The next step is to form the sling for the hoisting falls. To do this, take a short length of line, pass it a sufficient number of times over the cross at the top of the shears, and tie the ends together. Then, reeve a set of blocks and place the hook of the upper block through the sling, and secure the hook by mousing the open section of the hook with rope yarn to keep it from slipping off the sling. Fasten a snatch block to the lower part of one of the legs, as indicated in figure 4-39.

The guys - one forward guy and one after guy - are secured next to the top of the shears. Secure the forward guy to the rear leg and the after guy to the front leg using a clove hitch in both instances. If you need to move the load horizontally by moving the head of the shears, you must rig a tackle in the after guy near its anchorage.

TRIPODS

A tripod consists of three legs of equal length that are lashed together at the top (figure 4-40). The legs are generally made of timber poles or pipes. Materials used for lashing include fiber line, wire rope, and chain. Metal rings joined with short chain sections are also available for insertion over the top of the tripod legs.

When compared with other hoisting devices, the tripod has a distinct disadvantage: it is limited to hoisting loads only vertically. Its use will be limited primarily to jobs that involve hoisting over wells, mine shafts, or other such excavations. A major advantage of the tripod is its great stability. In addition, it requires no guys or anchorages, and its load capacity is approximately one-third greater than shears made of the same-size timbers. Table 4-1 gives the load-carrying capacities of shear legs and tripods for various pole sizes.

Rigging Tripods

The strength of a tripod depends largely on the strength of the material used for lashing, as well as the amount of lashing used. The following procedure for

Figure 4-40. - Tripod.

Figure 4-41. - Lashings for a tripod.