Work has started on a new best practice guide on the safe use, inspection and maintenance of rope sheaves on mobile cranes.
The project was set up by ESTA together with FEM, the European Association of Lifting Equipment Manufacturers, by the same three-strong expert team that produced ESTA’s recently published document on winch gearboxes.
ESTA has received reports from members expressing concern about the correct use, inspection and maintenance issues with sheaves that they feel merit further study.
The need for effective inspection of sheaves seems to be underestimated, especially on major projects when cranes might not be booming down for long periods.
The expert team driving the project comprises Klaus Meissner from ESTA, Gerrit van Hove from Sarens and Hermen Kamp from Mammoet.
They hope to bring together all stakeholders to discuss the issues, including sheave and bearing manufacturers along with crane manufacturers and users. When complete, the guide will be published by ESTA on its website.
Klaus Meissner said: “When we carried out the work on winch gearboxes, we were delighted to received support and valuable input from multiple manufacturers right along the supply chain.
“We very much hope that the same will apply to this project and that we can pool all of our different skills and knowledge for the benefit of the industry as a whole.”
Rope sheaves on mobile cranes are pulley-like wheels with grooves around their circumference, designed to guide wire ropes or cables, and they serve a critical function in the crane’s lifting mechanism by holding the load and often being the luffing mechanism of the crane boom.
They also ensure that the wire rope follows a controlled and efficient path between the boom, winch drum, and hook block, without contact to fixed parts, reducing abrasion and fatigue on the rope, so extending its life and helping to ensure safety.
But without inspection and maintenance, the sheave could become dangerously unstable – an issue that is of concern to ESTA members.