A counterweight is a weight that is located in the opposite sector of another with the objective that both reach a balance . The idea of weight, for its part, refers to the force of attraction that planet Earth exerts on bodies.
It can be said that a counterweight, therefore, is used to balance forces . Its use is frequent when a significant displacement of masses occurs, such as in cranes and elevators ( elevators ).
In the case of cranes, the counterweight is exercised with concrete blocks (concrete). This allows you to compensate for the force exerted by the arm when lifting the load . The elevators, for their part, have counterweights that are fixed to the cabin using rollers. The motor is responsible for moving the difference between the load of the elevator and the counterweight.
What a counterweight does is achieve compensation for the force that is expected to be produced . In this way it ensures stability because the opposing forces, due to the action of gravity , end up neutralizing each other.
If we put it in simpler words, we can quickly understand the operation of an elevator and the reason why manufacturers must always indicate the maximum load weight , whether in the case of those that transport people or those that are used for objects. If we place a 10 kilogram box at one end and intend to lift it, we know that the counterweight must be greater than this value since otherwise it would simply nullify the force that the box exerts downwards.
Elevators need a counterweight so that the movement of the load is possible, and the fluidity of operation largely depends on its characteristics. The design includes a series of rails on which it must circulate, which are the same as those of the cabin although they are in the opposite direction.
In the case of electric elevators , the most used today, the counterweight is one of the fundamental elements, and must be combined with a series of electrical, electronic and mechanical parts to ensure that the cabin moves in a vertical direction, in any direction. of both senses. A failure in any of these parts can be fatal, which is why frequent maintenance is necessary. As an interesting fact, the speed of elevators can range from a fraction of a meter per second to several hundred meters per second, depending on their technology and applications.
The concept of counterweight can also be used symbolically to name that which promotes a moderation of something that is predominant or excessive. For example : "The deputies of the Liberal Party affirmed that they will be the counterweight to the ruling party in Congress" , "Dictators tend to dismantle institutions since they do not want any counterweight" , "Independent journalism is the natural counterweight to the abuse of power" .
If we stay with this last example, we can visualize the destructive action that the abuse of power has on society, since it blocks all channels of free expression to ensure that the victims submit to it without any hope; When a free movement such as independent journalism arrives, it is as if the sun rose after a long and devastating storm, since it begins to illuminate everything that the great monsters wish to keep under a veil of darkness.
Suppose that, in a Chamber of Deputies , 65% of the legislators belong to the governing party. The remaining 35% , in this framework, acts as a counterweight: they are responsible for guaranteeing the debate and presenting the objections they believe are necessary to prevent all official projects from being approved directly.