For huge building construction projects, tower cranes are utilized quite often. These machines are quite necessary for heavy lifting as well as positioning materials and equipment. Tower cranes offer a different design that offers numerous advantages over more traditional cranes. These advantages consist of: higher vertical lift, quiet electrical operation, increased capacities, and reduced space requirements.
Hammerhead Crane
The hammerhead crane is commonly associated with a tower crane. The long horizontal jib is connected to a vertical tower, in this case. One end of the jib extends horizontally over the worksite and the other end of the jib acts as a counterweight. On the hammerhead crane, there is a trolley. This trolley has the lifting cable and travels along the length of the jib. The tower crane is capable of operating anywhere within the jib's radius.
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Self-erecting cranes are often assembled on site with the help of a different crane. This provides a huge benefit in setup time and really saves time in equipment expenses as well. Self-erecting cranes are usually remote-controlled from the ground, although there are some models that have an operator cab built onto the jib.
Self-erecting cranes are normally freestanding and this enables them the opportunity to be able to be moved around. There are some models that have a telescoping tower that allows the crane to work at various heights without the need to reconfigure the tower.
Luffing Jib Tower Crane
Normally, in urban work settings, there is not enough clearance or space for the jib to freely rotate without being blocked by existing buildings. A luffing jib tower crane is ideal for such tight spaces. Nearly all tower cranes have a fixed horizontal jib. The driver can lower or raise a luffing jib in order to enable the crane to swing in a reduced radius.