What Is a Sky Rig?
A sky rig is a tool used for adjusting the position and stabilizing a suspended load in construction and other industrial applications. It attaches between the lifting point of a crane and the suspended load. Sky rigs are particularly useful when moving loads outside the crane’s travel or working radius. They come in powered, fixed, and balanced types.
Power-driven sky rigs are used for high-altitude lifting operations, enabling operators to unbuckle a suspended point or rotate a suspended load without direct intervention.
Applications of Sky Rigs
Sky rigs are attached to crane hooks to stabilize suspended loads, increase suspension points, hang multiple loads simultaneously, or elevate a suspended load. These attachments enhance the crane’s carrying efficiency and stability.
Pros
- Enhance and extend the crane’s carrying capacity by attaching to its hook.
- Allow for balanced and stable suspension of loads.
- Increase operational efficiency by enabling the lifting of multiple loads at once.
- Facilitate automated work at high altitudes and in other hazardous locations.
Cons
- Increase the overall weight of the load to be lifted.
- Impact the weight limit capacity of the crane.
Principle of Sky Rigs
Sky rigs are categorized into powered and fixed types.
Powered sky rigs feature mechanisms to adjust the suspension wire or chain or rotate the entire suspended load. This automation facilitates operations at high altitudes and enhances safety and efficiency.
Fixed sky rigs, usually made of steel, increase the lifting points at the end of a crane hook or balance the suspended load when carrying it beyond the crane’s working radius. For long loads, bar-shaped sky rigs stabilize the load.
In high-rise construction, powered sky rigs are essential for safely placing and removing wires from loads at high altitudes, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Types of Sky Rigs
1. Powered Sky Rigs
These rigs enable the automation of various functions and facilitate the reversal and rotation of suspended loads. They are particularly useful for automating work in high-altitude areas, enhancing efficiency, labor-saving, and safety.
2. Fixed Sky Rigs
Fixed sky rigs, depending on their design, balance suspended loads, place them outside the crane’s working radius, and increase suspension points. When lifting long items like steel products or reinforced concrete columns, especially in high-rise construction, these rigs are necessary for proper elevation.
Moreover, using a fixture shaped to increase the lifting point can help stabilize the suspended load during transport.
Importance of Sky Rigs
Sky rigs are crucial for enhancing the efficiency and safety of crane operations and the transport of suspended loads. They ensure stable movement or transport of loads, improving operator safety and operational efficiency. Additionally, they reduce the need for multiple cranes when lifting long items and automate work at high altitudes.