Electric hoists are common lifting equipment that is widely used in industrial production and construction fields. When choosing electric hoists, many people struggle with the two different materials of wire rope and chain. Please follow me to know the difference and hoist selection advice.
The main differences between electric chain hoists and electric wire rope hoists lie in aspects such as structure, performance, and applications.
Volume: Under the same volume and tonnage, the volume of electric chain hoists is usually smaller because their chains are separated from the main unit, overcoming the problem of large drum volume in electric wire rope hoists. Especially at high lifting heights, the volume of electric wire rope hoists is significantly larger than that of electric chain hoists.
Lifting height: The links of electric chain hoists are connected by hinges and bear tensile force, so the diameter of the sprocket is smaller and the hook spacing is also smaller. In contrast, the steel wire rope of electric wire rope hoists is wound around the drum and will undergo elastic deformation, requiring a larger drum diameter to prevent the steel wire rope from being subjected to excessive pressure or tensile force. Therefore, the lifting height of electric wire rope hoists is usually less than that of electric chain hoists.
Running distance: The axis of electric chain hoists can be installed at a 90° angle to the running track, which makes the running distance of electric chain hoists greater under the same track length. Even if the axis is installed parallel to the running track, due to the smaller axial size of electric chain hoists, their running distance is still greater than that of electric wire rope hoists.
Accuracy: When lifting, the hook of electric wire rope hoists will undergo horizontal displacement along the axis direction of the hoist due to the axial arrangement and winding of the steel wire rope on the drum. However, regardless of the lifting height, the hook of electric chain hoists will move up and down along the vertical line of the chain, making the positioning of electric chain hoists more accurate.
Load capacity: Electric wire rope hoists use steel wire ropes as load-bearing components and usually have a greater load capacity, suitable for heavy lifting operations. Electric chain hoists, on the other hand, are more suitable for light or medium loads.
Service life and safety performance: The service life and safety performance of electric wire rope hoists are relatively lower, while electric chain hoists are more durable and reliable during use.
Applicable scenarios: Electric wire rope hoists are suitable for heavy-duty operations that require large load capacity and long-term continuous lifting. Electric chain hoists, on the other hand, are more suitable for frequent movement or situations where the portability of the equipment is highly demanded.
When it comes to the selection of lifting equipment, wire rope electric hoists and chain electric hoists each hold distinct market advantages and are suitable for different working scenarios and requirements. Dejun will provide a detailed interpretation of the advantages of these two types of electric hoists to help users make a clear judgment when choosing.
The difference in lifting height is significant: Due to the working principle of electric wire rope hoists, which involves the rotation of the drum to drive the lifting of the wire rope, the drum diameter must be at least 20 times the diameter of the wire rope to ensure safe use. In contrast, chain electric hoists lift by the rotation of the sprocket driving the chain, mainly bearing tensile force, so their design can adopt the method of setting multiple sprocket grooves to reduce the squeezing strength. This design difference means that under the same specifications, the lifting height of chain electric hoists can exceed that of wire rope electric hoists.
From the perspective of operating distance: Wire rope electric hoists must maintain parallelism with the centerline of the running track, which to some extent limits their operating range. In contrast, chain electric hoists, due to their small size and flexible dimensions, can not only be installed parallel to the track but also at a 90-degree angle to the centerline of the track, which gives them a greater operating distance at higher lifting heights
The comparison of accuracy: During the use of wire rope electric hoists, the hook will experience horizontal displacement due to the axial winding process of the wire rope, and this displacement increases with the increase in lifting height, reducing the ability for precise positioning. In contrast, chain electric hoists, due to their design principle, have almost no horizontal displacement of the hook, making them perform better in precise positioning.
The convenience of modification: Chain electric hoists also show obvious advantages. Their modification process is simple and convenient, not dependent on changes in lifting height; only the length of the chain needs to be adjusted to complete the modification. In contrast, the modification of wire rope electric hoists is limited by the close relationship between the model and the lifting height. Once the lifting height needs to be changed, the corresponding model may become idle, resulting in resource waste.
As mentioned above, the wire rope electric hoist and the chain electric hoist each have their advantages, and the choice needs to be weighed according to the actual demand. When making an actual choice, it is necessary to make a judgment based on the specific usage scenarios and requirements. If it is a heavy-duty operation that requires continuous lifting for a long time, a wire rope electric hoist may be more suitable. However, if frequent movement is needed or there is a high demand for the portability of the equipment, an electric chain hoist may be more appropriate. Any questions, please feel free to contact us!
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