multiple hand chains require multiple operators, each grasping and pulling one of the hand chains.

Electric Power

The hoisting motion (lifting or lowering) of electric powered hoists is achieved by the operator grasping and activating a control device. The control device has push buttons or levers that energize, through a series of contactors and other electrical components, an electric motor. The electric motor transmits power through the hoist gearing to the hoist load chain sprocket or hoist drum; thereby, lifting or lowering the hoist load hook. Lifting is accomplished by actuating the lifting control and lowering is accomplished by actualling the lowering control. The controls could be marked: L:IFT/LOWER; UP/DOWN; RAISE/LOWER; arrows designating up/down; or a combination of such markings. Hoist lifting and lowering controls are usually push buttons mounted in a pendant control enclosure suspended from the hoist; or levers or switches mounted in a remote radio-control transmitter. Pendant control enclosures, radio-control transmitters or other control means could also be permanently mounted on the building structure or cab of an overhead crane depending on the application.

The control device used to lift and lower hoist motion may also contain controls for other motions or functions. Such controls include: trolley travel, overhead crane travel, power on/off, emergency stop, motions associated with below-the-hook lifting devices and other special functions associated with a specific application. Examples of such control markings may include, but are not limited to: EAST/WEST; RIGHT/LEFT; OPEN/CLOSE; START/STOP; etc.

Pneumatic (Air) Power

The hoisting motion (lifting or lowering) of pneumatic (air) powered hoists is achieved by the operator grasping and activating a control device. The control device has push buttons or levers that energize, through a series of valves and other air components, an air motor. The air motor transmits power through the hoist gearing to the hoist load chain sprocket or hoist drum; thereby, lifting or lowering the hoist load hook. Lifting is accomplished by actuating the lifting control and lowering is accomplished by actualling the lowering control. The controls could be marked: L:IFT/LOWER; UP/DOWN; RAISE/LOWER; arrows designating up/down; or a combination of such markings. Hoist lifting and lowering controls are usually push buttons or levers mounted in a pendant control enclosure suspended from the hoist; or pull controls or rold controls suspended from the hoist. Pendant control enclosures could also be permanently mounted on the building structure or cab of an overhead crane depending on the application.

Pull control consists of two pull chains or two pull cords having handles marked for hoisting direction and suspended from the hoist. Rod control consists of a rod handle suspended from the hoist and controls motion by linear or rotary movement of the rod handle or a combination of linear and rotary motion.