Overhead Hoist
Overhead hoists or cranes attach a horizontal load-carrying beam to overhead wall columns or ceilings. Overhead hoists are used to lift heavy loads that are impossible to lift by hand. They use a crank to wind up a cable around a cylindrical spool or drum wheel. To lift, a load is suspended from the cable, making raising and lowering the load an easy task.
Overhead hoists are generally run by electric motors, although they can use hydraulic or pneumonic power as well. Since they are bolted to walls, overhead hoists are not as mobile as other types of hoists. For this reason, they are most often found in workshops where they are not required to frequently change positions.
Overhead hoists are available in multiple configurations. They differ by load capacity, line material, line length, and maximum loaded line speed. Choosing the machine that fits the needed specifications is important, because safety issues can arise if overhead hoists are misused.