STEEL CABLES
Reading edition
The modern demands of industry for speed and large capacity have called for strengths exceeding that possible to attain from hemp or manila ropes, which are not excessive in size or cost. As a result, steel ropes and cables have been developed and perfected to a high degree of strength and dependability. The majority of hoists and cranes use steel rope. Logging industries depend for most part on steel cables. Cable cars use special steel cables which in many cases are several miles long. Long tramways use light steel cables, for long spans where manila rope would scarcely maintain its own weight. High speed passenger elevators maintain safe and dependable service day after day only through the strength of the perfected flexible steel cable. However, as stated above, each particular type of service calls for some special type of cable. The following tables are not complete but will serve to indicate the scope of the field covered by this subject.
CAST STEEL ROPE
Composed of 6 strands and a hemp center, 7 wires to the strand
Diameter in Inches Approximate Circumference in Inches Approx. Breaking Strain in Tons of 2000 lbs. Proper Working Load in Tons of 2000 lbs. Minimum Size of Drum or Sheave in ft.
1 1⁄2 4 3⁄4 63 12.6 11
1 3⁄8 4 1⁄4 53 10.6 10
1 1⁄4 4 46 9.2 9
1 1⁄8 3 1⁄2 37 7.4 8
1 3 31 6.2 7
7⁄8 2 3⁄4 24 4.8 6
3⁄4 2 1⁄4 18.6 3.7 5
11⁄16 2 1⁄8 15.4 3.1 4 3⁄4
5⁄8 2 13 2.6 4 1⁄2
9⁄16 1 3⁄4 10 2 4
1⁄2 1 1⁄2 7.7 1.54 3 1⁄2
7⁄16 1 1⁄4 5.5 1.10 3
3⁄8 1 1⁄8 4.6 .92 2 3⁄4
5⁄16 1 3.5 .70 2 1⁄4
9⁄32 7⁄8 2.5 .50 1 3⁄4
CAST STEEL ROPE
Composed of 6 strands and a hemp center, 19 wires to the strand
Diam. of Rope in Inches Approximate Circumference in Inches Approx. Breaking Strain in Tons of 2000 lbs. Proper Working Load in Tons of 2000 lbs. Minimum Size of Drum or Sheave in ft.
2 3⁄4 8 5⁄8 211 42.2 11
2 1⁄2 7 7⁄8 170 34 10
2 1⁄4 7 1⁄8 133 26.6 9
2 6 1⁄4 106 21.2 8
1 7⁄8 5 3⁄4 96 19 8
1 3⁄4 5 1⁄2 85 17 7
1 5⁄8 5 72 14.4 6 1⁄2
1 1⁄2 4 3⁄4 64 12.8 6
1 3⁄8 4 1⁄4 56 11.2 5 1⁄2
1 1⁄4 4 47 9.4 5
1 1⁄8 3 1⁄2 38 7.6 4 1⁄2
1 3 30 6 4
7⁄8 2 3⁄4 23 4.6 3 1⁄2
3⁄4 2 1⁄4 17.5 3.5 3
5⁄8 2 12.5 2.5 2 1⁄2
9⁄16 1 3⁄4 10 2 2 1⁄4
1⁄2 1 1⁄2 8.4 1.68 2
7⁄16 1 1⁄4 6.5 1.30 1 3⁄4
3⁄8 1 1⁄8 4.8 .96 1 1⁄2
5⁄16 1 3.1 .62 1 1⁄4
1⁄4 3⁄4 2.2 .44 1
CAST STEEL ROPE
Composed of 6 strands and a hemp center, 37 wires to the strand
Diameter in Inches Approximate Circumference in Inches Approx. Breaking Strain in Tons of 2000 lbs. Proper Working Load in Tons of 2000 lbs. Minimum Size of Drum or Sheave in ft.
2 3⁄4 8 5⁄8 200 40
2 1⁄2 7 7⁄8 160 32
2 1⁄4 7 1⁄8 125 25
2 6 1⁄4 105 21
1 3⁄4 5 1⁄2 84 17
1 5⁄8 5 71 14
1 1⁄2 4 3⁄4 63 12 3 3⁄4
1 3⁄8 4 1⁄4 55 11 3 1⁄2
1 1⁄4 4 45 9 3 1⁄4
1 1⁄8 3 1⁄2 34 6.8 2 3⁄4
1 3 29 5.8 2 1⁄2
7⁄8 2 3⁄4 23 4.6 2 1⁄4
3⁄4 2 1⁄4 17.5 3.5 1 3⁄4
5⁄8 2 11.2 2.2 1 3⁄4
9⁄16 1 3⁄4 9.5 1.9 1 1⁄2
1⁄2 1 1⁄2 7.25 1.45 1 1⁄4
7⁄16 1 1⁄4 5.50 1.10 1 1⁄4
3⁄8 1 1⁄8 4.20 .84 1
CAST STEEL ROPES FOR INCLINES
Six strands of 7 wires each—hemp center
Diam. of Rope in Inches Diam. of Sheaves or Drums in Feet, Showing Percentage of Life for Various Diams.
100 % 90 % 80 % 75 % 60 % 50 % 25 %
1 1⁄2 16 14 12 11 9 7 4.75
1 3⁄8 14 12 10 8.5 7 6 4.5
1 1⁄4 12 10 8 7.25 6 5.5 4.25
1 1⁄8 10 8.5 7.75 7 6 5 4
1 8.5 7.75 6.75 6 5 4.5 3.75
7⁄8 7.75 7 6.25 5.75 4.5 3.75 3.2
3⁄4 7 6.25 5.5 5 4.25 3.5 2.75
5⁄8 6 5.25 4.5 4 3.25 3 2.5
1⁄2 5 4.5 4 3.5 2.75 2 1.75
CAST STEEL HOISTING ROPES
6 strands of 19 wires each—hemp center
Diam. of Rope in Inches Diam. of Sheaves or Drums in Feet, Showing Percentage of Life for Various Diams.
100 % 90 % 80 % 75 % 60 % 50 % 25 %
1 1⁄2 14 12 10 8.5 7 6 4.5
1 3⁄8 12 10 8 7 6 5.25 4.25
1 1⁄4 10 8.5 7.5 6.75 5.5 5 4
1 1⁄8 9 7.5 6.5 5.5 5 4.5 3.75
1 8 7 6 5.5 4.5 4 3.50
7⁄8 7.5 6.75 5.75 5 4.25 3.5 3
3⁄4 5.5 4.5 4 3.75 3.25 3 2.25
5⁄8 4.5 4 3.75 3.25 3 2.5 2
1⁄2 4 3 3 2.75 2.25 2 1.5
3⁄8 3 2 1.5
STANDARD HOISTING ROPE
Six Strands—19 wires to the strand—One hemp core
Swedes Iron
Diam. in Inches Circum. in Inches Approx. Weight Per Foot Approx. Strain in Tons of 2000 lbs. Proper Working Load in Tons of 2000 lbs. Diam. of Drum or Sheave in ft. Advised
2 3⁄4 8 5⁄8 11.95 111 22.2 17
2 1⁄2 7 7⁄8 9.85 92 18.4 15
2 1⁄4 7 1⁄8 8 72 14.4 14
2 6 1⁄4 6.30 55 11 12
1 7⁄8 5 3⁄4 5.55 50 10 12
1 3⁄4 5 1⁄2 4.85 44 8.8 11
1 5⁄8 5 4.15 38 7.5 10
1 1⁄2 4 3⁄4 3.55 33 6.5 9
1 3⁄8 4 1⁄4 3 28 5.5 8.5
1 1⁄4 4 2.45 22.8 4.56 7.5
1 1⁄8 3 1⁄2 2 18.6 3.72 7
1 3 1.58 14.5 2.90 6
7⁄8 2 3⁄4 1.20 11.8 2.36 5.5
3⁄4 2 1⁄4 .89 8.5 1.70 4.5
5⁄8 2 .62 6 1.20 4
9⁄16 1 3⁄4 .50 4.7 .94 3.5
1⁄2 1 1⁄2 .39 3.9 .78 3
7⁄16 1 1⁄4 .30 2.9 .58 2.75
3⁄8 1 1⁄8 .22 2.4 .48 2.25
5⁄16 1 .15 1.5 .30 2
1⁄4 3⁄4 .10 1.1 .22 1.50
Crucible Cast Steel
Diam. in Inches Circum. in Inches Approx. Weight Per Foot Approx. Strain in Tons of 2000 lbs. Proper Working Load in Tons of 2000 lbs. Diam. of Drum or Sheave in ft. Advised
2 3⁄4 8 5⁄8 11.95 211 42.2 11
2 1⁄2 7 7⁄8 9.85 170 34 10
2 1⁄4 7 1⁄8 8 133 26.6 9
2 6 1⁄4 6.30 106 21.2 8
1 7⁄8 5 3⁄4 5.55 96 19 8
1 3⁄4 5 1⁄2 4.85 85 17 7
1 5⁄8 5 4.15 72 14.4 6.5
1 1⁄2 4 3⁄4 3.55 64 12.8 6
1 3⁄8 4 1⁄4 3 56 11.6 5.5
1 1⁄4 4 2.45 47 9.4 5
1 1⁄8 3 1⁄2 2 38 7.6 4.5
1 3 1.58 30 6 4
7⁄8 2 3⁄4 1.20 23 4.6 3.5
3⁄4 2 1⁄4 .89 17.5 3.5 3
5⁄8 2 .62 12.5 2.5 2.5
9⁄16 1 3⁄4 .50 10 2 2.25
1⁄2 1 1⁄2 .39 8.4 1.68 2
7⁄16 1 1⁄4 .30 6.5 1.30 1.75
3⁄8 1 1⁄8 .22 4.8 .96 1.50
5⁄16 1 .15 3.1 .62 1.25
1⁄4 3⁄4 .10 2.2 .44 1
Plow Steel
Diam. in Inches Circum. in Inches Approx. Weight Per Foot Approx. Strain in Tons of 2000 lbs. Proper Working Load in Tons of 2000 lbs. Diam. of Drum or Sheave in ft. Advised
2 3⁄4 8 5⁄8 11.95 275 55 11
2 1⁄2 7 7⁄8 9.85 229 46 10
2 1⁄4 7 1⁄8 8 186 37 9
2 6 1⁄4 6.30 140 28 8
1 7⁄8 5 3⁄4 5.55 127 25 8
1 3⁄4 5 1⁄2 4.85 112 22 7
1 5⁄8 5 4.15 94 19 6.5
1 1⁄2 4 3⁄4 3.55 82 16 6
1 3⁄8 4 1⁄4 3 72 14 5.5
1 1⁄4 4 2.45 58 12 5
1 1⁄8 3 1⁄2 2 47 9.5 4.5
1 3 1.58 38 7.6 4
7⁄8 2 3⁄4 1.20 29 5.8 3.5
3⁄4 2 1⁄4 .89 23 4.6 3
5⁄8 2 .62 15.5 3.1 2.5
9⁄16 1 3⁄4 .50 12.3 2.4 2.25
1⁄2 1 1⁄2 .39 10 2 2
7⁄16 1 1⁄4 .30 8 1.6 1.75
3⁄8 1 1⁄8 .22 5.75 1.15 1.50
5⁄16 1 .15 3.8 .76 1.25
1⁄4 3⁄4 .10 2.65 .53 1
STRENGTH OF WIRE ROPE
in tons of 2,000 pounds
Diameter in Inches Wire Transmission Rope. One Hemp core surrounded by six strands of seven wires each.
Iron Crucible Cast Steel Extra Strong Crucible Cast Steel Plow Steel
2 3⁄4
2 1⁄2
2 1⁄4
2
1 3⁄4
1 5⁄8
1 1⁄2 32 63 73 82
1 3⁄8 28 53 63 72
1 1⁄4 23 46 54 60
1 1⁄8 19 37 43 47
1 15 31 35 38
7⁄8 12 24 28 31
3⁄4 8.8 18.6 21 23
5⁄8 6 13 14.5 16
9⁄16 4.8 10 11 12
1⁄2 3.7 7.7 8.85 10
7⁄16 2.6 5.5 6.25 7
3⁄8 2.2 4.6 5.25 5.9
5⁄16 1.7 3.5 3.95 4.4
9⁄32 1.2 2.5 2.95 3.4
1⁄4
Diameter in Inches Wire Transmission Rope. One Hemp core surrounded by six strands of nineteen wires each.
Iron Crucible Cast Steel Extra Strong Crucible Cast Steel Plow Steel
2 3⁄4 111 211 243 275
2 1⁄2 92 170 200 229
2 1⁄4 72 133 160 186
2 55 106 123 140
1 3⁄4 44 85 99 112
1 5⁄8 38 72 83 94
1 1⁄2 33 64 73 82
1 3⁄8 28 56 64 72
1 1⁄4 22.8 47 53 58
1 1⁄8 18.6 38 43 47
1 14.5 30 34 38
7⁄8 11.8 23 26 29
3⁄4 8.5 17.5 20.2 23
5⁄8 6 12.5 14 15.5
9⁄16 4.7 10 11.2 12.3
1⁄2 3.9 8.4 9.2 10
7⁄16 2.9 6.5 7.25 8
3⁄8 2.4 4.8 5.30 5.75
5⁄16 1.5 3.1 3.50 3.8
9⁄32
1⁄4 1.1 2.2 2.43 2.65