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Slings
Background Slings may be made of wire rope or chain. The ends of single slings are usually made up into eyes, either with or without thimbles, to go over the hoisting hook. However, they may be made up with end fittings to provide variable services. In using slings, spreaders may be added to change the angle of the sling legs. Each type or combination has its particular advantages and these advantages must be considered when selecting a sling for a purpose. Fiber rope makes good sling material because of its flexibility, but it is more easily damaged by any sharp edges on the material hoisted than are wire rope or chain slings. Wire rope is widely used for slings because of its strength combined with flexibility. Chain slings are used for special circumstances where sharp edges of metal would cut wire rope or for lifting very hot items such as those found in foundries. Types of slings The sling for lifting a given load may be an endless sling, braided sling, a single sling, or several single slings used together to form a combination sling.
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| Endless slings,
also called grommet slings, are fabricated by splicing the ends of a piece of wire
rope or fiber rope together or by the insertion of a cold shunt link in the chain. Cold
shunt links should be welded after insertion in the chain. These endless slings are simple
to handle and may be used in several different ways to lift heavy objects.
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Click on image to
enlarge. Endless Slings |
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| Braided slings
are usually fabricated from six or eight small diameter ropes braided together to form a
single rope that provides a large bearing surface, tremendous strength, and flexibility in
all directions. Braided slings are very easy to handle and almost impossible to kink. They
can be used in all the standard configurations and combinations, but they are especially
useful for basket hitches where low bearing pressure is desirable or where the bend is
extremely sharp.
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Click
on image to enlarge. Braided Slings
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| Single slings
can be made of wire rope, fiber rope, or chain. Each end of a single sling is made into an
eye or has a hook attached. In some instances, the ends of a wire rope are spliced into
eyes around thimbles and one eye is fastened to a hook with a shackle. With this type of
single sling, the shackle and hook can be removed when desired. A single sling can be used
in several different ways for hoisting. It is advisable to have four single slings of wire
rope available at all times. These can be used singly or in combination as necessary.
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Click on image to
enlarge. Single Sling |
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| Combination slings are made up of a group of single slings with various end fittings. These are combined to provide a fabricated sling to fill the need of the moment. | Click on image to
enlarge. Combination Slings |
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Sling arrangements  |
