MAGNIFICENT LIFTING CRANES.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVII, Issue 289, 14 December 1905, Page 7

MAGNIFICENT LIFTING CRANES.

Au inventive genius of America has evolved from the little red horseshoe magnet of childhood cranes for lifting great weights of metal. Keen brains realised that there was money in that little jDlaytliing, and here we see the result. The block of steel which constitutes the magneb is suspended from the hook of tho crane, and either becomes magnotic or loses its power when a direct current of electricity is allowed to energise the magnet, or is cut off. A flexible- twin conductor cable is used to convey the current to the magnet, and a small switch, operated by the crane man, is usually the only additional apparatus necessary. The amount of current used is small, being from one to twelve amperes, according to the service for which the magnet is designed. In

operation tho magnet is lowered on the material to be lifted, and tho switch closed, this causing the magnet to d tract and hold the mn'crial, which may tien be hoisted to the - ano and transported to the desired v !'. When the current is cut off, the ]• ' iag block loses its attracting power. 'I he magnet will support its load in mid-air for hours and days, and even endless years so long as tho electric current continues to flow through the two small wires.