What Is an Electric Chain Hoist?
An electric chain hoist is a lifting device that utilizes an electric motor to raise heavy loads. Unlike manual hoists, electric chain hoists provide powered assistance, making them suitable for heavier or more frequent lifting tasks. Typically, these hoists are mounted to the ceiling or used alongside tripods or cranes. While they primarily lift and lower loads, when paired with overhead or gantry cranes, they can also facilitate horizontal load movement.
Uses of Electric Chain Hoists
Electric chain hoists are versatile and used in various settings where heavy lifting is required. They can facilitate the safe loading and unloading of heavy items from trucks in confined spaces using a simple tripod setup. At demolition sites, they’re employed to extract foundations or remove large tree roots due to their portability. A lever block, a smaller and more compact version of the chain block, is also commonly used in similar applications.
Principle of Electric Chain Hoists
Manual chain hoists operate using a combination of pulleys, a principle familiar to many from school physics. These devices feature a ring-shaped chain integrated with a toothed combination pulley. Pulling the chain manually enables the lifting of heavy objects with human effort.
Electric chain hoists, in contrast, employ an electric motor and multiple gears to generate the necessary torque for lifting. Generally, they have a lower lifting capacity than their manual counterparts of similar size. Due to their heavier weight and the need for a power supply, electric chain hoists are less suited for mobile applications and are ideal for factory use with gantry cranes and other equipment. Despite being motorized, many models are designed to be dustproof, waterproof, and durable for outdoor use.