The eye bolt is a type of bolt having a loop at one end, often known as a lifting eye bolt or eyelet. They can either pivot or swivel and are utilized for a wide range of material lifting applications. Eye bolts have a ring for attaching rope, hooks, or other gear and a shank for fastening to objects or equipment. They serve as anchor eye bolts for directing or securing cable and wiring. However, removable lifting points are now frequently used as accessories. So, in this article, we’ll learn about the different types of eye bolts and their differences.
Types of Eye Bolts
Eye bolts are used for creating a lifting eye so that a crane can be mounted to machinery, with particular purpose lifting eyes rated for their safe working weight. Nut eye bolts, machinery eye bolts, and screw eye bolts are the three most popular types of eye bolts used in industrial applications. Each type is available in a variety of sizes and finishes.
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Shoulder eye bolt
It is extremely solid due to the marine-grade stainless steel. Long-shouldered eye bolts can be utilized for both angular and straight-line pulls.
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Machine eye bolt
This hardware eye bolt, which is used as a point of connection in rigging applications, is perfect for angled lifts due to the shoulder design’s greater strength.
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U-Bolt
Two threaded arms with a curved base provide attaching points for a tight fit. This stainless steel eyebolt is perfect for fastening wiring, cords, pipes, and other materials to a machine, pole, or other structure. In rare situations, a cross-piece insert can help to increase security.
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Lag eye screw
A top-notch anchor point with many uses both indoors and outside. For screwing into wood, stainless steel eye screws feature a tapered but sharp point. They are perfect when a standard eye bolt would be too short because of their larger length.
Eye Bolt vs Eye Screw
Lifting eyes are frequently made of eye screws and eye bolts. Steel lifting eyes with a threaded rod and screw thread are used. Eye bolts come in diameters ranging from M6 to M16. For eyebolts and eyebolts with metric thread, the M size specified refers to the threaded rod section thickness.
Additionally, a stone wall’s eye screw is simple to tighten. Many people utilize eyebolts as momentary lifting points. After use, the temporary raising points can be taken off and utilized on another work.
Eye Bolt Anchor
In order to enable workers to safely perform common maintenance activities like window cleaning, safety eye bolt anchors are a straightforward and easy anchorage system that is often set near a window within a building.
Heavy Duty Eye Bolt Anchor
Lifting eyebolts can be used as part of a pulley system while lifting and moving big loads, or they can be used to anchor oneself for height safety while wearing safety harnesses. For heavy-duty lifting situations, forged eye bolts perform better.
Eye Bolt Size and Capacity
Measurements for eye bolts should be made from just below the eye. The lengths of eye bolt types, such as the dynamo and long shank, vary considerably.
It’s crucial to stay within the eye bolt’s functioning load limit.
For angular lifting using nut-eye bolts, the working load may need to be adjusted. Additionally, make sure that the nuts are put in the plane of the eye and tightly tightened against the corresponding stresses.
Safe Use of Eye Bolts
- Slings should never be forced through eye bolts.
- Never tighten an eye bolt too much.
- Never color-code or paint an eye bolt. It’s possible to paint over serious defects.
- Hooks and other fittings must fit easily in the eye; never force them in.
- Never shock-load an eye bolt; lifting should always be done gradually and slowly.
- A load that may freely rotate should never be lifted with just one eyebolt.
- Use only eyebolts that are free of wear or other flaws.
- Always use a shackle instead of inserting a hook into an eye bolt.
- Never use an eye bolt over its rated capacity.
- Don’t ever change an eye bolt.
Conclusion
It is preferable if an eyebolt has a shank when it is meant to be placed through a hole and secured by a nut on the other side. A shank is a part of the shaft that is unthreaded and located below the shoulder. It improves load transmission into the hole’s surface and is less likely to crack when subjected to fatigue loading.
To choose the best type of eye bolt for your application, consult a professional rigging shop or rigging equipment, provider. By doing this, you can make sure that the eye bolt’s design and working load limit are suitable for the lifts you’ll be undertaking.
