LESSON

4
LECTURE
BASIC RIGGING
SUB-OBJECTIVE
At the end of the Lesson the Trainees will e ale to des!rie Basi! Ri""in"
witho#t error$
%$& INTRO'UCTION
Rigging is the process of moving heavy loads from one location to
another with ropes, chains, hoists, and other special tools. The
equipment used for lifting and moving loads is also called rigging.
When ever rigging work is carried out, safety must be the foremost
concern. Any task involving heavy raised loads can be extremely
dangerous if it is not handled carefully and properly.
Rigging safety involves three elements
!. "lanning the #ob.
$. %nspecting the equipment.
&. 'sing the equipment properly.
"lanning a rigging #ob consists of four steps
!. (inding the weight of the load
$. )etermining the balance of the load.
&. *hecking the clearances for the moving load.
+. ,electing the rigging equipment to be used.
($& )IN'ING T*E +EIG*T
When planning a rigging #ob the weight is the first piece of information
you need to know. This is important so that you can decide which piece
of rigging equipment can been used for the #ob. A capacity of a piece of
equipment is the maximum load it can safely support without failing.
-ameplates on lifting equipment give its weight capacity and other
important information
.see fig. /0+0!1.
MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE MODULE 16
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%f there is no nameplate you must refer to a manufacturer2s handbook, or
any other documentation that will give some idea of the weight of the
load. %f there is no indication as to the weight of the load an estimate
must be obtained. There is two ways of doing this but both need
considerable experience. 3ne method is to compare it with the weight
of a similar load which is known. The trained men who do rigging work
are called riggers. Riggers should have sufficient experience to
estimate a load2s weight in this way.
Another, more complicated method is estimate the weight by doing a
calculation by multiplying the density and the volume of the load.
)i"$ ,-4-%$ -an#fa!t#rer.s Identifi!ation /late$
0$& 'ETER-INING T*E BALANCE
To be lifted safely a load must be correctly balanced. 'nbalanced
loads tend to tilt and swing when they are lifted. Regular shaped loads
are easy to balance, i.e. by lifting in the middle. %rregular shapes can
more difficult. ,ee (ig. /0+0$.
4very ob#ect has a point at which it will balance perfectly.
This point is called the ob#ect centre of gravity.
%f a load is lifted from a point directly above its centre of gravity it will
remain stable. (rom any other point it will tilt until the centre of gravity
is directly below the hook.
Therefore, the Rigger will find the centre of gravity and lift from that
point.
MODULE 16 MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE
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)i"$ %1-4-($ Usin" a -odel to find !enter of "ra2it3$
4$& C*EC4ING CLEARANCES
The third step to take when planning a rigging #ob is to check the
clearances.
5efore you move any load, check the si6e of the corridors or gaps that
the load will have to take when it is moving. When the load is moving
it should be kept as close to the floor as possible.
This will make it easier to control and reduce the risk of damage or
in#ury if it was to fall. Also loads should not be lifted above other
equipment unless no other route is available.
"eople should be kept out of the way, and loads must never be raised
above another person.
%f possible barriers and notices must be erected around the areas
where rigging will take place.
"eople involved in the lifting operation must never put part of their
bodies underneath a suspended load. ,ee (ig. /0+0&.
MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE MODULE 16
LESSON 4 PAGE 3 CRANES AND LIFTING MATERIALS
)i"$ ,-4-0$ Che!5in" Clearan!es.
6$& SELECTING T*E E7UI/-ENT
When the load2s weight, its balance, and the clearances have been
determined we can now select the equipment to carry out the #ob. Rigging
equipment can generally be grouped into four categories they are
a. 7oists and cranes 0 to provide the lift.
b. ,lings 0 short lengths of wire rope, chain, or synthetic
fibers used to attach a load to the hoist or crane.
c. *onnectors 0 eye bolts, hooks, shackles used to link the
different pieces of rigging together.
d. Ad#usters 0 load levelers and turnbuckles used to
balance loads.
1$& SLINGS
When loads are lifted by hoists or cranes, short lengths of wire rope,
chain, or synthetic fibers called slings, are used to secure the load to
the lifting devices. ,lings made of any of these materials can made as
either endless slings or single0leg slings. There are several ways to
rig each kind of sling, all of which are called a hitch. ,ince difference
kinds of loads require different hitches, riggers must be familiar with all
of them. ,ee a figure /0+0+ for single0leg wire rope sling.
MODULE 16 MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE
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)i"$ %1-4-4$ Sin"le-le" wire ro8e slin"$
*hain slings may also be either endless or single0leg. ,ingle0leg chain
slings may have rings or hooks at each end.
,ome single0led chain slings have a hook at an eye at the other, as shown
in (ig. /0+08. 9ike any other chain, chain slings should be inspected for
cracks, broken welds, excessive wear and over stretching before each use.
,ynthetic fiber slings .(ig. /0+0:1 are typically made of braided nylon or
polyester.
Although synthetic fiber slings are light and strong, they are not as durable
as wire rope or chain slings.
,ince synthetic slings are easily cut, special care must be taken to protect
them where sharp corners or rough spots are a problem.
Additionally, the material may melt if it is placed near hot pipes or other
sources of heat.
MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE MODULE 16
LESSON 4 PAGE 5 CRANES AND LIFTING MATERIALS
)i"$ %1-4-6$ Sin"le-le" !hain slin"$
)i"$ %1-4-1$ S3ntheti! )ier Slin"$
9$& CONNECTORS
*onnectors are rigging attachments used to link separate pieces of
equipment.
The most common connectors are hooks, shackles, and eyebolts.
,ince they are common attachments in basic rigging work, all riggers
should know where they are used how they work, and how they are
inspected for wear and damage.
MODULE 16 MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE
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9$% S*AC4LES
,hackles are '0shaped connectors with pins that are used to couple
slings to hooks, slings to eyes, and hooks to eyes. .,ee (ig. /0+0;1.
)i"$ %1-4-9$ Sha!5les with olt and with lo!5in" 8in$
9$( E:EBOLTS
4yebolts are threaded connectors used by riggers to provide a place for
slings to be attached.
4yebolts are often permanently installed on equipment. When they are
permanently installed they are located in a position so the equipment is
perfectly balanced when raised ,traight shank eyebolts are for straight
lifts only, never at an angle.
,houlder type eyebolts are stronger and designed so that lifting can be
done at an angle, but never greater than +8 .
9ike other rigging equipment, eyebolts should be inspected before use
.see fig. /0+0< = /0+0/1.
MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE MODULE 16
LESSON 4 PAGE 7 CRANES AND LIFTING MATERIALS
)i"$ ,-4-;$ E3eolt witho#t sho#lder$
)i"$ ,-4-,$ E3eolt with Sho#lder$
9$0 *OO4S
7ooks are used in basic rigging work as connectors on hoists, cranes,
ad#usters, and slings.
7ooks can be connected to shackles, eyebolts, or directly to the eye of
a sling. Although hooks come in various shapes and si6es, all are
similar in function.
(or extra safety hooks should be fitted with safety latches where
possible. .,ee (ig. /0+0!>1.
MODULE 16 MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE
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)i"$ %1-4-%&$ *oo5s with Safet3 Lat!h$
;$& A'JUSTER
When an unbalanced load is to be lifted, sling lengths must be
ad#usted to place the load hook of the crane of hoist directly above the
load2s centre of gravity.
Ad#usters are rigging attachments that are designed for this task. Two
types of ad#usters are commonly used for balancing loads, they are
load levelers and turnbuckles.
5oth devices have advantages and disadvantages, so you must know
how to select the right ad#uster for the #ob.
;$% LOA' LEVELERS
A load leveler is a device with two chain legs and an ad#uster
mechanism that allows the legs to be varied, and, therefore, balances
the load. .see fig. /0+0!!1
MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE MODULE 16
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)i"$ ,-4-%%$ Load Le2eler$
;$( TURNBUC4LES
Turnbuckles are ad#usters that are useful for making small ad#ustments
to the length of the sling. They have a threaded body with two screws.
3ne screw is threaded at the opposite side to the other so that when
the turnbuckle2s body is rotated, the screws move either outwards or
inwards, thus shortening or lengthening the sling. .,ee (ig. /0+0!$1.
MODULE 16 MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE
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)i"$ %1-4-%($ T#rn#!5les$
,$& *OISTS
%n the past, heavy loads could only be lifted manually by one or more
men, until overhead pulleys were discovered and made the #ob easier.
"ulleys brought about the discovery of the block and tackle, and then
later to hoists that are today.
7oists enable one man to lift a heavy load by multiplying his muscular
energy.
They reduce the amount of effort needed to lift a load by using a series
of reduction gears, thus doing work by mechanical advantage.
With a hoist one man can lift up to ten tons. ?ost hoists are chain
operated, and are therefore, known as chain hoists. .,ee (ig. /0+0!&1
MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE MODULE 16
LESSON 4 PAGE 11 CRANES AND LIFTING MATERIALS
)i"$ ,-4-%0$ 'ifferential *oist$
,$% CO-E-ALONG
*ome0along .also known as chain #acks or ratchet lifts1 are lifting
devices operated with a handle instead of a hand chain. As shown in
(ig. /0+0!+, come0along have a small body with a top hook, a long
handle, and a load chain with a hook.
.,ome come0along use wire rope instead of a load chain1.
*ome0along have several applications.
They can be used for vertical lifts, hori6ontal pulls, or as ad#usters for
balancing a load.
Two of the reasons for this versatility are the come0long.2s light weight
and small si6e. A come0along is much lighter and much smaller than a
hoist of the same capacity.
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)i"$ %1-4-%4$ Co<e-Alon" =Chain Ja!5>
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7UESTIONS
!. -ame three elements of rigging safety.
a. "lanning the@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
b. %nspecting the@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
c. 'sing the@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
$. 9ist the four steps in planning a rigging #ob.
a. (inding the@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
b. )etermining the@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
c. *hecking clearance@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
d. ,electing the@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
&. -ame three places where the weight of a load may be listed.
a. 3n the loads@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
b. %n an equipment@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
c. 3n the @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
+. The maximum amount of weight that a piece of rigging equipment can
safely support is called its@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@.
8. A load is balanced when its center of@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@is directly
@@@@@@@@@@@the hook.
:. True or (alse. The equipment use for lifting and moving loads is also
called rigging.
;. True or (alse. *hecking clearance means, that measure the load and
measure any tight places along the route.
<. 9ist the four basic categories of rigging equipment.
a. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@.
b. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@.
c. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@.
d. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@.
/. True or (alse. ,hort lengths of wire rope chain or synthetic fibers
called connectors.
!>. True or false. ,hackles are used to couple slings to hooks.
!!. True or (alse. 4ye bolts are often temporary installed on equipment.
!$. True or (alse. The most common connectors are hooks, shackles,
and eyebolts.
MODULE 16 MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE
CRANES AND LIFTING MATERIALS LESSON 4 PAGE 14
!&. True or (alse. With a hoists one man can lift up to ten tons of weight.
!+. *ome0along have several applications.
!. They can be used for@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
$. They can be used for @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
&. They can be used as @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE COURSE MODULE 16
LESSON 4 PAGE 15 CRANES AND LIFTING MATERIALS