Author John Phillips
Wire ropes are critical components of cranes and play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of crane operations. To extend the life of these ropes and maintain their strength and performance, it is essential to regularly lubricate them.
The benefits of regular lubrication include:
- Proper Wear: Lubrication of wire ropes is critical in preventing internal wear and strand breakages that are not readily visible during use or inspection. Internal wear and strand breakages can lead to a sudden wire rope failure before there is visible external wear. The internal wear is caused by individual strands rubbing against each other while under load. Properly lubricated wire ropes exhibit visible exterior wear before there is substantial internal wear if the wire ropes are properly specified for the application.
- Increased Longevity: Regular lubrication of the crane wire rope can increase its longevity, reducing the need for frequent replacement. By preventing corrosion and other forms of wear and tear, lubrication can extend the life of the rope, saving time and money in the long run.
- Improved Performance: Lubrication also helps to improve the performance of the crane wire rope. It reduces friction between the wire strands, making the rope easier to operate while reducing the risk of internal breakage or failure. This, in turn, can increase the efficiency and safety of crane operations.
- Reduced Maintenance Costs: Regular lubrication of the crane wire rope can also reduce maintenance costs. By preventing corrosion and other forms of wear and tear, lubrication can help to extend the life of the rope, reducing the need for frequent repairs and replacement.
- Compliance with Industry Standards: Lubrication of crane wire ropes is also essential to comply with industry standards and regulations. By ensuring that the rope is properly lubricated, crane operators can demonstrate their commitment to safety and show that they are following best practices and guidelines.
In conclusion, the regular lubrication of crane wire ropes is a critical aspect of crane maintenance and safety. By protecting against corrosion, preventing sudden failures, increasing longevity, improving performance, reducing maintenance costs, and ensuring compliance with industry standards, lubrication is a necessary step to ensuring the reliability and longevity of crane wire ropes.
John Phillips, senior consulting engineer at Warren, has more than 35 years of crane and heavy equipment experience and more than 25 years of experience in forensic engineering. A licensed professional engineer in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ohio, he’s NCEES registered both as a model engineer and with The United States Council for International Engineering Practice, USCIEP. John has designed crane systems, supervised installation, tested and certified lifting equipment even serving as a project engineer for maintenance and certification of nuclear weapon lifting and handling systems. His extensive experience helps him determine the cause and scope of damage for crane, hoist and other lift equipment incidents.
