Building an A frame type hoist.

[ENC]

I am going to build an A frame type hoist. I have a couple I beams seen in the picture.

I am not asking anyone to accept any liability and I have an understanding of the bracing needed on the legs and the cross structure. What I am trying to get an idea of the load rating for the pictured beam at various lengths. The beams I have are 14 feet long but was hoping to have 10 feet of use able overhead and drive through.

Thanks for any advice.

If the con census is get a bigger beam then so be it.

 

[SPIKER]

Picture is kind of poor, you need to know the height (cant tell if that is 6" or 8") and the web/flange thickness and flange width if it is H beam or I beam.
There are many on line beam charts that will tell you span and weight ratings.


Mark

 

[hlyautey]

Beams are rated by size, shape and weight per foot. The first step is to identify what you have. From there determine your rating at whatever span you are considering.

 

[ENC]

Sorry about the quality it is has some other "project" supplies on top. It is 10 inches tall and 2.75 inches wide the thickness is about a quarter inch on the narrow part and 3/16 on the web.

 

[Sysop]

My best suggestion for a better pic is remove the shadows. It looks like someone was standing in the way, or maybe just your arm holding the tape measure, and was blocking the light and casting partial shadows on it. From the pic if I had to guess it's about 10" x 3" x 1/4"

 

[bcp]

Maybe one of the M10 beams.

M Shapes

Bruce

 

[hlyautey]

I checked size charts on several sites and only see 2 weights for S shape 10" beams, 25.4 and 35 lbs/foot. The flange should be 4+ inches wide. I don't seem to be able to id your monorail. http://www.hubbell-gleason.com/engprod/Festoons/Catalogs/IBeam/IbeamDat.pdf

 

[hlyautey]

Ok, it's an M10X9. I'll see what I find about a 10' span.

 

[ENC]

My best suggestion for a better pic is remove the shadows. It looks like someone was standing in the way, or maybe just your arm holding the tape measure, and was blocking the light and casting partial shadows on it. From the pic if I had to guess it's about 10" x 3" x 1/4"

Yeah it was my arm I will try to excavate a piece tomorrow.

Maybe one of the M10 beams.

M Shapes

Bruce

I think you are correct looking at your link

 

[hlyautey]

I found a free beam calculator but it only had W shapes. I put in W10X12, so the weight per foot is close. I put in a 10,000 lb load in the center of a 10' span and it passed. Free Beam Sizer - Step 6 of 6

 

[ENC]

Wow that is more than I expected. Is that considered like a working load or something more like break strength? For my needs I'm thinking 3000 pounds would be more than I ever asked of it. Probably gonna have more venison hanging off of it than anything else but I only want to build one.

 

[hlyautey]

The program calculates beam deflection. So long as the beam doesn't bend more than what is allowed for the load you have, it passes. I think you are safe to hang your 3000 pound deer.

 

[ENC]

Ha! That would be more than. 30 deer around here. Might have some engine to replace or move my welder though. Just thinking ahead.

 

[hlyautey]

The deflection will be less closer to the end. If you get nervous, just move over some.

 

[ETpilot]

If you build it cantilever style you get added strength. Fourteen feet is perfect for a 10' work space. I built a roll about gantry crane using a 14' 8" H beam. I have a 10' wide 10' high work area. Plenty strong for my needs. I never calculated any work load rating. I use it around the farm but mainly built it to pull an aircraft engine. Works great on aircraft. You can attach it then have plenty of space to walk around. Sure beats an engine crane that is always in the way.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't think it is a M shape based on the photo. The flange thickens at the web like the S shape (commonly called I beam) whereas the M shapes don't thicken where they join the web but remain the same thickness all the way across. See the details of the shape. I think it is an S shape but much smaller than the 25.4 # per foot. It should be stronger than a comparable sized M shape so your calculations should still hold if you selected the correctly matching dimensions of both flange and web.

 

[CNC Dan]

if you have an android phone,
there is this great app for beam loads called: epicFEM.

Has lots of common profiles including S, W, T and some euro profiles too.