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Project: Lifting gear

Lifting and moving stones

Many dry stone wall construction sites are not accessible for cranes or excavators. How can large blocks of stone be moved and relocated in such places? Here I show simple lifting equipment that can be carried by hand into the terrain. With this equipment loads up to one ton can be moved and relocated. Click on the pictures for more information and examples.

See also the information about the modular drystone lifting gear / crane 

Lever

Tools / Lever

HEB_Lever

The most versatile tool to move loads. The principle is used in many other tools here described.

In engineering, levers are described by their three components:

  •     Load arm: Lever arm on the side of the load to be moved.
  •     Force arm: lever arm on the side of the moving force
  •     Pivot point: point around which the lever can rotate.

Using these terms, the law of leverage reads: "force times force arm equals load times load arm".


Waldteufel

waldteufel

Antique tool to pull and tension a chain.

Forged Waldteufel

Examples of how the Waldteufel was used. Note that in one example the tool grips the chain with a hook, whereas in the other example the chain is gripped from the outside.

Antique "chain come along" from  GAcatskinner on Youtube:

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Modern lifting and pulling machines

Some modern mechanical devices that work on the principle of the lever and mechanical transmission.

Rack and Pinion jack (derived from the Hebelade)

Rope pulling device (derived from the Waldteufel)

Chain hoist

Tripod

HEB_E

Tripod

Tripod


Shears

HEB_D

SHEARS

A load can be raised and lowered in place. A slight forward and backward movement is possible by tilting the shears more or less.

Shears


Derrick

HEB_C

Derrick

Historic derrick crane uses

Modern Derrick cranes


Cable way, Cable car

HEB_F

Cable way / Cable car

A load can be vertically moved up or let down in steep terrain.

Cable car, Cableway


Cable crane

HEB_B

Rope crane

Cable crane, Rope crane