A pulley is a machine in which a rope or cable passes back and forth over one or more grooved wheels. In a pulley system, one end of the rope is attached to the load and the other end is pulled in order to move or lift the load.
A single pulley has only one wheel. The pulley makes the task of lifting a load more convenient since it is easier to pull the rope down than it is to lift a weight up.
Pulleys come in many forms—fixed, movable, cone, swivel, compound, and more. In this post, we’re zooming in on the simplest type: the fixed pulley.
In a fixed pulley, the wheel is securely attached to a solid support while the rope runs freely over it. This setup doesn’t lift the pulley itself; it simply changes the direction of your pull, making it easier to raise or lower a load.
There are many examples of fixed pulleys around us. Here are some of the most common examples:
1. Flagpole
When you raise a flag, you pull down on a rope that runs over a wheel at the top of the pole. The wheel simply changes the direction of your pull so the flag goes up while you pull down. This setup is a classic fixed pulley because the wheel stays in one spot.
2. Window Blinds
Pulling the cord to raise or lower window blinds works through a small pulley inside the headrail. The pulley lets you pull down while the blinds lift up, and the wheel itself doesn’t move—only the cord does.
3. Well Bucket
In traditional wells, a bucket is attached to a rope that passes over a wheel fixed above the well. When you pull the rope down, the bucket rises. The pulley doesn’t travel; it just makes lifting water easier by redirecting your effort.
4. Clothesline with a Pulley
Some outdoor clotheslines use a pulley at each end so you can pull clothes along the line without moving around. The pulleys are fixed to posts or walls, letting the line move smoothly while the wheels stay put.
5. Garage Door System
Many manual garage doors have a pulley mounted near the ceiling to guide the lifting cable. The pulley stays fixed, helping the heavy door move up and down more easily.
6. Curtain Rod with Draw Cords
The cords that open and close certain curtains run over small pulleys hidden inside the rod. When you pull one side of the cord, the curtains slide open or shut, thanks to the fixed pulley changing the direction of the pull.
7. Ship or Boat Sail Rigging
On sailboats, ropes used to raise sails often pass over pulleys attached to the mast. The pulley remains fixed while the rope moves, allowing sailors to pull down to lift a heavy sail upward.
8. Exercise Equipment
Some gym machines use fixed pulleys to guide the cable connected to the weights. The pulley doesn’t move with the weights; it simply directs the cable so you can pull in a comfortable direction while lifting.
9. Elevator System
Inside an elevator shaft, heavy-duty pulleys are fixed at the top to guide the steel cables that lift the elevator car. The pulley doesn’t move—it just redirects the cable so the motor can pull the car up or lower it smoothly.
10. Flagging a Construction Crane Load
On some construction sites, a rope with a fixed pulley at the top of a tall frame is used to lift small tools or buckets. Workers pull the rope down from the ground to raise items upward, and the pulley stays bolted in place.
11. Farm Barn Hayloft
Old barns often have a pulley mounted to the roof beam so farmers can haul hay bales up into the loft. The wheel doesn’t move from its beam—it just makes it easier to pull the heavy bale straight upward.