Hoist Types

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.

 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

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.

Lifting Medium Types

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 interchangeablebetween 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.

Operation Types
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.

A control device of the type used to lift and lower hoisting motion of an air powered
hoist may also be used for other motions or functions, such as trolley travel, overhead
crane travel, etc. Examples of such control markings may include, but are not limited
to: EAST/WEST; RIGHT/LEFT; OPEN/CLOSE; START/STOP; etc.
Hand Chain Hoist Electric or Air Powered Chain Hoist Electric or Air Powered Wire Rope Hoist

Suspension Types
Hook Mounted

Hook mounted hoists have a top hook on the hoist frame or body that can be used to
suspend the hoist from the clevis or suspension pin of a trolley; or a fixed suspension
device that will accept the hook, mounted on a beam or the structural framework of a
building. Hook mounted hoists normally have only welded link load chain or roller load
chain as the lifting medium, because the load chain lifting medium is always in line with
the top hook. Hook mounted hoists include: hand chain manually operated chain hoists,
electric chain hoists and air chain hoists. Wire rope hoists are not normally hook
mounted because the loading position on the drum moves as the wire rope is wound or
unwould on the drum, and therefore not in line with a top hook. Hook mounted wire
rope hoists can be furnished; however, they may require multiple top hooks and special
design considerations by the hoist manufacturer.

Lug Mounted

Lug mounted hoists have a lug mounting attached to the top of the hoist frame, or a lug
mounting attached as an integral part of the hoist frame. Lug mounted hoists are
available in all hoist types. Lug mountings are used to suspend the hoist from a trolley,
or a fixed suspension device mounted on a beam, or the structural framework of a
building. Lug mounted hoists are suspended from a trolley, beam or structural
framework by the use of suspension pin(s) or stud(s).

Trolley Mounted

Trolley mounted hoists are hook mounted, clevis mounted or lug mounted hoists
suspended from a trolley or trolleys; or a hoist having an integral trolley as part of the
hoist frame, that allows travel motion on the lower flange of a monorail beam, or the
lower flange of the bridge beam of an overhead crane.

Trolleys
Trolleys allow traverse motion of the hoist unit and load being handled, by traveling: on
the lower flange of a monorail beam; on the lower flange of a bridge beam of an
overhead crane; or on top of the bridge beams of an overhead crane. Hoist trolleys are
available in several types, depending on the method used to obtain travel motion.

Plain Trolleys

The travel motion of plain type trolleys is obtained by pulling or pushing the load or by
some other means, such as the strain relief of a pendant control, suspended from the
trolley or hoist. Plain type trolleys are recommended where trolley motion is infrequent
or relatively short. Because of the force required to manually operate this type of trolley,
it is recommended that the use of plain trolleys be limited to a maximum capacity load of
3 tons or 3000 kg, and that the elevation of the beam where the trolley is suspended be
not more than 20 feet or 6 meters above the operating floor level.

Hand Chain Operated Trolleys

The travel motion of hand chain manually operated trolleys is achieved by the operator
grasping and pulling a continuous hand chain suspended from the trolley. 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 trolley
hand chain wheel or sprocket. As the operator pulls the hand chain, the hand chain
wheel turns and transmits power through gearing to the trolley wheels. Pulling the hand
chain in one direction will cause the trolley to travel in one direction; and pulling the
hand chain in the opposite direction will cause the trolley to travel in the opposite
direction. Hand chain manually operated trolleys provide excellent load spotting ability.

Electric Powered or Air Powered Trolleys

The travel motion of electric powered or air powered trolleys is achieved by the operator
grasping and activating a control device in the same manner as described under electric
powered or air powered hoists. The control device used to lift and lower hoist motion
may also contain controls for trolley travel. Recommendations for use of electric
powered or air powered trolleys are based on frequency of operation, distance of travel,
capacity of load, height of beam and type or size of load being handled.

Plain Trolley Hand Chain Trolley Electric or Air Powered Trolle