Air winch, also known as air drag machine,is a powerful pneumatic machine used to lift, pull, hang and tension materials. After correct assessment, they can also move between decks, floors and other areas. In the oil, gas, construction and maritime industries, air winches are generally more popular than electric winches, diesel winches and hydraulic winches because of their durability, versatility and safety.

When should I use a winch?

The air winch can be placed in a small work area and move materials in areas that the crane cannot reach. They are also suitable for areas where there is a fire hazard. They have no electrical components and are supplied by air instead of flammable fuel, which will not cause electric shock. Therefore, the air motor will not burn out, and can be stopped for a long time without causing damage. Despite these inherent safety features, they may still pose a hazard if the safety operation is not followed correctly.

How to choose a winch?

When selecting a specific type of air winch, the working position, the weight and type of load to be moved, the installation location and the wire rope should be considered. Comply with the actual working conditions and customer requirements of each specific workplace. The rated pulling force must be considered when using it, because each air winch has a maximum load capacity, that is, the maximum rated capacity, which must not be exceeded.

Air winches are divided into public facilities, personnel or dual use. Utility winches are rated for moving materials. The personnel winch is also called the crew winch and is used to lift, lower or suspend people. Double rated winches are used to pull materials and personnel.

What are the characteristics of wire rope?

The wire rope used in an air winch consists of three basic components. First, the strands of steel wire are formed. The second is the strands themselves, which spiral around the core. The third is the core, which is the foundation.

There are also six characteristics of wire rope:

• The size refers to the diameter of the rope and is always measured at the widest point of the rope.
• The classification is represented by two numbers, which respectively indicate the wire harness and the number of wires. An example is 6×37, which refers to a 6-strand rope, and each rope is composed of 37 steel wires. A higher number of wires and strands will make the wire rope harder and more durable.
• Wire rope laying describes the direction in which the wires and strands rotate around the core.
• The type of wire rope is usually one of the following three types: improved plough steel (IPS), the most commonly used and manufactured special improved plough steel (EIPS or XPIS) or special improved plough steel (EEIPS) or XXIPS).
• There are also three different types of “core types”. The fiber core (FC) is made of synthetic material, which has the strongest elasticity and toughness, but is easily broken. The wire rope core (WSC) consists of an extra wire rope for smaller ropes and is the best choice for suspension and traction. The Independent Wire Rope Core (IWRC) contains a smaller steel wire rope as the core, which is very durable in all environments and is the primary choice in marine and construction environments.
• Finally, the tensile strength indicates the minimum breaking force of a new unused wire rope.

How does the aerial winch work?

Air winches use compressed air to operate, usually in pounds per square inch gauge pressure or PSIG. When selecting an air compressor, please ensure that its output is compatible with the requirements of the winch. For a continuously operated winch, the output of the air compressor must be equal to the air consumption of the winch.

When the winch is working, the amount of air required for the operation of the winch is expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM) or cubic meters per minute (m³/min). All hoses and accessories must also be compatible with winches.

How to install the winch?

The installation location of the winch must be firm, and the foundation needs to be firm enough to withstand five times the maximum rated load of the winch. The installation site should be kept as level as possible.

The winch shall have a support frame, which can be fixed to the foundation by strong bolts or welding. If not, you must install the frame. Be sure to use the special mounting bolts for the winch. Never use screws to secure the winch. In order to ensure that the winch is welded firmly, please ensure that all welding operations are completed by a certified welder.

Adjust the position of the winch so that the operator can easily operate the control device so that it always faces the object and never lies between the object and the winch.

The operation of the winch must not interfere with other operations, and it must not be installed in an area where objects may fall and hurt the operator or damage the winch. Plan the load path so that heavy objects will not move around other people, work areas or nearby. In the case that the load must pass through these areas, please make a safety warning and prohibit personnel from entering until the end of the operation.

Adjust the position of the air pipe so that it will not cause the risk of tripping, and put a label on the air pipe to avoid accidental disconnection during use.

If you are not sure what spare parts should be prepared for crane and hoist maintenance, please contact us or contact Cathy by email to cathy@dejunindustry.com.  and we will help you.