Following are the most frequently asked questions from users in the entertainment industry.
Q. How much load can I lift with my CM Lodestar?
A. While the hoist has the capability to pick up more than its rated capacity,
you should never attempt to load it beyond its safe working load.
Q. Does the Lodestar have something built into it to prevent overloading?
A. The hoist has a clutching device (Lodestar Protector) built into the gear
train that will prevent the operator from lifting gross overloads. The protector
is not designed to be used as a weighing device to determine what load can be safely
lifted.
Q. When the Lodestar Protector is sensing an overload, how will I know it's
working?
A. You will hear the hoist running but you will see that the load is either
moving very slowly or not at all. To correct the situation you must remove the excess
loading, at which time the hoist will return to its normal operation. You may also
hear a chattering noise coming from the hoist and/or see some vibration in the load
chain. This is perfectly normal and unless the clutch is slipped for long durations,
will not cause any damage to the hoist.
Q. How can I tell how much load the hoist is picking up?
A. There are several ways to determine loading:
* Calculate the weight based on information given by the manufacturers of the equipment
you are lifting. This is OK if the calculated loads are way below the capacity of
the hoist, but is not the most reliable method you can use.
* Use a dynamometer to actually weigh the point.
* Use load cells that can be remotely read on a computer.
Q. What is the design factor of the Lodestar?
A. The hoist itself has a design factor of 5:1 and the chain has a minimum
design factor of 8:1.
Q. Does the design factor stay the same during the entire life of the hoist?
A. No. A chain hoist is a machine that has moving parts that are subject
to wear. Beyond the wear factor, the excessive handling and subsequent abuse lead
to physical damage that can significantly affect the ultimate strength.
Q. Can anything be done to get the design factor back to where it was when
it left the factory?
A. Regular inspections and maintenance will insure maximum safety and give
you added benefit of not having to work on your hoists while on the road.
Q. How often do I have to inspect my hoists?
A. CM recommends that if the hoists are used for rental that they be inspected
after each rental. If they are used for a tour, they should be serviced at the end
of the tour or a minimum of once a year.
Q. Do I need to maintain records when I service my hoists?
A. CM recommends that you maintain written records by serial number every time you
inspect and/or do any maintenance work on your hoists.
Q. Do I have to attend a Motor School to be qualified to work on CM Lodestars?
A. While attending a school does enhance your knowledge, you do not have
to attend a school to be a competent motor technician. Nowhere in any of the codes,
laws, or standards is there any mention that an individual has to be authorized,
certified, or licensed to perform maintenance work. The codes, laws, and standards
do however say the individual must be competent.
Q. What are the qualifications for an individual to be competent?
A. The definition that was developed by the ESTA Rigging Work Group for the
Technical Standards Committee (TSC) which is an ANSI accredited organization is
as follows:
Competent: A person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards
in the workplace and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate
them.
Q. Do I have to load test my hoists every year?
A. CM recommends that you do load testing on a regular basis, but ANSI/ASME B30.16
only requires load testing if you modify, repair or replace a load bearing component.
Q. Can a CM Lodestar be used to hang loads over people's heads?
A. It is preferred that the load always be tied off (dead hung) with auxiliary
chains or cable before access to the area beneath the load is permitted. As an alternative,
the system may be designed such that malfunction or failure of one hoist's load
bearing components does not cause load loss and/or overloading of any other hoist
in the system. Note that in such a system, hoist performance and function must be
monitored visually or with the use of load cells.
Q. What factor should I use to take into account for impact loading, load
acceleration, and the forces generated as the hoist brake stops the load?
A. Many factors influence the load imposed on a support structure such as
the speed of the hoist, the weight of the load, the stiffness of the support structure
and the distance from the load to the support. As a general rule of thumb, industrial
crane manufactures use a design factor of 1.15 for impact loading. Due to the nature
of the entertainment industry, CM recommends that a minimum factor of 1.25 be used
and that a qualified individual makes an assessment of the situation.
Qualified Person: A person who, by possession of a recognized degree or certificate
of professional standing, or who, by extensive knowledge, training, and experience
has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems relating
to the subject matter and work.
Q. How long does it take a 1 ton Model L Lodestar to go from a dead start
up to full (16 fpm) speed and how long for the load to stop after you take your
finger off the go button?
A. When the hoist has full rated load on the hook, it takes about half a
second to attain full speed.
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