IMI

DNS
SEMESTER 1
NOTES ON
BLOCKS AND
TACKLES
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 BLOCKS AND PURCHASES
COMPONENTS OF WOODEN BLOCKS:
A wooden block, as shown in Figure 6-1, consists of one or more
sheaves (pulleys). Each block has one or more steel straps which
strengthen the block and support the sheave pin. Personnel may
suspend the block or apply a load by means of a hook or shackle
inserted in the top of the strap. The strap may continue through
the block and form a projection, called the becket, to attach
another line. The becket usually has a thimble to prevent chafing
of the line. The front of the block is called its face and the sides of
the shell are called cheeks. The opening between the top of the
sheave and the block where the line is passed through the block is
called the swallow. The breech is the opening between the bottom
of the sheave and the block and serves no definite purpose. Line is
never passed through the breech of a block except for a small tail
line used to keep the block from bouncing on the deck. The entire
wooden portion of a block is called the shell; it protects the
sheave and line.

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 MARKINGS
ON A
LIFTING
GEAR

A TYPICAL WOODEN BLOCK WITH 3 SHEAVES

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The main parts of a block are the following:
 The shell – The body of a block.
 The sheave(s). – The wheel(s) over which the rope runs.
 The pin on which the sheave turns.
 The bush or bearing between the sheave and the pin.
 The eye, hook, strop or other fitting by which the block is
secured in the required position.
 The crown. – The top of the block where the eye or hook is
fitted.
 The tail. – The bottom of the block.
 The cheeks. – The sides of the shell.
 The swallow. – The opening between the sheave and the shell
through which the
rope passes.
 The becket. – The eye sometimes fitted at the tail.

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  Sheaves:
Sheaves of wooden blocks are made of either Lignum Vitae
or phosphor bronze, While those of metal blocks are either
of mild steel or phosphor bronze. The pins of all of them are
of mild steel. The bearings betseen the sheaves and pins are
of various types; pin, roller or self lubricating. A mild steel
sheave fitted with a plane bearing has a small brass bush to
form the bearing, as otherwise steel bearing on steelis liable
to seize. Roller bearings are fitted to life boat falls and other
special types.

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The following definitions are pertinent:
 A purchase – A block and tackle.
 To reeve a purchase – To lead a wire through a series of
sheaves.
 To fleet a tackle – To stretch a tackle out to its fullest extent.
Types of block

Wooden blocks. They are classified by their size, which is the

length measured from the crown to the tail along the score. An
ordinary wooden block takes a rope 1/3 of its size.

Internal-bound Block (IB)

This type has a shell partly of wood and partly of metal, and is a
version of a wooden block. The metal portion consists of a fork
shaped steel fitting called `the binding’ which incorporates both
the eye or hook and becket when fitted. The sheave is made of
phosphor bronze which is less corrosive and does not create
sparks as the pin is made of steel. This type of block can be used
for rope or wire. A tally plate is found only on this type of block; it
has two practical purposes, to hold in the pin and to supply
information about the block. This information will contain the
Pattern number (a computerised number to identify the block),
the size of the rope for its use and the safe working loads for use.
In addition to allow for lost or damaged plates, information about
the block will also be stamped on the hook or eye. This will
contain the pattern number, the size of the rope to be used, the
tested weight (which will be higher than the safe working load)
and the test date (month and year). All tests are normally carried
out in HM Dockyard Test Centres.Very little maintenance is
required for these blocks. Even if the wood is split or chipped it
can be repaired by using a wood filler or synthetic resin paste.
The swivel hook or eye, whichever is fitted, should be kept free of
dirt and given a light oiling to ensure it swivels freely. As most of

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the metal parts are galvanised only the pin requires a light coating
of grease to ensure free running of the sheave. The sheave should
be checked for wear periodically, any rough edges should be filed
down to prevent damage to rope.

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Metal Block
Usually built of steel plates and fittings, their shells have a binding
which supplies the strength but the cheeks are of light plating.
Some types have their shells cast in one piece. Where possible
metal blocks should be used when using wire rope. (Built-up
metal blocks which were the main type of block used by the RN
for awning tackles make ideal heel tackles for rigging
evolutions).A light application of grease should be used on the
moving parts. Steel blocks showing signs of rusting should be
wire scrubbed, treated with a rust inhibitor and lightly greased. A
coating of linseed oil will prevent rust on the shell. Galvanised
metal blocks generally require less maintenance, a light oiling
normally only required. The pin which is of steel should be given
a light coat of grease or oil. Wire brushes should not be used on
galvanised metal blocks as this may damage or remove the
coating, instead a nylon pad may be used to remove any
corrosion.

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Synthetic-resin Bonded Fibre (SRBF) Block
This block is built up of steel bindings, and its means of
attachment and sheave pins are of steel. The cheek plates and
sheave(s) are made of synthetic-resin bonded fibre. These blocks
are for use with natural fibre and man-made fibre ropes only and
can be single, double, triple or snatch blocks with safe working
loads of one, two or four tonnes. They must not be used with wire
rope. (This type of block is currently on issue to units. Because of
the block’s size it is not often practical to use these as heel tackles,
although they make ideal purchases).

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Snatch Block
These are single metal, internal bound or SRBF blocks, in which
part of the shell is hinged to form a `gate’ which allows a bight of a
rope to be inserted into the swallow from one side. They should
not be used when a solid block is available for the job and they
should NEVER be used when the safety of life depends on them
because the gate may open if a sideways pull is exerted. Ideally
these blocks should be used for lead blocks during rigging
evolutions.The maintenance required depends on the type of
block, additionally the gate will require a light greasing or oiling.
Avoid applying too much grease to pin springs as this generally
attracts dirt and more frequent checks and maintenance may be
required.

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How blocks are described(DESCRIPTION PLATE) :
1. By size. (Wooden blocks only).
2. Number of sheaves.
3. Type of block (i.e. IB, Metal, common, etc) with details of the
sheaves sometimes included).
4. Size and type of rope. (Metal blocks only)
5. Means of attachment (standing eye, etc).

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Strength of blocks: The SWL (safe working load) is in general as
follows:
An IB, metal or common block is stronger than the rope for which
it is designed.
Clump, and snatch blocks are however much weaker, ie a snatch
block is 1/3 as strong as an IB block used for the same size wire,
while a clump block is only ¼ as strong.

A block and tackle system amplifies the tension force in the

rope to lift heavy loads. They are common on boats and sailing
ships, where tasks are often performed manually, as well as on
cranes and drilling rigs, where once rove, the tasks are performed
by heavy equipment.
A purchase is used to ADVANTAGE when the load moves in
the same direction as the effort .When the load moves in an
opposite direction to the effort it is rigged to DISADVANTAGE
. The words advantage /disadvantage do not have their literal
meaning in this context .They only pertain to the direction of
movement of the load and effort .
NOTE: The names of Purchases and their rigging should be
studied in order to solve problems .

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 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

1) SAFE WORKING LOAD : is the stress that a component of a lifting

gear apparatus can safely bear in normal use .
2) BREAKING STRESS OR BREAKING STRENGTH: is the stress at
which the component will fracture .
3) FACTOR OF SAFETY : is a factor used to divide the breaking stress to
obtain the Safe working load .
4) TACKLE: A tackle is a purchase consisting of a rope rove and through
two or more blocks, in such a way that any pull applied to the 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.
The whole rope used in a purchase is called a “fall” and the size of the
tackle is described by the size of its fall, ie a 20 millimetre gun tackle.
In the sketch below the various parts of the tackle are shown.

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 5) MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE : Is the ratio of Load to effort .
Abbreviated form M.A.

M.A. = Load / Effort (without friction) OR Resistance /Applied force

6) VELOCITY RATIO: Is the ratio of velocity of effort to velocity of load .

Abbreviated form V.R.

VELOCITY RATIO is also equal to following :

 Number of parts of rope at the moving block

 “n+1” when the purchase is used to advantage and “n” when
`used to disadvantage ; where n= number of sheaves

NOTE :In a perfect machine , all the effort that is put in is used to do work
on the load . However there is NO perfect machine . Part of the effort that is
put in is used to overcome friction which is present in all machines. Friction
increases the load by about 10% per sheave .

Hence
Work put in by effort = Work done on load + Work spent in overcoming friction

E=Effort Applied ; W= Load ; De = Distance moved by effort ; Dw= Distance moved

by load
IF VALUE OF
Effort x De = (Load + nx10% x load) x Dw FRICTION IS OTHER
THAN 10% , USE
E = (Load + nx10% x load) x Dw/De THAT VALUE
INSTEAD OF 10
Now since V.R. = VE/VL and Velocity = Distance /Time

Therefore E= (W+nW/10) / V.R.

Hence

Efficiency of a system = ( Useful work done on weight / Work applied by effort) x

100

= MA/VR x 100

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NOTE: Whenever any equipment such as ropes , wires, blocks,
shackles etc. Are received on the ship , they should be accompanied by
a test certificate, which will include

 Size or dimension of the component

 The breaking strength
 The safe working load
 Name of the testing authority
 Name of the certifying authority

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BREAKING STRENGTH , SAFE WORKING LOAD(SWL) , PROOF LOAD

Every one piece in a batch ( of shackles, blocks etc) or the last 2mtrs of a
coil (for ropes and wires) are tested to destruction . The breaking stress so
obtained is divided by an appropriate factor of safety for that component
(or as recommended in the chain register) , to obtain the Safe working load.

Following formulae will give the Breaking Strengths for the Rope ,Chain
,Wire etc. “ D” is the diameter in mm

ROPE :

 Manila : 2D2/300
 Polypropelene : 3D2/300
 Terylene : 4D2/300
 Nylon : 5D2/300

WIRE :

 6 Strand, 12 wires per strand 15D2/500

 6 Strand, 24 wires per strand 20D2/500
 6 Strand, 37 wires per strand 21D2/500

CHAIN :

 Grade I Stud : 20D2/600

 Grade II Stud :30D2/600
 Grade III Stud:43D2/600
 The safe working load must be clearly and legibly marked on every
component of a lifting gear
 In a lifting gear (made up of several components of different SWLs) ,
the SWL of the Gear is the SWL of the weakest component
 The SWL of a component should never be exceeded at any time
during the NORMAL USE OF THE GEAR ( it can only be exceeded in
case of testing of component OR when used in an emergency)

PROOF LOAD : Is the load applied , which is less than the Breaking
strength but more than the SWL of the component for testing of the gear .
The proof load depends on the component and its size .

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 DYNAMIC TESTING OF A LIFTING GEAR WITH SPRING BALANCE USED IN STATIC TESTING
A PRE WEIGHED LOAD OF LIFTING GEAR

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THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MOST COMMONLY USED TACKLES:

 SINGLE WHIP. A rope rove through a single block in any position. No

power is gained.
 GUN TACKLE. Two single blocks. Since the moving block is rove to
advantage the power gained is three. If the right hand block had been
the moving block, the power gained would be two since the tackle
would have been rove to disadvantage.
 WATCH OR LUFF TACKLE. Double hook block and a single hook
block. If rove to advantage, the power gained is four, but if it is rove
to disadvantage, the power gained is only three.
 DOUBLE OR TWO FOLD : Two double hook blocks. Power gained is
either four or five.
 GYN TACKLE :The gyn tackle uses a three-wheel pulley in the
fixed point, and a two-wheel pulley in the movable point. The
mechanical advantage is either 5 or 6, depending on how the blocks
are rigged. The 400-pound load can now be moved with either 80 or
67 pounds of force .
 THREE FOLD TACKLE: Two treble sheave hook blocks. Power
gained is either six or seven.

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