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Thread: I beam size.

  1. #1
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    I beam size.

    I have a 4 story house and I’d like to make a swing stagesystem for it to gain access to a few of the otherwise unreachable walls. I’d like to use a collapsible swing 6’ wideetc. To traverse the walls horizontally, I’ll need a trolley system and thus anI beam track above.
    It’s the I beam sizing that is in question. I’d like the beam to be capable of 1000lbscapacity load at the combined trolleys which will be separated by a 6’ spreaderbar. The span of the Beam will be just under 9’ between supports. My questionis; will a common 2.5” X 4” steel I beam suffice? If not, what would the minimum size?

    Thanks,
    Mike Smallwood


  2. #2

  3. #3
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    A picture you say eh?
    Sorry I don’t know how to draw pictures. Maybe below will help?
    If 9 white ducks are in a line on a pond and two additional ducks that are yellow always stay next to the white ducks and the two yellow ducks additionally always stay 6 white ducks away from one another; how many white ducks can a yellow duck swim along side of?
    Answer-3


    Now mentally visualize the 9 white ducks and imagine they mysteriously become an I beam 9' long. Now visualize the 2 yellow ducks and imagine they become two yellow trolleys with a 6 foot spreader bar always distancing them from one another. How far can the trolley move along the beam in either direction? Now imagine the trolleys carry a 1000lb load (500lbs ea) of magic green sparkling sugar that mysteriously becomes a person and tools on a swing stage.


    Need a picture of one beam trolley on a beam too? That I can do.

    30103600.jpg
    Last edited by Kelly_Bramble; 05-14-2013 at 07:02 AM.

  4. #4
    Technical Fellow Kelly_Bramble's Avatar
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    If a chicken and a half can lay an egg and a half in a day in a half, how long would it take a grass hopper with a wooden leg to separate all the seeds out of a dill pickle?

    What does a grass hopper separating seeds from a pickle got to do with chickens?

    The best answer comes from the best question......

    The solution to your original post is within the link below.

    https://www.engineersedge.com/beam_b...calculator.htm

    This tool will determine requirements per. AISC 9th Edition ASD Manual and CMAA Specification No. 74 (2004).



    Quote Originally Posted by Tradewinds63 View Post
    A picture you say eh?
    Sorry I don’t know how to draw pictures. Maybe below will help?
    If 9 white ducks are in a line on a pond and two additional ducks that are yellow always stay next to the white ducks and the two yellow ducks additionally always stay 6 white ducks away from one another; how many white ducks can a yellow duck swim along side of?
    Answer-3


    Now mentally visualize the 9 white ducks and imagine they mysteriously become an I beam 9' long. Now visualize the 2 yellow ducks and imagine they become two yellow trolleys with a 6 foot spreader bar always distancing them from one another. How far can the trolley move along the beam in either direction? Now imagine the trolleys carry a 1000lb load (500lbs ea) of magic green sparkling sugar that mysteriously becomes a person and tools on a swing stage.

    Need a picture of one beam trolley on a beam too? That I can do.
    Last edited by Kelly_Bramble; 05-14-2013 at 07:12 AM.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tradewinds63 View Post
    Need a picture of one beam trolley on a beam too? That I can do.
    Ducks, eggs and grasshoppers aside, you will catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

    This could have all been done for you if only you had supplied a sketch of what you required. So now you are left with the online calculator and your wit.

    That seemed to work well for you.

  6. #6
    Lead Engineer RWOLFEJR's Avatar
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    I can't understand why you need to bother with trolleys when you're only moving what would be an arms reach away either direction? 1-1/2 ducks left of center... 1-1/2 ducks to the right...?

    When you say collapsible swing... you lost me there...?
    Maybe you should look into a rolling library ladder? There are some really good looking systems out there... Maybe a window washers rigging?

  7. #7
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    I do agree with Kelly. It will be more understandable if there are more pics. What do you think?

  8. #8
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    RWOLFEJR is right. You should try other systems.

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