Calculating The Load of Basket Hitches and Bridles

Calculating the load of basket hitches and bridles
hen youre calculating the load of basket

hitches and bridles, remember that as the
horizontal angle of a sling decreases, the resultant
load on each leg increases.
The horizontal angle of bridles with three or more
legs is measured the same way as horizontal sling
angles of two-legged hitches. If a
bridle is designed with different leg
lengths, it may result in different
horizontal angles. The load on
each leg must be calculated
based on the position of the
slings and the location of the
lifts center of gravity.
ADJUSTING THE RATED CAPACITY OF A CHOKER HITCH
Due to the body of the sling being used in the
choke, there is a reduction in rated capacity. This
is reflected in the choker rated capacity tables.
Another reduction that must be considered is due to
the angle of the choke (not the angle of the leg of
the sling).
If the load is hanging free, the normal choke angle
is approximately 135 degrees. When lifting and
THREE-STEP FORMULA FOR CALCULATING
LOAD PER SLING LEG
These calculations assume that the center of gravity
is equal distance from all of the lifting points,
and the sling angles are the same. If not, more
complicated engineering calculations are needed.
1. Divide the weight of your total load by the number
of legs you are using. This gives you the load per
leg if the lift were being made with all legs lifting
vertically.
2. Measure the angle between the legs of the sling
and the horizontal plane.
3. Multiply the load per leg that you calculated in
step 1 by the load factor for the leg angle you are
using. Use the Load factor guidelines table on the
next page to determine the load factor.
The result is the actual load on each leg of the sling
for this lift and angle. The actual load must never
exceed the slings vertical rated capacity.
Warning: Slings shall not be used with horizontal
angles less than 30.
turning a load using a choker hitch, it is

not uncommon to have a severe bend
at the choke. When a choker hitch
is used at an angle of less than
120 degrees, you must reduce
the hitchs rated capacity as
shown in the chart at right.
You always must adjust the
rated capacity of the wire
rope sling whenever you use
a choker hitch to shift, turn
or control a load, or when the
pull is against the choke in a multi-leg lift.
As always, if more than one sling is used and the legs
are not vertical, a further reduction in rated capacity
must be made for the sling angle.
Warning: Choker hitches at angles greater than
135 degrees are not recommended since they are
unstable. Extreme care should be taken to determine
the angle of choke as accurately as possible.
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO CALCULATE SLING LEG LOADS

1. Total load is 1,000 lbs. divided by two legs
500 lbs. load per leg if vertical lift.
2. Horizontal sling angle is 60 degrees.
3. Multiply 500 lbs. by 1.154 load factor (from
table) = 577 lbs. actual load per leg.


3. Multiply 500 lbs. by 1.414 load factor (from
table) = 707 lbs. actual load per leg.

3. Multiply 500 lbs. by 2 load factor (from table)
= 1000 lbs. actual load per leg.
www.unionrope.com
Sound lifting practices
here are four primary factors to take into

consideration when lifting a load.
They are: (1) the physical parameters of the load;

(2) the number of legs and the angle they make
with the horizontal; (3) the rated capacity of the
sling; and (4) the condition of the sling.
PHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF THE LOAD
The size of the object to be lifted, and particularly
the location of lifting points, will affect sling
selection. The weight of the lift, while a critical
component, is only a part of the information. The
location of the center of gravity is also necessary to
determine sling loadings.
If the load has small diameter corners, protective
blocking or softeners must be used so that sling
capacity isnt reduced. Also, if lifting a painted
object or an object with a finished surface, padding
or softeners may be needed between the sling and
the load to protect the load.
NUMBER OF LEGS AND ANGLE WITH THE HORIZONTAL
As the angle formed by the sling leg and the
horizontal decreases, the rated capacity of the
sling also decreases. In other words, the smaller
the angle between the sling leg and the horizontal,
the greater the load on the sling leg. The minimum
angle allowed is 30 degrees.
RATED CAPACITY
The rated capacity of a sling must never be exceeded.
The rated capacity is based both on sling fabrication
components (minimum breaking force of rope used,
splicing efficiency, number of parts of rope in sling and
number of sling legs) and sling application components
(angle of legs, type of hitch, D/d ratios, etc.).
If you are using one wire rope sling in a vertical hitch,
you can utilize the full rated lifting capacity of the
sling, but you must not exceed that lifting capacity.
If you are using two wire rope slings in a vertical hitch
(called a 2-legged bridle hitch) in a straight lift, the
load on each leg increases as the angle between the
leg and the horizontal plane decreases.
Whenever you lift a load with the legs of a sling at
an angle, you can calculate the actual load per leg by
using the following three-step formula.
CONDITION OF SLING
Each sling must be inspected daily. If the sling does
not pass inspection, do not use. (See Inspection and
Removal Criteria in Wire Rope Sling Guide.)
LOAD FACTOR
GUIDELINES
Leg
angle
Load
factor
CAPACITY DECREASES
WITH ANGLE
90 1.000
85 1.003
80 1.015
75 1.035
70 1.064
65 1.103
60 1.154
55 1.220
50 1.305
45 1.414
40 1.555
35 1.743
30 2.000
Angle Rated
of choke
Capacity
in degrees Percent*
Over 120
90-120
60- 89
30-59
0-29
100%
87%
74%
62%
49%
*Percent of slings
rated capacity in
a choker hitch.
Form No. 2029
ph: +1.816.270.4700
info@wirecoworldgroup.com
www.unionrope.com

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Calculating the load of basket hitches and bridles

hen youre calculating the load of basket

turning a load using a choker hitch, it is

EXAMPLES OF HOW TO CALCULATE SLING LEG LOADS

1. Total load is 1,000 lbs. divided by two legs

1. Total load is 1,000 lbs. divided by two legs

Sound lifting practices

here are four primary factors to take into

They are: (1) the physical parameters of the load;

Form No. 2029

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