Several commercial and industrial buildings are capable of reaching heights of over 60 stories. Obviously, when these buildings are being constructed, they require equally tall cranes to transport the materials to the upper floors. There are cranes which are operated from the rear of trucks or other kinds that have their own vehicle connected. Tower cranes are the largest kinds on the market.
Tower cranes are the stand-alone structures which are often found on high-rise building projects. Often, they are part of a major city's downtown skyline. When new construction like apartment buildings and skyscrapers and commercial facilities like for instance shopping center are being built, odds are a crane will be on site.
Types
The two key types of cranes could be distinguished by the way in which their jib or boom lifts materials. The jib is the metal frame which extends from the main section. On a flat tower crane, the jib remains horizontal as it lifts things. On a luffing type of tower crane, the jib could ratchet to downward or upward angles. The lifting capacity for both types could vary from 30,000 lbs. to 10,000 pounds
Body
The body of the crane is composed of a vertical steel mast that is composed of individual sections. The parts are added to be able increase the overall height of the equipment. The mast extends upward to wherever the desired height is, to the control module, which is a small room that has glass windows on all four sides or to the tower as it is also called. The operator of the crane works from inside of the tower.
Lift
The crane utilizes a braided metal cord to be able to lift materials. This cord extends out from a motor situated near the control module to the end of the jib or boom. There is a pulley system situated at the end of the jib, through which the cord is positioned and lowered down. The jib which holds the cord becomes balanced by a counter jib situated on the tower's opposite side. The counter jib has weights. These weights help to prevent the crane from tipping over when lifting heavy supplies.