] Crane Wheels

Crane wheels are replaced because of flange wear, flange breakage, and mechanical overloads
characterized by pitting and spalling. Each of these in-service factors must be carefully
considered before the combination of wheel design, material selection, hardness pattern and heat
treating technology is selected.
That's why every Xtek hardened steel crane wheel is specially
designed and heat treated to maximize its resistance to the
damaging forces at work in heavy industrial applications.

Crane

 Is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist rope, wire ropes or chains, and
sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally.
It is mainly used for lifting heavy things and transporting them to other places. It uses one
or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the
normal capability of a human.
Cranes are commonly employed in the transport industry for the loading and unloading of
freight, in the construction industry for the movement of materials and in the
manufacturing industry for the assembling of heavy equipment.
Cranes can range from a simple rope pulley to a tower crane fixed to the top of a
skyscraper.
Types of crane

A wide range of different types of crane can be used on construction projects as a means for
lifting and moving materials and other building elements from place to place.
The choice of crane for a particular site will depend a number of different factors, including:

The type of loads that need to be lifted.

The height and horizontal distances that needs to be covered.

The radius of the swing.

The time period of the lifting operations.

The utilization factor (the ratio of time spent in use compared to the total time it could be
in use).

The degree of mobility required.

The type of plant that will be used in conjunction with the crane, such as concreting plant.
Very broadly, cranes can be classified as:

Mobile.

Static.

Tower.

Mobile
Mobile cranes can be moved within a site, giving them great flexibility.
They can be either
mobile wheeled,
truck-mounted,
track-mounted or
Gantry-based.

Mobile wheeled cranes

Mobile wheeled cranes are mounted on a wheeled chassis with stabilisers that can be used when
lifting to prevent movement. Generally, crane is controlled and driven by an operator inside the
cab. The slewing ring beneath the cab allows for a 360-degree turning circle, and the boom
extends upwards supported by suspension ropes.

Lifting capacity: Tends to vary from 3 - 50 tonnes, but is generally around 10 tonnes.

Average speed: Usually does not exceed 30 km/h.

Mobile wheeled cranes are commonly used for moving moderately heavy loads, equipment and
other plant in goods yards or storage areas.

Truck-mounted cranes
Truck-mounted cranes are mounted on a truck or lorry specially adapted to carry an increased
load. The lorry can be driven from a front cab as a conventional vehicle, as well as having
additional controls for a lattice mast or telescopic boom which extends in sections. Fly jib
attachments can be used for lattice cranes to increase lifting capacity.

Lifting capacity: Tends to vary from 5 20 tonnes, and can be increased by using
outrigger stabilizing jacks. Lattice masts can lift in excess of 100 tonnes.

Average speed: Can usually travel at around 30 mph (65 km/h).

As this type of crane is very transportable and has a short site preparation time they are
commonly used for short hire periods.

Track-mounted cranes
Track-mounted cranes are mounted on a diesel powered crawler unit together with a lattice mast
that can accommodate a fly jib attachment with additional lifting ropes to allow for better site
coverage. They can move at low speed around sites but need to be transported to and rigged on
the site.

Lifting capacity: Tends to vary from 5 30 tonnes.

Average speed: Usually does not exceed 2 km/h.

The flexibility of this crane is its main advantage, as it can be adapted to act as a dragline with
the addition of a winch drum at the front. The tracks allow for it to be operational on poor ground
conditions.

Gantry crane
Gantry crane

Also known as portal cranes, gantry cranes typically consist of two A frames connected by a
lattice cross member which straddles the work area. The lifting gear is suspended from the
horizontal cross member and can move along it on rails. On small gantry cranes, the A frame is
wheel mounted, whereas larger cranes are mounted on powered bogies that run on rail tracks.
Larger cranes tend to have the lifting gear mounted with a driving cab on the cross member.

Lifting capacity: Small gantry cranes have a 10 tonne capacity, but larger
versions can lift up to 100 tonnes.

This form of crane is commonly used for repetitive work on low to medium-rise developments,
or in stock yards to move equipment and materials.

Static cranes
Despite having a similar appearance to the traditional tower cranes, static cranes differ in that the
lattice mast is mounted on the slewing ring meaning that the whole tower rotates from one fixed
position.
They are fitted with a luffing jib which can be raised through 90-degrees from horizontal, with a
trolley and hoist block that can move along the length of the jib.

Lifting capacity: These will vary depending on the length of the jib, the
position to which the jib is raised, and the position of the hoist block along
the length.

Static cranes tend to be used for low capacity lifting and are beneficial in that they tend to allow
for a closer approach to the face of a building.

Tower cranes

Tower cranes are a familiar sight on most construction projects. They are usually assembled and
erected on-site with a horizontal or luffing jib. Common features of tower cranes include:

Lattice sectionalised tower.

Jib (typically 25 m long) fitted with precast concrete counterweight blocks.

Access ladder housed within the tower or attached to an outside face.

Stay rods and support frame.

Cab at the top of the tower in which an operator sits.

Slewing ring which allows for rotation of the jib.

Trolley and hoist block which can move along the length of the jib.

Tower crane operators are capable of seeing most of the lifting operations from the cab, although
a banksman is required at ground level both for overseeing the loading of the crane and for
issuing signals and guidance to the operator.
Tower cranes come a number of different forms:

Self-supporting static.

Supporting static.

Travelling or rail-mounted.

Climbing.

Self-supporting static tower crane

The tower (typically 30 m tall) is anchored at ground level using mass or reinforced concrete
bases. Piles may be required if the ground conditions are poor. Lifting capacities range from 2.5
tonnes with the trolley at the minimum radius and 1 tonne at the maximum radius at the end of
the jib. This type of tower crane is most appropriate on confined sites where there is not enough
room for a travelling crane.
Supporting static tower crane

This is similar to a self-supporting tower crane but is used where high lifts are required. To gain
additional stability, the tower is tied at suitable intervals to the face of the structure, from a
minimum distance of 2 metres. This will induce additional stresses in the structure which must
be accommodated in the design and this is likely to incur additional costs.
Travelling or rail-mounted tower crane

On sites that cannot accommodate static cranes, a travelling or rail-mounted tower crane may be
the most suitable option. The tower is supported at the base by precast concrete ballast blocks
placed evenly to both sides. This is then mounted on heavy-wheeled bogies that move along a
rail track which is laid on sleepers and ballast. Traversing corners is possible by constructing
radius rails or turntables. It is important that the track is not placed on a gradient more than 1 in
200, and that it is carefully monitored and maintained as any imperfections or slight movement
could render the tower unstable.
The typical lifting capacities are 1 tonne at the maximum radius and 4 tonnes at the minimum
radius.
Climbing tower crane

Climbing tower cranes are suitable for structures that are particularly tall. The tower is erected
within the structure and raised as the structure itself becomes higher during the construction
process.
Typically, the crane is fixed to a base and raised two storeys at a time or after floors have been
cast and cured. After the first four floors are in position, self-adjusting wedges and collars are
fixed to the floor around the tower to transfer its load to the floors, thereby helping with stability.
Once work is complete, the crane is dismantled in sections. The decision to use a climbing tower
crane must be taken carefully, since frames or collars will need to be designed to suit the
structure in question, and the structure must be capable of supporting the required loads.

A crane is a tower or derrick that is equipped with cables and pulleys that are used to lift
and lower material. They are commonly used in the construction industry and in the
manufacturing of heavy equipment. Cranes for construction are normally temporary
structures, either fixed to the ground or mounted on a purpose built vehicle.
They can either be controlled from an operator in a cab that travels along with the crane, by
a push button pendant control station, or by radio type controls. The crane operator is
ultimately responsible for the safety of the crews and the crane.
Mobile Cranes
The most basic type of crane consists of a steel truss or telescopic boom mounted on a
mobile platform, which could be a rail, wheeled, or even on a cat truck. The boom is hinged
at the bottom and can be either raised or lowered by cables or hydraulic cylinders.

Telescopic

Crane

This type of crane offers a boom that consists of a number of tubes fitted one inside of the
other. A hydraulic mechanism extends or retracts the tubes to increase or decrease the
length of the boom.

Tower

Crane

The tower crane is a modern form of a balance crane. When fixed to the ground, tower
cranes will often give the best combination of height and lifting capacity and are also used
when constructing tall buildings.

Truck

Mounted

Crane

Cranes mounted on a rubber tire truck will provide great mobility. Outriggers that extend
vertically or horizontally are used to level and stabilize the crane during hoisting.

Rough

Terrain

Crane

A crane that is mounted on an undercarriage with four rubber tires, designed for operations
off road. The outriggers extend vertically and horizontally to level and stabilize the crane
when hoisting. These types of cranes are single engine machines where the same engine is
used for powering the undercarriage as it is for powering the crane. In these types of
cranes,

the

engine

is

normally

mounted

in

the

undercarriage

rather

than

in the upper portion.

Loader

Crane

A loader crane is a hydraulically powered articulated arm fitted to a trailer, used to load
equipment onto a trailer. The numerous sections can be folded into a small space when the
crane isnt in use.

Overhead

Crane

Also refered to as a suspended crane, this type is normally used in a factory, with some of
them being able to lift very heavy loads. The hoist is set on a trolley which will move in one
direction along one or two beams, which move at angles to that direction along elevated or
ground level tracks, often mounted along the side of an assembly area.

In the excavation world, cranes are used to move equipment or machinery. Cranes can
quickly and easily move machinery into trenches or down steep hills, or even pipe. There
are many types of cranes available, serving everything from excavation to road work.
Cranes are also beneficial to building bridges or construction. For many years, cranes have
proven to be an asset to the industry of construction and excavating. Crane operators make
really good money, no matter what type of crane they are operating.
This article was submitted by Er. Vikrant
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