What Is a Crane in Construction?
Cranes are an essential piece of equipment used in construction projects to lift and move heavy objects or materials. It consists of a tall tower or mast, called a mast, supported by a sturdy base. At the top of the mast, there is a rotating arm known as a crane or jib, which can be stretched or retracted as needed. The rod usually has a pulley and hook system or other mounting point to secure the load. The crane operator controls the movement of the crane using a combination of hydraulic, mechanical or electrical systems. They can rotate the crane horizontally, move the boom up and down, and extend or retract the boom. This allows them to reach different heights and distances for precise lifting and carrying.
The lifting capacity of a crane can vary depending on its size and configuration. Some cranes are designed to lift several tons, while larger cranes can lift hundreds of tons. This makes them essential for tasks such as moving building materials, locating steel beams, erecting structures, and placing heavy machinery or equipment in tall buildings.
Types of Cranes
However, there is a downside to this variety: because there are so many cranes, it can be difficult to know which one does what. Due to the specificity of each crane, choosing the wrong type can lead to delays and budget problems. Understanding the differences between each type of crane can help you determine which one to use for your project, so you can hire the right crane at the right price.
1. Carry Deck Crane
Deck cranes are a relatively new type of crane that evolved from the old hoist and tow design first introduced in the 1980s. They are small, have four wheels, can rotate 360 degrees and are easier to maneuver than other cranes. other type of crane. Deck cranes are easy to install and their small size allows them to be easily maneuvered in confined and open spaces, making them a staple on many construction sites.
2. Crawler crane
A Crawler crane, also known as grating crane, jib net crane, mesh crawler, telescopic crawler, etc. – is the largest type of mobile crane. They are heavy-duty cranes that use "tank-like" crawlers to move around the construction site and can lift more than 2,500 tons. Crawler cranes do not require the use of kickstands as the steps provide sufficient stability. Due to their extensive on-site assembly, large size, and crawler, crawler cranes are not road-legal. Crawler gantry cranes can be used with net or telescopic booms. Users of a mesh boom can lift heavier loads to greater heights and distances than users of a telescopic boom.
3. Overhead Crane
These types of cranes are also known as overhead cranes. They are commonly used in factories and some are capable of lifting very heavy objects. Crane hoists are fixed on a trolley that will move in one direction along one girder, sometimes two girders. They move at angles to drive along overhead tracks or on the ground. The rail is usually mounted on one side of the assembly area.
4. Raised port crane
A swing arm is attached to a vertical post. He can slow down and slide in and out of the base. This forms a horizontal luffing crane. This mechanism is fixed to maintain a specific hook level for these cranes. While moving the boom up and down, there is movement in and out of the crane. For this reason, these cranes are useful for safely lifting and transferring goods. These cranes transport products close to the ground. The crane moves itself into a position. It is then used to raise and lower the load rather than a hook block moving along it. These cranes are commonly used in shipbuilding, loading and construction.
5. All-terrain crane
Similar in function to a crawler, all off-road cranes are designed to overcome extreme off-road conditions. However, they are smaller and lighter, allowing them to be used in tighter spaces than crawlers. These cranes are not strong or stable, so they cannot support much weight.
6. Floating crane
It is also known as crane ship, crane ship or floating crane. It is mainly used in offshore construction and they specialize in lifting heavy objects. They can also be used to unload ships or lift sunken ships out of the water. They are fixed and therefore cannot be rotated. They have a large capacity of about 9000 tons.
7. Tower crane
Tower crane is mainly used for high structure construction. Nowadays, daytime tower cranes are becoming the most popular in urban construction due to their ease of operation and low space consumption. Tower cranes are mainly used in large construction sites compared to mobile cranes because mobile cranes need large installation area at ground level while tower cranes need very little space at ground level. Tower cranes are very efficient in lifting and moving materials from one place to another horizontally and vertically. Tower cranes are ideal for moving materials over long distances.