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The running gear that guides a hoist along a rail or beam. On hand-operated systems its smoothness decides whether an installation feels pleasant: ball-bearing wheels with a plastic tyre run quietly and start with little force. Wheel material, guidance and end stops are sized from load, rail profile and travel distance.
The trolley is the running gear from which a hoist hangs and with which it travels along a beam. It runs either on the bottom flange of a steel beam or inside a hollow profile, as used by light crane and rail systems. The task is the same in both cases.
The types differ in how the trolley is moved.
In manual operation the operator feels the trolley at every start. What counts are wheels on bearings, a wheel material matched to the track and guidance that keeps the trolley straight without binding. Plastic-tyred wheels run quietly; steel wheels carry more and tolerate higher temperatures.
The track itself is just as important. A dirty or damaged flange, steps at the rail joints and a beam that deflects under load make any trolley hard to move – the trolley then rolls to the lowest point on its own.
A trolley for beam flanges is set to the flange width; it fits only profiles within its adjustment range. If it is to travel through curves it must be built for that, and the smallest curve radius is specified. Trolleys of rail systems normally fit only the profile of their own system.
At the ends of the track, end stops prevent the trolley from running off; buffers cushion the impact. Anti-lift and anti-drop devices keep the trolley on the beam should a wheel or axle break. The capacity of the trolley must at least equal that of the hoist and is marked on the trolley.
At the periodic inspection of the crane, wheels, bearings, wheel flanges, stops and safety devices are inspected as well.
What Entracon offers here is on the matching page.
See what we offer| Type | Movement | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Push trolley | Pushing or pulling the load | Light loads, workstation cranes, rail systems |
| Geared trolley | Hand chain with gearing | Heavier loads, accurate positioning, infrequent travel |
| Electric trolley | Motor, push-button controlled | Heavy loads, long distances, frequent travel |
Not in function. On a steel beam the trolley runs on the bottom flange; in light crane and rail systems it runs inside the profile, protected from dirt. Both carry the hoist and let it travel.
No. Flange width, flange slope and the capacity of the beam must match the trolley. The beam itself and its suspension must be verified for the wheel loads.
The push trolley is faster and simpler as long as the load can be pushed with reasonable force. The geared trolley is the better choice when heavy loads are positioned accurately or the trolley must not roll away unintentionally.
Because the beam is not level or deflects under the load. The trolley then runs to the lowest point, usually mid-span. The remedy is to level the beam, use a stiffer profile or fit a trolley with a parking lock.
One short conversation usually settles more than three quotations. Call or write — you will reach an engineer directly.
Start typing – for example “balancer”, “SAP” or “pipe stress”.
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