A mechanical joint or connection that permits one attached component to spin or pivot without transmitting the twisting motion to the other. It usually consists of a pin, ball, or bearing inside a housing. Engineers use them in cables, hoses, and linkages to prevent kinking, binding, or torsional stress during movement.
Heard on the job
Check the swivel on the hoist cable to make sure it rotates freely under load.
Insider tip
A seized swivel in a lifting rig will cause the wire rope to unlay and fail under load.