ENSER Corporation's Below The Hook Lifting Devices
If you’re looking for efficiency and a safe process for crane usage, below the hook lifting devices are the way to go.
The Difference with Below the Hook Lifting Devices
Traditional rigging using slings and other hardware can be a time-consuming process. A below the hook lifting device takes those slings, hooks, and rigging additions and makes them effective.
By definition, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) describes the below-the-hook as a device that attaches loads to a hoist. The device’s purpose is to pick and move specific loads based on their size, shape, or center of gravity. This tool attaches to a crane or lifting device and secures a load in a way that it can be moved from place to place. So what’s the advantage of having one of these below the hook lifting devices?
The Advantages of Below the Hook Lifting Devices
01
Avoid Accidents
As you raise a load into the air, sometimes it doesn’t look right. The below-the-hook lifting device can secure your load in ways other attachments can’t. Even with a secure load, rigging failure can occur. Below-the-hook devices consider sufficient load control. Those off-balanced loads with an unpredictable center of gravity are ideal for this type of equipment. The device is used to re-balance the load and ensure safety first.
02
Variety of Attachments
The below-the-hook lifting device includes plenty of attachments for various loads. Coil hooks, gripping lifters, mechanical lifters, beams, pallet lifters, magnet lifts, the list goes on. Variety is of the utmost importance when it comes to moving your load. Adding these attachments to the crane’s hoist will handle the positioning of the material being moved.
03
Below-the-Hook Custom Build
If those attachments aren’t enough, custom below-the-hook devices are very common. The reasoning behind developing a custom BTH lifting device is its ability to move cumbersome or difficult to manage loads. This device can be developed from scratch and engineered to meet a specific lifting need. These custom builds are added to traditional configurations for common lifting scenarios. Moving pipes/bars, coils, pallets, and other real-world applications are used by manufacturers across the world.
04
Thinking Ahead: ASME B30.20
With the development of the B30 edition, the ASME decided to focus on the below-the-hook lifting device. ASME B30.20 goes into the provisions of the device. One of the best parts of the ASME B30.20 is its adaptation and development of the below-the-hook device. The provisions span across marking, construction, installation, operation, testing, and maintenance. It also provides some clarity regarding clamps used for positioning/anchoring. This is yet another addition to the safety standard across the BTH lifting device’s history.
05
Requirements
Before using a below-the-hook lifting device, operators are responsible for conducting pre-use inspections. Another check in the box of overall safety. Additionally, equipment custodians are used to making sure the equipment is marked and fabricated to its specifications. A multi-check process ensures safety. There are various requirements for each type of device and load being moved in the below-the-hook bracket.
Examples
FEA BTH Analysis
A series of service cabinets and other equipment were targeted for review when hoisted overhead. The various units were measured in the field and modeled in PTC’s CREO. Lifting and loading conditions were simulated using PTC’s Mechanical FEA Analysis software.
Reports were prepared for each unit identifying acceptable performance, failing performance and possible solutions for increasing performance to meet requirements. Failing units were reviewed for potential design solutions for improving each to meet safety requirements.
Analysis Findings
21 failing units needed immediate remediation
10 units needed minor changes
76 units passed
