Some industrial and commercial buildings could reach heights of more than 60 stories. Obviously, while these buildings are being constructed, they require equally tall cranes to transport the supplies to the upper floors. There are cranes which have their own vehicle connected or other types that are operated from the back of trucks. Tower cranes are the largest ones on the market.
Tower cranes are stand-alone structures found as part of a major city's downtown skyline on high-rise building projects. Wherever new construction like apartment buildings and skyscrapers and commercial facilities such as shopping center are being built, odds are a crane will be on site.
Types
There are two different kinds of cranes: jib crane of the boom crane. The jib is a metal frame which extends from the main section. On a flat tower crane, the jib remains horizontal as it carries items. On a luffing kind of tower crane, the jib could ratchet to upward or downward angles. The lifting capacity for both kinds can range from 30,000 lbs. to 10,000 lbs.
Body
The body of the crane is composed of a mast. This is a vertical steel frame that is a combination of separate parts. In order to increase the overall height of the equipment, parts are added. The mast extends upward to where the desired height is, to the control module, that is a small room that has glass windows on all four sides or to the tower as it is also referred to. The driver of the crane works from inside of the tower.
Lift
In order to raise supplies, the crane utilizes a braided metal cord. The cord extends all the way to the end of the boom or jib from a motor located near the control module. 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 located on the opposite side of the tower. The counter jib holds weights. These weights help to prevent the crane from toppling over when heavy materials are carried.