Bridle slings made from polyester and nylon web slings are a great device for handling loads with fixed lifting points.
Bridle slings are also referred to as Multi-leg Bridle slings, Bridle assemblies, Sling Bridle assemblies, Hardware Bridle slings, Web Sling Bridles or type 10 slings.
Any Bridle sling features three component parts: a top lifting fixture, connector fittings at the bottom and web straps that join the top lifting fixture to the bottom connection points. Most of the bridle slings we manufacture for the crane and rigging industry feature an oblong style master link. Another very viable option is the master link with sub-assemblies. The master link with sub-assemblies is particularly advantageous for bridle sling assemblies that feature more than two or three legs (depending upon the connection point width). Nylon web sling legs can be eye and eye or an endless configuration lifting sling. A big advantage endless nylon web slings have over Eye & Eye lifting slings is that connection and load points can be rotated. We also offer a complete line of polyester roundsling bridle assemblies which are strictly endless in configuration. The bottom connection point to the load for web sling bridles can be done by attaching rigging hooks or master links. Likewise anchor shackles or fabric eyes can also be supplied.
Nylon web sling bridles are inherently lighter and easier to use than chain sling bridles or wire rope sling bridles.
Web Sling bridles can be made in single leg sling, double leg bridle sling, triple leg bridle sling or four leg bridle sling designs. Recently, we were tasked with providing a custom bridle sling assembly for a large nuclear facility which had EIGHT legs. In this design we featured a 2-1/2 inch master link with sub-assemblies and legs made from polyester round slings. Custom made sling assemblies are done on a regular basis at Lift-It Manufacturing. Another good example of a custom web sling is the Tool bag bridle sling used by the wind power and generation industry to connect a lift line to the tool bag.
Nylon web sling bridle capacities are based upon many factors. Some, but not all are:
1) Web sling bridle legs are the same length.
2) Nylon sling bridle legs are attached at the same horizontal plane.
3) The center of gravity is equidistant from the lifting slings that make up the bridle assembly.
4) The sling to load angle is the same for all the nylon strap legs.
For more information on the effects of sling to load angle please refer to the Lift-It Resource Guide
If conditions other than these apply, a qualified person must determine the specific requirements and select a bridle sling assembly with suitable characteristics for the application.
Webbing sling bridles have taken on wide popularity of use in recent years and we have always provided web sling bridles that go above and beyond minimum strength requirements. Other important design characteristics must be taken into consideration. A picture is worth a thousand words, so please view a real life example of great bridle slings and bridle slings that are just flat ugly. Details are available by viewing page 66 in the Lift-It Resource Guide
The Lift-It web sling bridle mentioned in the link above features a 2 inch diameter master link. Brand ”X” used a 1-1/2 inch Crosby master link. The Crosby master link is certainly strong enough to support the four nylon lifting sling legs, each of which has a vertical capacity of 11,400 pounds. The problem is obvious; the oblong master link is too small. When you combine the undersized link with the way the eyes were tapered in the Brand “X” bridle assembly, the less than desirable effects are magnified. The Lift-It web sling bridle features sling eyes that are tapered to 1-1/2 inches in width. You’ll also notice the eyes in the Lift-It Bridle assembly are protected at the bearing point of the eye and eye slings. Brand “X” folded the 4 inch material in half to save time and maximize his profit margins, resulting in sling eyes that are 2 inches wide. Brand “X” also did not attach protection to the bearing points of the nylon straps.
Simply stated the Brand “X” bridle is not just bad, it’s ugly and typifies an old expression, “Putting 10 pounds of stuff into a 7 pound bag!”
Not only does the Lift-It nylon web sling bridle feature larger, more expensive hardware, but it is rated at LESS than the Brand “X” web strap bridle. Many manufacturers of nylon lifting sling bridles rate their four leg bridle sling assemblies by counting the strength of all four web sling legs. There is nothing patently wrong with this practice from a regulatory or recommended standards perspective. The rating for a Lift-It Four Leg Bridle sling is based upon THREE legs, not four. Some may say that we are overly cautious; others have said we’re “different”. When your safety is at stake, we’re happy to take the heat and the criticism. We have always believed that quality conscious web sling and rigging products users and purchasers, if educated will see our perspective.
When ordering Web bridle slings, the length of the lifting sling bridle is specified as reach, which is the distance between the bearing points of the top oblong master link to the connection point on the bottom of the web sling leg. Consider using Web sling hooks instead of regular hoist hooks. Web sling hooks made by Crosby feature a “Flat-Straight” bearing surface for the web strap. Hoist hooks have a round bearing surface that reduces nylon lifting sling efficiency as the web sling or polyester round sling bunches up on the diameter of the rigging hook eye. You probably have already surmised that when we supply the regular hoist hooks as connector for our web sling bridles that they are oversized to compensate for the bunching that occurs and you are absolutely correct in your assumption.
