Block and tackle rope through the block. The snatch block is also the load lifting pulley in certain arrangements. Block and tackle A block and tackle is a system of two or more pulleys with a rope or cable threaded between them, usually used to lift heavy loads. The pulleys are assembled together to form blocks and then blocks are paired so that one is fixed and one moves with the load. The rope is threaded through the pulleys to provide mechanical advantage that amplifies the force applied to the rope. Hero of Alexandria described cranes formed from assemblies of pulleys in the
Fly system hoist (of an automated line set). Rope line (hemp) head blocks are typically upright blocks that mount to the rope line head block well channels at the grid level. In a counterweight rigging system the head block sheave is grooved for both the steel cable lift lines and an operating line, with the groove for the operating line provided at the middle of the multi-grooved sheave, between the lift lines. Counterweight head blocks mount atop or at the underside of the head block beam, depending on the beam's vertical position. The diameter of a head block sheave used for galvanized