pulley

Lifting force redirector

A pulley is a wheel with a grooved rim through which a rope or chain runs, used to lift heavy loads or change the direction of force.

Multiple pulleys working together form a block and tackle, which multiplies lifting power: We rigged a pulley system to hoist the engine out of the car.

The word extends to any similar mechanism in machinery.

mechanism

sheave

Channeled wheel for rope

groove · axle · bearing · cable · drum · belt · wheel · rim · hub · spindle

lifting

hoist

Raise with tackle

  • winchDrum-and-cable lifting mechanism
  • craneLifter or wader
  • derrickMovable boom apparatus

davit · gantry · jib · rigging · counterweight · haul · overhead · sling · capstan · block-and-tackle

advantage

leverage

Borrowed capital for amplified returns

load · ratio · compound · efficiency · multiplier · work · physics

transport

elevator

Vertical conveyance between floors

cableway · funicular · conveyor · monorail · trolley · bucket · cage · car · platform

Categories
Opposites
simple machine type

pulleybrute force

Power over technique

lever · inclined plane · wedge · screw · fulcrum

force direction mechanism

pulleydirect drive

Transmission without intermediate gears

hydraulic press · gear

Phrases
Family

pull, pulled, pulleys

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G