Tower Crane Rentals and Sales West Covina - A popular machine within the materials handling family is the crane. These machines may be outfitted with sheaves, a hoist rope, wire ropes or chains. These products allow cranes to hoist materials vertically and transport them horizontally. Heavy crates, shipping containers, machinery and similar items can be efficiently moved thanks to a variety of crane models.
Freight Transportation
Cranes simplify loading and unloading and moving items. Their lifting capacity varies depending on the model. Cranes deliver a major mechanical advantage, allowing people to lift tremendous amounts of freight. Cranes are popular in a variety of industries and found in many locations.
Specified Use
Small jib cranes are ideal for cramped environments such as workshops. Giant tower cranes are a different breed that is useful for high-rise construction. There are numerous cranes suited for many different jobs. Some cranes can allow access to tight spaces. Floating crane models may be employed to salvage sunken marine items including ships or used in oil rigs.
Tower Cranes
A tower crane is a model that is fixed on a concrete slab to the ground. This model is commonly attached to the sides of structures. It offers precise height and lifting reliability. Popular for building tall commercial buildings and residential structures, the base is mounted to the mast to create even further reach once extended. The mast is connected to the slewing unit of the crane that enables it to rotate. On top of the slewing portion are three parts known as the operator’s cab, the shorter counter-jib and the long horizontal jib.
The long horizontal jib is the main crane component responsible for carrying the load. The counter-jib creates the counterweight and it may rely on concrete blocks. The jib contains the load to and from the crane’s center. Typically, the operator is found inside of a cab located on top of the tower that is attached to the turntable; however, it can be mounted on the jib alternatively. There is a radio remote control feature that operators can access from the ground. Electric motors are used to operate the lifting hook and control wire rope cables located within a sheaves system. The long horizontal arm houses the cargo hook and its’ motor. Often, the operator works alongside a rigger to accurately coordinate unhooking and hooking loads. Hand signals are an important part of daily safety. The rigger determines the crane’s lifting schedule and is responsible to make sure everything load and rigging wise is reliable and safe.
Truck-Mounted Cranes
Truck mounted cranes consist of two parts including the boom and the carrier. These two pieces rely on a turntable to attach them and allow the upper portion to swing from side to side. Modern hydraulic truck cranes are generally single-engine machines. The same engine is responsible for providing power to the crane and the undercarriage. The pump mounted on the lower area of the crane supplies power to the upper part of the crane via hydraulics and a turntable. Earlier hydraulic crane trucks commonly had two engines. One engine controlled the hydraulic pump for the outriggers and the jacks while the other engine was responsible for the crane’s travel. Certain operators prefer the two-engine models due to the turntable leaks that commonly occur in newer design models.
You may have witnessed cranes traveling on roads to travel from site to site. This can eliminate the need for industrial transportation requirements unless the crane is of sizeable weight with size restrictions. Transportation falls under local laws. Generally, bigger cranes have trailers to help the load become distributed over many axles. Certain cranes can be taken apart to meet certain requirements. Typically, another truck with the disassembled counterweights will follow the crane.
Outriggers & Stability
Outriggers are extended horizontally from the chassis of the crane. Vertical stability is achieved by the outriggers to keep the machine level while completing hoisting and stationary applications. Some truck crane units can travel at slow speeds even while carrying a suspended load. Extra care is taken to make sure the load does not swing side to side from the travel direction. The stiffness of the chassis suspension delivers most of the anti-tipping aspect. Many models include moving counterweights to be adjusted to enhance stabilization farther than what the outriggers provide. Suspended loads are among the most stable due to the majority of the crane’s weight acting as a counterweight. Safeguards are in place electronically to monitor the maximum safe loads for traveling speeds and stationary work.
Overhead and Bridge Cranes
A bridge crane is a type of overhead crane. This concept features a hook-and-line mechanism and a crane with a horizontal beam that is made to run along rails. These cranes are similar to a gantry crane and are often found in long factory buildings and attach to rails that run down two long walls. Double beam or single beam construction model crane designs are available for overhead cranes, which may rely on complex box girder beam or regular steel beams. A control pendant may be used to operate the crane. Areas that need heavy lifting around ten tons or more can rely on a double girder bridge. Higher system integrity and a lower deadweight may be delivered via the box girder style. The hoist can lift the cargo along with the bridge portion covered by the crane and the trolley that can travel along the bridge.
The steel industry relies on overhead cranes for much of the manufacturing. An overhead crane typically handles steel until it exits the factory as a completed item. All steel is handled by an overhead crane from raw materials being poured to storing hot steel for cooling and transporting finished coils. Overhead cranes lift steel components onto trucks. Metal fabricators and stampers use this equipment every day including the auto industry to transport raw materials.
Pulp & Paper Mills
Pulp mill maintenance commonly relies on bridge cranes. They are responsible for removing items including heavy press rolls. Bridge cranes are used in the construction of paper machines as they facilitate the installation of giant equipment and apparatus including the cast iron paper drying drums and other massive items.
Loader Crane
Electrically powered with an articulated arm attached to a trailer or a truck and specified for unloading and loading, the loader crane consists of many jointed components that enable the machine to be folded into a small space between uses. These telescoping abilities are useful. Some models can even load or stow themselves on their own without any operator intervention. To complete viewing access of the load, the operator must move around the vehicle. Modern models may rely on a radio-linked system or a portable cabled control system that works alongside hydraulic controls that are mounted on the crane.
Gantry Crane
There is a hoist on the gantry crane found in a fixed machinery house or a horizontal trolley that runs along rails often fitted between two beams or a single beam. The crane frame is supported on a gantry system with equalized beams and wheels that run on the gantry rail, usually perpendicular to the trolley travel direction. The gantry cranes are available in numerous sizes. Some models can move extremely heavy loads for industrial and shipyard applications.
Tower Cranes PDF
