UNIT 4.

17 REEVING AND ROPE GUIDES

1. Rope reeving

2. Rope guides

3. Drum anchorages

4. Dead end anchorages

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1. Rope reeving

A lot of the older wire rope hoists were designed to accommodate a four fall bottom
block irrespective of WLL/SWL. Rope barrels had to be machined right and left hand
helix and fitted with twin rope guides and two rope anchors.

This method had the advantage that the hook, when raised or lowered, always
remained in a vertical path and hook approach was equal distance from each end of
the block. Figure 1 is a good example of such a four fall system using a double helix
hoist drum.

Figure 1
True vertical lift hoist drum scrolling

The single helix hoist drum has been designed for its flexibility. It may be used in its
single fall mode, for example as a one ton unit, two falls as a two ton unit, four falls
as a four ton unit and so on. Figure 2 gives examples of this method of reeving.

The reader will notice from Figure 2 that, unlike the double helix four fall system, the
hook path is not vertical but traverses as the rope winds onto or leaves the barrel. In
practice this does not cause too much inconvenience but, if not considered when
installing, could result in loss of hook approach.

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 Figure 2
Rope reeving systems for single helix hoists

2. Rope guides

The rope guide comprises two main components, the rope guide assembly or outer
casing and the pressure ring. The pressure ring ensures that the rope always sits
well in the grooves of the rope drum. The rope guide ensures that the rope is fed
correctly onto the drum whilst at the same time carrying the revolving pressure ring
across the rope drum.

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The pressure band sits on top of the wire rope and rotates with it, the pressure being
applied by means of a tension spring fitted to the rope guide band. As the rope winds
onto the drum, the rotating pressure ring slides over the coils of rope. The rope is fed
on and off of the rope drum through a slot in the rope guide band. The rope guide
band does not rotate as it is guided through a sliding guide which is fitted to the band
and slides along the hoist tie bar.

Figure 3
Morris 400 series rope guide assemblies

The rope guide is made of plastic and is machined with an internal helix to match the
groove in the rope drum. As the drum rotates so the guide, which does not rotate,
moves along the drum and the pressure ring, the flange of which locates in a groove
machined in the guide, slides over the rope holding it firmly in the grooves, whilst at
the same time rotating with the drum.

Since the rope guide movement is totally dependent on rope travel it is also used to
actuate the upper and lower hoist limits; its correct operation is vitally important to
the safe use of the hoist.

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When checking the operation of the rope guide assemblies, it is extremely important
to check the upper and lower hoist limits. The examination must ensure that when
the upper limit is actuated there is sufficient scrolling on the hoist drum for the rope
guide and that the bottom block is not too close to the hoist framework.

When the lower limit is actuated there should be a minimum of three full turns
remaining on the hoist drum. This requirement ensures that the tension in the load
rope is dissipated in each of the three turns and not on the anchor point. Any further
movement could cause damage and jamming of the rope guides.

3. Drum anchorages

When the bottom block of a hoist is fully lowered to the bottom limit switch it is
normal to expect no less than three dead turns of rope left on the barrel. This in
theory means that friction between the rope and drum over three turns is sufficient to
support the load on the rope. In practice however it is still essential that the rope
anchorage is safe and unlikely to be affected by things such as creep.

Figure 4 shows the common method of securing the dead end of the rope; rope
clamps and set screws which clamp the dead end and the first full coil.

Figure 4
Rope clamp

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4. Dead end anchorages

With a double helix drum both rope ends terminate on the barrel. But with single
helix drums, the dead end is anchored to the frame of the hoist, (see Figure 9).

Figure 5
Load rope wedge socket and location

Wedge sockets should be checked to ensure that the wedge is tight and the rope
has not slipped.
The dead or non-running part of any load rope should be scrutinised for the effect of
corrosion as moisture will tend to collect more readily in these areas.

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