All You Need to Know About Cranes

A crane is a machine, equipped with chains, wire ropes or sheaves and used for lifting or lowering materials and move them horizontally as well. It is used for transporting heavy objects that humans cannot carry, from one place to another. It is equipped with several other machines to achieve a mechanical advantage.

Crane

Different Industries where Cranes are Used

A crane is used in the following industries

• Transport Industry: It is used for loading as well as unloading freight.
• Construction Industry: It is used for moving metal objects used for construction from one place to another.
• Manufacturing Industry: It is used for assemblage of heavy equipment in machinery industry.

Principles of Mechanism

Cranes should follow the following mechanisms

• It should be capable of lifting the load’s weight.
• It should not topple and rupture.

Different Parts of a Crane

Following are the basic parts of a crane

• The base of the crane supports it on a huge pad of concrete.
• The mast is attached to the base that imparts height to it.
• The slewing unit consisting of gears and motors tops the mast which allows the rotation of the crane.
• The slewing unit again is topped by three more parts namely working arm, machinery arm and the operator’s cab. The working arm is meant to carry the load with the help of a trolley which helps in the movement of the load towards and away from the center of the crane. The machinery arm consists of the motors electronics and the counterweights of the crane hire rates.

Crane

Types of Cranes

The Different Types of Cranes are as Follows

• Mobile Crane: These are the most versatile cranes mainly used for construction purposes. It contains either steel truss or telescopic boom on a platform that is mobile in the form of a truck. Hydraulic cylinders or cables raise or lower the hinged boom from the base. Construction places sometimes create situations in which it becomes difficult to get into the place where materials are to be hoisted. The footprint of this crane enables smooth functioning. 

• Telescopic Crane: This type of crane come equipped with several tubes that are fitted into one another to form a boom. They can be extended or retracted with the help of hydraulic mechanism. 

• Tower Crane: It is a type of balance crane used for construction of buildings. This one offers both good height as well as lifting capacity. It must be connected to the building for prevention against crane sway and tipping. 

• Truck Mounted Crane: This crane consists of rubber tires and is mounted on a truck. It uses outriggers to vertical and horizontal extension for leveling and stabilization of the crane while hoisting. They are advantageous for their mobility and reach. 

• Rough Terrain Crane: This one is suitable for off-road operations and placed on an undercarriage consisting of four rubber tires. These also use outriggers for vertical and horizontal movement. It uses a single-engine for both the undercarriage as well as the crane. As the name suggests, these work well on rocky terrain, especially while working on highway and infrastructure projects. 

• Loader Crane: It is also known as folding boom crane. It is an articulated arm powered by hydraulics and stuck to a trailer. It is meant for loading equipment on the trailer. When not in use, it can be folded. 

• Overhead Crane: Also known as suspended crane, these cranes are ideal for factories and shipyards. Hoist of such crane is fitted to the trolley that can move in one direction along the beams. 

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