BLOCKS

Blocks
A block is a pulley, made of metal, metal and synthetic-resin bonded fibre (SRBF) or, in
some cases, wood and metal.
Parts of a Block.
The main parts of a block are called
- The shell or body;
- The sheave or wheel over which the rope runs;
- The pin on which the sheave turns;
- The bush or bearing between the sheave and the pin; and
- The head fitting, usually an eye, by which the block is secured in the required position.

- The top of the block is called the crown;

- The bottom of the block is the tail;
- The sides of the shell are called the cheeks,
- The opening between the sheave and shell through which the rope passes is the
swallow; and
- The eye sometimes fitted at the tail is called the becket.

Blocks may have more than one sheave:

- a single block has one sheave,
- a double has two,
- a triple block has three, and so on.

A snatch block is a single block, metal or SRBF, in which part of the shell is hinged to form
a ‘gate’ which allows a bight of rope to be inserted into the swallow from one side.
Snatch blocks should not be used when a solid block is suitable for the job.
They should never be used when the safety of life depends on them, because the gate may
open if a sideways pull is exerted

Classification and Description of Blocks.

Blocks are classified and described by their
- Type (Metal or SRBF); (synthetic-resin bonded fibre)
- The number of sheaves;
- The head fitting (the means of attachment, usually a swivel eye);
- The size and type of rope for which they are designed and
- The safe working load (SWL) of the block.
The SWL, stock number, maker’s name and year of manufacture is usually marked on the
block by stamping on the metal binding.

Wood Blocks – Generally Restricted to the Sailing Ships

There are many wooden blocks available on the commercial market but their popularity has
waned with the production of a stronger, more practical and cheaper metal version.
The internal bound wood block comprises a
wood shell built around the metal binding,
which is fork-shaped and passes through the
crown. This binding will have a hook or eye
attached and will be left exposed over the
crown, while a becket, if fitted, will protrude
from the arse of the block. The wooden shell,
as with the majority of wood blocks, is made
of elm, the sheaves being manufactured in
brass, phosphor bronze or galvanized steel.
The old-fashioned sheave used to be made of
lignum vitae, but these are rarely seen on a
modern vsl .
The external iron bound block is similar in
construction to the one above, except that the
binding is exposed about the shell of the
wood block. The fitments may be fixed or
swivel hook, or eye, at the crown, an eye
becket being an optional addition.
The common block is a very old-fashioned
block and as nearly obsolete as one may
encounter. It was made entirely of an elm
wood shell strengthened by either a single or double strop. The strops were completely
served over, with a round thimble, seized, over the crown of the block.
The snatch block is a single sheave block, made in wood or metal. The wooden snatch block
will have an internal binding but is rarely seen in practice, having given way to metal snatch
blocks capable of taking a natural fibre rope.
Other types of wood block include solid turned clump, built clump, funnel block, and the
double and triple sheave blocks used for lighter lifting ops (most of which are obsolete).

Metal Blocks
The single sheave cargo block finds a common use at the head and heel positions of the
derrick. The difference between the two is that the head block will be fitted with an oval
swivel eye, and the heel block will have the duck bill fitment, to prevent toppling when in
the gooseneck and fouling the runner. The head block is often referred to as a gin block, but
this is not strictly correct. Calling the head block a gin probably stems from the days of
coaling ships, which regularly employed a gin as a head block.
There are many types on the commercial market, one of the most common being referred to
as a ‘Z’ block. They may also be found in topping lift purchases or the lifting purchase of a
derrick.
All metal cargo blocks are now stamped on the binding with the Safe Working Load and
Certificate Number, together with the name of the manufacturer. The block usually contains
a roller bearing sheave, fixed to rotate between the cheeks about a phosphor bronze bush.
The bush is held in position by the square shaped axle pin. Sheaves are often of a self
lubrication design, having grease reservoirs cut into the bearing surface. The bush may also
have a similar cut away for use as a grease cavity.
Double and treble sheave purchase blocks are of a similar construction to the single sheave,
except that a partition plate separates the sheaves. They are used extensively for the heavier
cargo work, being rigged in purchases for use as steam guys on direct heavy lifts. They are
also in common use on 10 tonne SWL derricks, being incorporated in the lifting purchase.

The multiple sheave cargo blocks are used exclusively for heavy lift derricks, forming the
lifting purchase and topping lifts. The number of sheaves will vary according to the design of
the lifting apparatus; up to ten sheaves is not an uncommon sight when regular heavy lift
work is being carried out.
The following information relates to a 10-sheave block built for Costain John Brown Ltd:
Sheaves – Cast steel to take 27 mm diameter wire.
SWL of block – 102 tonnes.
Block tested to – 153 tonnes.
Weight of blocks (per pair) – 61 2 tonnes (approx.).
Block Head Fittings

- The Duck Bill Eye, Designed solely for fitting into the
gooseneck of a derrick, the duck bill eye is attached to the
heel blocks of derricks to prevent the block from toppling and
fouling the cargo runner.

- The Oval Eye, Probably the most popular and most practical of all
head block fittings, the oval eye is used for all sizes of blocks from
small wood blocks up to heavy lift blocks. The length of the oval
allows easy access for shackles, together with freedom of
movement and secure holding.

- The Round Eye, The round eye may have a swivel attached or
just be used as a fixed ring, generally on the smaller wood blocks
rather than the larger cargo blocks.

- The Stud Eye, A flat-sided fitment designed to accommodate

supporting lugs either side, the stud eye is in common use with
the heavier type of cargo blocks.

Block head fittings for heavy lift gear are shown below
Safe Working Load of Blocks.
The safe working load (SWL) of a block is the maximum load that can be safely applied to
the head fitting of the block, but the seaman must be aware that this loading depends on the
way the block is used; for example, the loading on the head fitting of a block used as the
standing or upper block of a purchase is not the same when it is used as the lower or moving
block of the same purchase; this principle is illustrated in Fig below. In Fig (i), ignoring
friction, angle and weight of block, the head fitting of the single block is subjected to a load
equal to twice the weight of the load being lifted. Therefore in such circumstances a single
block with a SWL at the head fitting of at least 2 tonnes must be used to lift a 1 tonne load if
rigged as shown in Fig (i). Similarly, a single sheave block with a SWL at the head fitting of
11 /2 tonnes is adequate to lift a 1 tonne weight if rigged as the standing block in the
configuration shown in fig (ii).

Note. At present blocks are marked with a variety of data. Some bear only the proof load,
others show the SWL at the head fitting, and others bear the SWL Per Part Of Rope (PPOR).

Marking and Identifying Portable Rigging Fittings

It is a policy that, where possible, all portable items of rigging equipment (often referred to
as loose gear), will be marked with the following information:

a. The safe working load of the equipment.

b. The date of test.

c. Test authorities unique mark (if different from manufacturer).

d. Markings and symbols which indicate the manufacturer of the equipment and means
of identifying the equipment with the manufacturers certificate of test and
examination.

e. The stock number.

 Purchases and Tackles
Introduction
A purchase is a mechanical device by means of which an applied pull or force is increased;
it may be a system of levers, a system of revolving drums or wheels geared to one another, or
a combination of blocks or pulleys rove with rope or chain.

A tackle is a purchase consisting of a rope rove through two or more blocks in such a way
that the force of any pull applied to its hauling part is increased by an amount depending
upon the number of sheaves in the blocks and the manner in which the rope is rove through
them.

a. Parts of a Tackle
The blocks of a tackle are termed the standing block and the moving block; the rope
rove through them is called the fall, which has its standing, running and hauling
parts. The size of a tackle is described by the size of its fall; a 24mm luff, for example,
would be rove with a 24mm fall.

PARTS OF A TACKLE

b. Mechanical Advantage. The amount by which the pull on the hauling part is
multiplied by the tackle is called its mechanical advantage (MA) and, if friction is
disregarded, this is equal to the number of parts of the fall at the moving block. For
example, there are two parts at the moving block, therefore the mechanical advantage
is two; in other words, a pull on the hauling part of 50kg, would, if friction were
disregarded, hold a weight of 100kg. Friction has been taken into account when
determining the SWL of a block. However, when calculating the effort (pull) required
to lift a weight using a block or tackle the general approximate rule for estimating the
amount of friction set up in a tackle is to allow one-tenth for every sheave in the
tackle. Therefore if one tonne is to be lifted and there are six sheaves in the tackle, the
total allowance for friction will amount to six-tenths of a tonne. The formula for this
calculation is given on the following page in sub paragraph e.
c. Velocity Ratio. Mechanical advantage is gained only at the expense of the speed of
working. In Fig 3-157, for example, the weight will be raised only half a metre for
every metre of movement of the hauling part. The ratio between the distance moved
by the hauling part and that moved by the moving block is known as the velocity ratio
(VR) and is always equal to the number of parts of the fall at the moving block.

d. Reeving a Tackle to Advantage and Disadvantage. The number of parts at the

moving block, and therefore the mechanical advantage, is always greater when the
hauling part comes away from the moving block, and such a tackle is said to be rove
to advantage. Conversely, a tackle in which the hauling part comes away from the
standing block is said to be rove to disadvantage. Where practicable, therefore, it is
beneficial to rig a tackle so that the hauling part leads from the moving block, and the
block with the greater number of sheaves is the moving block.
e. Calculating the Effort (Pull) Required to Lift a Weight with a Tackle. To calculate the
effort (pull) to lift a given load using a tackle the following formula should be used:

P = Pull required (in Kgs)

W = Weight to be lifted (in Kgs)
V = Velocity Ratio
N = Number of Sheaves in tackle
The average man can comfortably exert a pull of 25 Kgs. Therefore to determine the
number of personnel required to man the hauling part of the tackle divide the answer
to the equation above by 25.
Examples of Tackles and Purchases
Examples of whips, tackles and purchases, together with their velocity ratio and mechanical
advantage are given below; in each the approximate loss of mechanical advantage due to
friction has been taken into account. Tackles should be rove as illustrated; this is particularly
important for the three fold purchase to prevent turns forming in the tackle and avoid any
tendency for the block to cant sideways as the load comes on it.

a. Single Whip. This consists of a fall rove through a single standing block; no
mechanical advantage is gained. It is used for hoisting light loads, and where speed of
hoisting is an important factor.

b. Runner . This consists of a rope through a single moving block. As there are two parts
of the fall in the moving block, the VR is 2 and the MA is 1.82.

c. Double Whip . This is a purchase used for hoisting and consists of two single blocks
with the standing part of the fall made fast near, or to, the upper block, and it cannot
be rove to advantage. The VR is 2 and the MA is 1.67.

d. Gun Tackle . This is the term usually applied to a purchase consisting of two single
blocks, but which is not used for hoisting; it cannot then be called a double whip, as
this is a term applied only when it is used for hoisting. In the gun tackle the standing
part of the fall is always made fast to one of the blocks. The name originates from the
small tackle which was used to run out the old muzzle-loading guns after they had
recoiled. The VR is 3 if rove to advantage, or 2 if rove to disadvantage, and the MA is
respectively 2.5 or 1.67.

e. Luff . This is a purchase of size 24mm or greater. It consists of a double and a single
block, with the standing part of the fall made fast to the single block. The VR is 4 if
rove to advantage, or 3 if rove to disadvantage, and the MA is respectively 3.08 or 2.3.

f. Jigger. This is similar to a luff, but is from 16mm to 20mm in size.

g. Handy Billy. This is a small tackle of less than 16mm in size; it is usually rove as a
jigger but can be rove as a small gun tackle.

h. Two-fold Purchase . This consists of two double blocks and is a useful general-
purpose tackle. The VR is 5 if rove to advantage, or 4 if rove to disadvantage, and the
MA is respectively 3.57 or 2.86.

i. Three-fold Purchase . This consists of two treble blocks; the VR is 7 if rove to

advantage, or 6 if rove to disadvantage, and the MA is respectively 4.37 or 3.75.
Tackles having more than three sheaves are not provided because they are too
cumbersome to handle efficiently and because the friction in their sheaves reduces
their gain in mechanical advantage. If additional mechanical advantage is required it is
better to combine two simple tackles.
Hand Operated Chain Blocks
Hand operated chain blocks are mechanical purchases designed for lifting weights and have
a number of advantages over the simple tackle. They usually consist of a sprocket, worked
by an endless hand chain which operates the load sprocket through some type of gearing; the
load sprocket carries the load chain, to which the hoisting hook is attached. The blocks may
be of a suspended or a built-in pattern.
Suspended types (i) have a top hook, shackle, or eye from which the block is hung and which
allows a degree of articulation between the block and the supporting structure.
Built-in types (ii) are usually combined with a purpose made travelling trolley. Chain blocks
supplied for use in confined spaces have a lever and ratchet (iii) instead of the endless chain.
Geared blocks have a very large mechanical advantage and little friction, so that the full safe
working load of the gear equipment can be raised by one man.