Hoist Inverters for Overhead Cranes: 4 Things They Have to Maximise Your Safety

When you hire a crane, it is important to carry out some risk analysis to identify the dangers that the machine brings to your workplace. Particularly, overhead cranes with hoist mechanisms come with many benefits, but so are the risks. This is why you should hire machines with hoist inverters. They are also called variable-frequency drives (VFD), and they rely on programmes operating in the background to ensure safety when moving loads with an overhead crane. Here are four elements of hoist invertors needed to improve safety on your site:

Slack Rope Detectors

Essentially, the hoist mechanism of an overhead crane relies on a system of strong steel ropes and pulleys. When moving a load, the ropes become taut as they resist the downward force resulting from the weight of the load. The ropes slacken when the load hits the ground. Machines can hook on to the loose rope, pull them away and damage the hoist ropes and spreader beams. To prevent this, a hoist invertor detects whenever the load hits the ground and stops the motion of the hoist ropes and pulleys. This keeps the spreader beam in position while preventing the ropes from becoming too slack.

Shock Load Detectors

Shock load detectors are the go-to devices when you are working with newbie crane operators. Shock load is an occurrence where an operator jerks the load in an aggressive and abrupt manner, sending shock waves through the hoisting mechanism. This can damage the hoist ropes, pulleys, crane supports and the load you are trying to move. A shock load detector comes in handy by detecting the shock and slowing down the motor of the hoist mechanism. In doing so, the hoist ropes tighten gradually and lift the load slowly and safely. Shock load detectors improve safety during operations and increase the useful life of the machine.

Sway Regulators

Swaying loads are a common cause of accidents when hoisting loads with an overhead crane. The movement of the load should be steady and predictable so that the operator can determine where to place it accurately. However, when the load sways, there is a high risk that it will bump into something or impede safe landing by the operators. Sway detectors or regulators keep the load from swinging, giving the operator time to concentrate on the surrounding and safe landing.

Overload Detectors

Crane loads must adhere to the weight limitations stipulated by the manufacturers. Oversights by operators and assumptions on their part can lead to overloading and severe accidents. Overload detectors identify any incident where the crane's capacity has been surpassed and prevent the lift.


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