There are many hidden hoist parts, such as the drive motor, lift hooks and lifting arm lever locks, that can often be overlooked with a quick glance. Other very important hoist parts such as the safety catch, control lever and mounting bolts are critical to the operation and use of the hoist. Cables, chains and slings accompany roller guides and control switches are important parts to any hoist. Air-powered hoists use an air compressor, air hose and line filters to avoid damaging the motor's inner workings due to exposure to water from the air lines.
In a manufacturing plant, a hoist is often used to move heavy items from work station to work station, as well as to load finished materials onto trucks. Many of the hoist parts used to move the materials are frequently overlooked, with only the hook and chain or cable being readily observed. Some of the unseen hoist parts used to construct a working hoist are the cable/chain spool, the cable/chain roller guide and the drive gears that actually engage the spool and release or retract the cable/chain. Several critical hoist parts that control the lifting function of the hoist are the control panel that houses all of the hoist's control switches, the drive motor that can vary from an electric motor to an air-powered motor.
With an electric-powered hoist, several components and hoist parts are found in the electrical system of the building. Fuses and wiring harnesses essential to delivering the power to the motor are commonly run inside of walls where they remain out of sight. An air-powered hoist requires special hoist parts in the form of air line and filtration components placed between the hoist and the air compressor to be installed.
Water filters that remove most of the trapped water from the air lines are critical to the long life and smooth operation of the hoist. One proactive component typically found installed in the air line of a hoist motor is an oil injection unit. This device injects a fine oil mist into the air line at preset intervals to aid in the lubrication of the hoist motor.
Other proactive components of a hoist are the emergency cable/chain locks which prevent the accidental dropping of a load from a raised position. Also, a spool clutch designed to slip when a load is in excess of the hoist's lifting capacity is also often incorporated into the hoist design. Flashing lights and beepers are hoist parts that are sometimes installed on the hoist to warn workers when the hoist is traveling overhead so they can be aware of any safety issues pertaining to the movement of the hoist.