The sheave spins on an axle or bearing inside the frame of the pulley. This allows the wire or rope to move freely, minimizing friction and wear on the cable. Sheaves can be used to redirect a cable or rope, lift loads, and transmit power. The words sheave and pulley are sometimes used interchangeably.

Categorized as a simple machine, a pulley is used to reduce the amount of force needed to lift a load. It basically consists of a grooved wheel mounted on an axle or shaft and a rope or belt that runs within the groove. The three different pulley parts are a wheel, an axle, and a rope.

What is the difference between a pulley and a sheave? Wikipedia defines a pulley as “a wheel on an axle or shaft…”, and it defines sheave as “a pulley with a grooved wheel…” Well, that suggests that all pulleys with grooved wheels are sheaves.

A pulley is one of six types of simple machines. A sheave (pronounced “shiv”) is actually part of the pulley system. The sheave is the rotating, grooved wheel inside the pulley. This is the piece that the rope fits into.

verb (used with object), sheaved, sheav·ing. to gather, collect, or bind into a sheaf or sheaves.

Sheave assemblies are mounted on top of ropeways towers to guide the haul rope and allow the carriers to travel safely up and down hill. There are three kinds of sheave assemblies: Support assembly – Haul rope is on top of the sheaves. Hold down assembly – Haul rope is on the underside of the sheaves.

Sheaves. In sailing, a sheave is a single or multiple pulley. One or a number of sheaves are enclosed in an assembly between cheeks or chocks. In use, a block is fixed to the end of a line, to a spar, or to a surface.

Sheaves of grain are revered in the Bible and in ancient cultures. The bundles were appreciated for the hard work that went into growing, harvesting and drying out these beneficial crops. It was the focus of a popular gospel song in the late 1800s.

Ronstan Nylatron sheaves Made from a unique plastic material which is suitable for use with wire. Nylatron® is a cast, partially cross-linked polyamide compound which has been modified with a MoS2 filler. It has excellent wear resistance, self lubrication and low friction properties.

To find any pitch diameter from this table, the diameter for the rope construction to be used is multiplied by its nominal diameter (d). For example, the minimum sheave pitch diameter for a 1/2″ (nominal diameter) x 30 (minimum ratio) or 15″.

Reeving (rope): The reeving of the hoist is the path of the rope between the hoist and the load block. Double reeving is two parts of wire rope leading off of the drum, one from each end of the drum, creating a hook movement referred to as True Vertical Lift.