Types Of Cranes

Crane is a huge tower to which trolleys and pulleys are attached and is used to lift extremely heavy objects. Cranes are either attached to movable vehicles or are fixed to the ground and are operated with a button or a handle.

Cranes are found in the construction areas where extremely and heavy objects are lifted using it. Cranes are divided into different types. Below are the commonly used cranes:

Mobile Cranes

A mobile crane is the most simple type of crane which is a large steel tower mounted on a simple movable platform such as a rail. They are moved using remotes. Very heavy objects are not lifted using mobile cranes.

The tower cranes are fixed to the ground and are huge. These cranes can lift super heavy objects and can lift them very high.

They are therefore are used in the construction of sky scrapers and extremely tall buildings. The tower crane manufacturers built these cranes with absolute precision to make sure they are well balanced and stable.

When on field the crane is directly braced on to the building being constructed, this gives the crane enough stability to be extended with the entire length of the building.

The truck mounted cranes are mounted on a large truck with rubber tires. The truck mounted cranes are very mobile.

The outriggers of the crane help it extending horizontally and vertically while lifting the object.

The crane is operated by the driver sitting in the truck. The outriggers are also used to stabilize the crane.

Rough terrain crane is mounted on an under carriage having four large rubber tires. This crane is used for pick up operations. Mostly cars are lifted and carried on this crane.

The undercarriage on which the crane is mounted is driven by a single driver who operates the crane as well.

The crane first extends horizontally and then vertically so that the crane remains stable during lifting the object.

The undercarriage of this crane works on a single engine which also works on the movement of the crane. The engine is placed inside the undercarriage rather than outside.

A loader crane is a huge crane attached to a large eighteen wheel trailer. This crane is a hydraulically powered crane which is used to lift and place heavy objects in to the trailer.

The objects then travel along the trailer. The crane is divided into further smaller sections which fold and shorten the crane when it is not in use.

The loader cranes are powerful and can extend to carry objects at a great height. 

The overhead cranes which are also called suspended cranes consist of hoists set on large trolleys moving in one direction along one beam or two. This crane is used in factories to carry heavy objects.

It loads objects into trucks and trailers. These cranes are placed next to area where the objects are to assembled or placed as they move along a single path and direction. The hoists used in the overhead cranes are of varied types, the hoist suppliers provide the choice of hoists depending upon the application in which the crane is being used. The most commonly used overhead crane hoist today, is the built-up style hoist.

The overhead cranes are operated by a single person mostly sitting on the trolley. Some new age overhead cranes are operated using buttons in a control room and the driver does not have to drive it.

A crawler crane just like the rough terrain is mounted on an undercarriage but is more stable and mobile than the rough terrain crane. It is larger and has small sections just like the loader crane.

These sections allow the crane to extend more horizontally and vertically, because of which they are very stable and can lift object at a very high elevation.

The crawler cranes are used in the making of buildings and or to place heavy objects at a great height. The undercarriage of crawler crane too has four large rubber tires and has an extremely powerful engine placed inside it.

The telescope crane is type of a mobile crane attached to a flat mobile surface and consists of a boom bearing a number of different tubes that are fitted together and reside with in each other.

The crane works on a hydraulic mechanism. This hydraulic mechanism extends or retracts the tubes which allow the boom to increase or decrease in the length.

This is how the objects are lifted by this crane. This crane too is used in factories to lift and assemble heavy objects.