Hoists

Selfbuildinnovations.com has partnered with some or the leading hoist companies to provide our disabled visitors information and products to make their life easier.

Types and features of overhead hoists 

Hoists are the powered lifting machines placed overhead on the ceiling and help the user to raise the weight according to the needs. It has suspension system for smooth functioning, a power supply cable and a sling. One should clearly understand the functions and parts of hoists before the start using them.

Powered lifting mechanism 

  • permanently attached ceiling track hoists: as the name suggest such hoists are fixed to a ceiling track, and with the attached powered lifting mechanism you will be able to move, lift up or down the weight and yourself. There are many options available when it comes to selection of designs for sling for better support. Moving along with the track is easy and would be best if you have a caretaker.
  • portable battery operated hoists: Both advantages and disadvantages are tied up with such hoists. Advantages are that in comparison to ceiling hoists these are lightweight, easily movable and can be detached to work on different tracks. Disadvantages include the facts that different individuals may find it difficult to relocate. Even being portable they need tracks at all the places. Yet they are useful for environments such as nursing and residential homes, where the same unit could be used in several different locations. However to move the hoists between different locations a carer would be essential. 

Power source 

Ceiling track hoists can be powered in the following ways. All of such hoists are provided power through the mains electricity. If case of a power failure, some have the facility to manually wind the person down onto a flat surface while others come fitted with a small battery to do the same task. 

  • freehanging curly cable: power is provided from the mains with the help of a loop of curly cable, connected to the hoist. The cable moves and stretches easily as the hoist moves on the track. Yet one disadvantage can be that over a period of time the curls of the cable might loose their elasticity and keep on hanging lower which can be hazardous.
  • cable along the track: as the name suggest, the power cable is fitted with the track only hence no hanging cable is required. The defect in such a cable, if any would not be easily detected. 
  • conducted through the track: this type of hoists has no power cables but has a power conductor rail built into the aluminium track. This carries the power and transfers it to the hoist via a specially designed trolley. Thus cables are not required and makes it suitable for longer tracks.
  • rechargeable battery: Just like any other rechargeable battery device the hoist is powered by a battery which needs to be returned regularly to make contact with the battery charger situated at the end of the track. This systems eliminates the need for travelling cables and is recommended for longer tracks. But in case of a power failure, the hoist battery should still have enough power to complete the task in operation. 

Types of track/suspension

  • straight track: The moving ability of the hoist is confined in a straight line direction. Pick up points for the user being transferred are limited to anywhere below the track.
  • angled track: Such tracks enable the hoist to deal with round corners, bends etc. However 90 angles may be difficult to negotiate. 
  • turntables: Such a system enables the user to be moved manually along the track by a carer, to be turned through 90 without negotiating a tight angled track. You and the hoist are moved onto the turntable and then, using pull cords, a mechanism is released and the straight piece of track on the turntable swivels through 90. You can then be moved onto a track running in a different direction. 
  • X-Y tracking system: Be at one place, be at all of it, is what defines such hoists tracks best. With these you will be lifted from anywhere in a room. It wil require to install two parallel tracks on each side of the room either on the ceiling or on opposite walls. A moving section of track up to 5m in length runs between the parallel tracks. It has one big disadvantage and that is it can be used within one room or a particular area.  
  • gantry frames: these are floor standing frames which can be used with a mains powered permanently attached hoist unit or a battery powered portable hoist unit. They usually stand over a bed and are useful for people who are terminally ill. Those who plan to relocate or move will not find the idea very interesting. Such a system will be permanent after fitting. 
  • free standing hoists: Such type of hoists have a floor standing frame, similar to a lifting pole, with a boom and spreader bar that swings through 90 or 180. These hoists are useful for transfers of short distances, such as bed to chair or wheelchair, wheelchair to toilet. If the client is not having enough space for a mobile hoist or the building structure does not allow the use of ceiling hoists then such a system can be put to use. 
  • wall fixed hoists: these will have support frames required to be permanently fixed to the wall. Firstly there are swinging hoist which are powered through mains and can be swung through 90 or more and are operated by a hand-held control. Secondly there are swinging frame with portable battery operated hoist attached. Portable battery operated hoist units can be hooked onto wall attached booms which will swing through 180. These can be useful in a position (nursing or residential home) where use of hoist is constantly changing and thus it will be worth considering to put a swinging frame in every room and attaching the portable hoist whenever it is needed. 

Moving the hoist along the track 

  • manual traversing: You need a carer to move you, in the sling, along the track. The design of the wheels on the hoist motor trolley makes it easy to do the same. However, it requires more effort than a powered traversing mechanism and may pose an increased risk of back injury to the carer. Still the benefits are many. The carer is able to control the speed and provides a smoother start than the powered traversing. 
  • powered traversing: this enables you to move along the track independently or enables the carer to move you with minimum effort. Many people consider it a disadvantage as the carer is unable to control the speed. Also some people at first may find the powered traversing to be providing a jerky start and would need some time to get used to it. 

Lifting capabilities

  • powered lifting mechanism:all overhead hoists have a powered lifting mechanism which will reduce the risk of back injury to the carer
  • capacity of hoist: This is an important point to check as your weight will have a direct effect on the capacity of the hoist. So make sure your hoists has the required power to get the task done. 
  • lifting range: the lifting range defines the maximum height that the hoist is able to lift up to. However the lifting tape can be extended if the hoist is used in a swimming pool or any such place with a very high ceiling. Yet the actual height through which the hoist can lift cannot be extended. 

Safety features and controls

  • emergency wind down: this will enable a carer to wind you down to a solid surface in the case of a power failure. 
  • battery back-up for breakdowns: hoists powered with an in-built rechargeable battery are recharged with the hoist parked against the battery charger and hence use the battery to move and not the main electricity. This is useful in an emergency situation. Some hoists which are powered by mains electricity, only have a small back up battery which can be used in an emergency for safe landing but not for moving. 
  • automatic cut out switch: this will enable the carer to stop the hoist immediately if there is an emergency.
  • controls: there are various different types controls available with hoists. A handset control is controlled by a carer by standing close to you so that they can provide assistance and support during the manoeuvre. Controls should be clearly labelled, otherwise they are invariably used upside-down and you may be moved in the wrong direction. Splash proof controls enables the hoist to be used safely in the bathroom where the handset can be used in or near the bath or shower only. Pull cord mechanism controls work on a two-way, pull cord system. Infra-red controls have an infra-red sensor fitted on the hoist. It enables you to use a remote control to move the hoist.