Winches and hoists are designed to lift or move heavy loads safely and easily. Though they have similar functions, they are engineered differently to perform different tasks. Unlike hoists that lift loads vertically, winches are designed to move loads horizontally over inclines and flat surfaces.
The construction of a winch is quite similar to that of a hoist. They are mechanical mechanisms that wind cable to create enough tension to pull or drag heavy objects. As with hoists, winches can be manually or electrically operated and have a steel drum with a cable wound around it.
Winches have a gear braking mechanism that holds a load in place when the pull of the cable stops. This is especially helpful on inclines. A hoist is hooked to a load vertically and pulls a load straight up with the wire rope or chain secured to the load with a sling, load mechanism, or other form of device.
The hook on a winch attaches directly to the load to be moved. When it is being connected, its locking mechanism is disengaged while its cable is pulled out by the operator and hooked to the load. In many cases, the hook may be placed through a section of the load and hooked to the cable where the cable serves as a type of sling. This configuration is forbidden with hoists.
When the drum for a winch is activated, its motor gradually pulls until the proper tension is reached. It is extremely critical that the load capacity of the winch and its cable be followed since a snap or breaking of the cable can cause very serious harm to anyone standing in the area.
There is normally some confusion for people who are not familiar with the difference between winches and hoists. In many cases, the terms are used interchangeably. The distinction between the two can be summarized in their function. A hoist lifts vertically while a winch pulls horizontally. These basic functions are further differentiated by the components of each mechanism.
Using a pulley or set of pulleys, winches can be used as a lifting mechanism for light loads. For floor mounted winches, the cable is thread up to a pulley and down to a load, a configuration that makes it possible for a winch to make a vertical lift. Other types of winches can be mounted on beams or walls and attached to a pulley mechanism and can be electrically or manually operated.
Post time: Oct-28-2022