Types of Jib Cranes
The trolley hoist on a horizontal load-bearing boom are key features on Jib cranes. The boom is secured to a vertical mast which measures up to 20 feet long. Jib cranes are able to move loads between any areas within the boom's arc of rotation. Light duty units are used in warehouses and factories for loads weighing up to 5 tons. The web site BestJibCranes.com features the major jib crane types as being either free-standing, wall-mounted or mast mounted.
Free Standing
Free-standing jib cranes could stand alone not requiring support from the building structure. The horizontal boom in this situation is connected to a pivoting vertical column that is anchored firmly to the floor of the building. This type of jib crane can rotate a full 360 degrees and requires a foundation made of either concrete or steel.
Mast-Type
The vertical column on the mast-type jib cranes are supported by pivot points at the bottom and the top. These pivots are connected to the building floor and the overhead steel structure. These jib-cranes offer 360 degrees of rotation with the benefit of not requiring the massive foundation needed for free-standing units.
Wall Mounted
The wall-mounted jib cranes provide a horizontal boom that is attached to the wall of a building rather than the typical vertical column. These equipments offer up to 200 degrees of rotation and are ideal in places where the full 360 degree rotation is not required.
Depending on how the boom is supported, there are two model varieties. One kind utilizes a tie rod from above the boom that is connected to the wall. The other variety supports the boom from below by using a cantilever brace which is also connected to the wall.